Unknown Removable Drive

[rfdjr1]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

 

[Bob Henson]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

Someone more technical than I will fill you in - but my guess is that it's
a hidden recovery partition. I think it's a Windows RE drive.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721939(v=ws.10).aspx

I had my computer (also Windows 7 64bit) for ages with no sign of it, then
all of a sudden a few months back, it started becoming intermittent visible
in Windows Explorer as (here) drive G:. At the moment explorer lists C: to
J: but there is no G:, but sometimes it appears in connection with storage
cards were plugged in or when CDs are inserted. I first noticed it when it
started to pop up a "what do you want to do with this disk" window I had to
turn off autostart to prevent it doing so at random intervals. Of course,
trying to access the disk just gave an error. One of the options in the
window related to photos and Dropbox, so I completely removed Dropbox to
see if that was connected - but it made no difference. My guess is that
something changed a registry setting - but only because I can't think of
any other explanation.

I too, would be interested if anyone can explain it - but as it seems to do
no harm it doesn't matter that much. It would be nice to be able to turn
autostart on again though.

 

[G. Ross]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

Mine shows a Kodak flash drive 1.8 kb. Cannot access it, though. It
never bothers me so I don't bother it.

 

[Wolf K]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

Do you get "Please insert a disk..." when you Open it? If so, H:
probably refers to an external drive. Windows 7/8 assigns a drive letter
to every external USB hard drive, and keeps it handy, so to speak.

OTOH, it could be a memory stick/card that you did not Eject. Plug in a
USB stick, if it doesn't show up as another drive letter, Open H:, Close
it, and Eject it. It should disappear.

If it's neither of the above, cleaning the Registry may remove it.

Good luck,

 

[John]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

You could try clicking on the "Start" button, on the right hand side
you'll see a list, *RIGHT*-click on "Computer", select "Manage".
Under "Storgae" on the left should be "Disk Management". Tell us
what that shows you.
Under "System Tools" is "Device Manager". There will be lots of
subsystems inside this one, but "CD/DVD Drives" might show you a weird
thing. Programs like VirtualDrive and Cybberlink's Media Suite could
have created a virtual CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive.
In Device Manager", under "USB" there may be clues. Maybe not as
those tend to look strange even to experts.

In "Windows Explorer" try right-clicking on H: and choosing
"Properties". Something in there could give you a clue.

Let us know if any of this helps (or even if it doesn't).
J.

 

[John]

Mine shows a Kodak flash drive 1.8 kb. Cannot access it, though. It
never bothers me so I don't bother it.

If it offends your sense of neatness, you may be able to uninstall it
by way of "Device Manager" or "Uninstall a program" and looking for
the Kodak software that created it.
Unless it's a real flash drive inside your box. If it is, devman will
allow you to remove it but it will probably come back next time you
reboot. Windows is very helpful that way.
J.

 

[John]

You could try clicking on the "Start" button, on the right hand side
you'll see a list, *RIGHT*-click on "Computer", select "Manage".
Under "Storgae" on the left should be "Disk Management". Tell us
what that shows you.
Under "System Tools" is "Device Manager". There will be lots of
subsystems inside this one, but "CD/DVD Drives" might show you a weird
thing. Programs like VirtualDrive and Cybberlink's Media Suite could
have created a virtual CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive.
In Device Manager", under "USB" there may be clues. Maybe not as
those tend to look strange even to experts.

Bugger... I knew I'd forgotten something. In devman, try looking
under the "Portable Devices" branch. The properties of "H:" may
possibly be in there and that might give you a clue.
In my lovely new Win7 box it has all four of the card-reader drives
that came with the machine.
J.

 

[Wildman]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

Do you have a Kodak printer and is it on? When mine
is on it shows up as a "USB Mass Storage Device".
I can't remember for sure if HP printers do this as
well but they might.

Also, if you have MagicJack telephone system, it will
show up as a CD-ROM drive.

Apparently this is normal behavior in both cases.

 

[pjp]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

A wireless printer on my Network shows a shared storage device. Have no
idea what it's for and can't seem to use it. Turn off printer and device
goes away.

 

[Wolf K]

A wireless printer on my Network shows a shared storage device. Have no
idea what it's for and can't seem to use it. Turn off printer and device
goes away.

It's the storage on the printer itself.

 

[Wildman]

It's the storage on the printer itself.

If you mean print buffer, I don't believe that is correct.
It is more likely the memory card reader.

 

[Robin Bignall]

Someone more technical than I will fill you in - but my guess is that it's
a hidden recovery partition. I think it's a Windows RE drive.

If I look in disk management I see that the 100mB system partition for
Win7, and the manufacturer's recovery partition, are on the drive that
contains C: but are simply not allocated drive letters.
So "Computer" can't see them.

 

[rfdjr1]

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional 64bit)

No printer (I do have a wireless Canon printer, but it's been off), no Majic
Jack, no flash drives thatI forgot to unplug. I did plug in a flash drive today
to see what happened and it showed up as drives I and J. Why two, I don't know.
One seems to be some sort of software in the flashdrive and th other has all the
data on it. But the "H" drive was still there and when I took the flash drive
out, the I and J drives disappeared and the H drive was still there. I'm sure
this is no big thing, I just don't see how it suddenly appeared and I can't
figure out what it is. Maybe I'm paranoid with all the government snopping and
all?

 

[BobbyM]

No printer (I do have a wireless Canon printer, but it's been off), no Majic
Jack, no flash drives thatI forgot to unplug. I did plug in a flash drive today
to see what happened and it showed up as drives I and J. Why two, I don't know.
One seems to be some sort of software in the flashdrive and th other has all the
data on it. But the "H" drive was still there and when I took the flash drive
out, the I and J drives disappeared and the H drive was still there. I'm sure
this is no big thing, I just don't see how it suddenly appeared and I can't
figure out what it is. Maybe I'm paranoid with all the government snopping and
all?

Have you checked device manager to see if it's listed there? If so, you
should be able to diable or uninstall it (but it may come back on your
next restart). Some programs, such as later versions of Roxio install a
virtual drive. Most of the ISO programs do also unless you set it to
not automatically do so. Some printers will have a drive appear, such
as my Lexmark, if the printer has slots for such things as SD or micro
SD cards.

 

[Paul]

No printer (I do have a wireless Canon printer, but it's been off), no Majic
Jack, no flash drives thatI forgot to unplug. I did plug in a flash drive today
to see what happened and it showed up as drives I and J. Why two, I don't know.
One seems to be some sort of software in the flashdrive and th other has all the
data on it. But the "H" drive was still there and when I took the flash drive
out, the I and J drives disappeared and the H drive was still there. I'm sure
this is no big thing, I just don't see how it suddenly appeared and I can't
figure out what it is. Maybe I'm paranoid with all the government snopping and
all?

You could try Everest. There is a "Report" function, and if you
click the "hardware related" button and save the results, that
gives you a text file with everything in it.

"Everest (from 2005)"
http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

The only problem with that program, or any program for
that matter, is they don't put "2 and 2" together,
and figure out stuff. So you end up scanning through
a very large file, looking for evidence of where
something came from.

I have a RAMDisk set up on this system, and it has
its own entry in Device Manager. But I would have
a hard time putting two and two together there, like
finding if there was a drive letter for the thing.
You have to know what you're looking for, to find
stuff like that, and already have a good
idea what is causing it.

Paul

 

[Bob Henson]

If I look in disk management I see that the 100mB system partition for
Win7, and the manufacturer's recovery partition, are on the drive that
contains C: but are simply not allocated drive letters.
So "Computer" can't see them.

Mine is the same - the recovery partition shows a "healthy" partition but
it has no drive letter assigned to it. However, when it pops up in explorer
when another removable drive is added it always shows up (here) as G: with
the name of Win_RE. It has no readable properties and an error is thrown up
(words to the effect of "non-existant drive") at any attempt to read from
it.
--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

A preposition must never be used to end a sentence with.
And never start a sentence with a conjunction.

 

[rfdjr1]

Have you checked device manager to see if it's listed there? If so, you
should be able to diable or uninstall it (but it may come back on your
next restart). Some programs, such as later versions of Roxio install a
virtual drive. Most of the ISO programs do also unless you set it to
not automatically do so. Some printers will have a drive appear, such
as my Lexmark, if the printer has slots for such things as SD or micro
SD cards.

It appears to be "Generic Ultra HS-SD/MMC USB Device" but I have no USB devices
plugged in or at least none that I think would cause this. The only one that
comes close is my printer but that's turned off. Would that matter?

 

[Wildman]

It appears to be "Generic Ultra HS-SD/MMC USB Device" but I have no USB devices
plugged in or at least none that I think would cause this. The only one that
comes close is my printer but that's turned off. Would that matter?

From the name it appears to be an SD card reader. If
your printer has a reader then it may be active even
with printer turned off. Try unplugging it from the
wall outlet.

 

[Freckles]

"Bob Henson" wrote in message

I just noticed a few days ago that my computer is showing a removable
disk, disk
"H". I don't know where it came from. I'm familiar with these removable
disks
showing up when I plug in a camera or memory card or flash drive. But I
don't/haven't had anything plugged in that should show up as a removable
disk. I
can't locate any information about the disk. If I click on it, or check
properties, nothing indicates what it is. Is there a way to check that I'm
missing or how can I get rid of it? Thanks. (Windows 7 Professional
64bit)

Someone more technical than I will fill you in - but my guess is that it's
a hidden recovery partition. I think it's a Windows RE drive.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721939(v=ws.10).aspx

I had my computer (also Windows 7 64bit) for ages with no sign of it, then
all of a sudden a few months back, it started becoming intermittent visible
in Windows Explorer as (here) drive G:. At the moment explorer lists C: to
J: but there is no G:, but sometimes it appears in connection with storage
cards were plugged in or when CDs are inserted. I first noticed it when it
started to pop up a "what do you want to do with this disk" window I had to
turn off autostart to prevent it doing so at random intervals. Of course,
trying to access the disk just gave an error. One of the options in the
window related to photos and Dropbox, so I completely removed Dropbox to
see if that was connected - but it made no difference. My guess is that
something changed a registry setting - but only because I can't think of
any other explanation.

I too, would be interested if anyone can explain it - but as it seems to do
no harm it doesn't matter that much. It would be nice to be able to turn
autostart on again though.

--
Bob
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

Treat each day like it's your last - one day you'll be right.
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a wireless printer, scanner or some other wireless device?

I have a wireless color printer and it has two drives for memory cards which
show up on my computer.
I have never needed them so I have no idea where the are on my printer, but
they are there.

Freckles

 

[DJT]

No printer (I do have a wireless Canon printer, but it's been off), no Majic
Jack, no flash drives thatI forgot to unplug. I did plug in a flash drive today
to see what happened and it showed up as drives I and J. Why two, I don't know.
One seems to be some sort of software in the flashdrive and th other has all the
data on it. But the "H" drive was still there and when I took the flash drive
out, the I and J drives disappeared and the H drive was still there. I'm sure
this is no big thing, I just don't see how it suddenly appeared and I can't
figure out what it is. Maybe I'm paranoid with all the government snopping and
all?

You sure that you don't have a card reader built into the printer.
When the printer is turned on an extra drive shows