USB Flash Drive/Card Reader not in "Safely Remove Hardware" list

[Chris]

Recently, when I plugged in USB flash drive or card reader, the "Safely
Remove Hardware" list never show them anymore. It only shows the plugged
infra-red device.

Anyone who can help me to solve this problem? I would like these devices
showed on the list again or otherwise I don't know how to safely remove them.

Thank you very much for your kind help!

 

[Clayton]

Does it show up in My Computer?

 

[Chris]

Yes, it shows on My Computer and it works properly. The only problem is I
cannot safely remove it. And it worked in the past.

Best regards,
Chris Lee.

 

[Chris]

Is it any way to control this by modifying the registry?

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[M.I.5¾]

Recently, when I plugged in USB flash drive or card reader, the "Safely
Remove Hardware" list never show them anymore. It only shows the plugged
infra-red device.

Anyone who can help me to solve this problem? I would like these devices
showed on the list again or otherwise I don't know how to safely remove
them.

Thank you very much for your kind help!

Drives do not show in 'Safely Remove Hardware' if they are set up for
write-through cacheing (optimised for fast removal). This should be the
default option for flash memory drives.

Write a short scrap file to your flash drive and then unplug it as soon as
the activity light goes out. If the file is on the drive then you have
write-through cacheing set up.

 

[Chris]

I have updated Write Caching and Safe Removal option to "Optimize for
performance" but the device still does not appear in the "Safely Remove
Hardware" list! So weird!

 

[Uwe Sieber]

Drives do not show in 'Safely Remove Hardware' if they are set up for
write-through cacheing (optimised for fast removal).

That's not true. All availlable information state that
the hplug.dll checks for some device capabilties but
not for any policies.

This should be the
default option for flash memory drives.

Correct, it is. And if your first statement would be true
then by default not a single USB drive would be shown in
'Safely remove hardware'.


Uwe

 

[Chris]

Some more information:

When I remove the hardware and plug the USB drive again, it shows new
hardware found. At this moment, the device shows on the "Safely Remove
Hardware" list. However, once a drive letter is assigned to this device, it
is removed from the "Safely Remove Hardware" list again!

Is it possible that some viruses will cause this situation? If so, anyone
know what viruses? I am using Norton 360 and I don't think it can detect all
popular viruses.

Best regards,
Chris Lee.

 

[Uwe Sieber]

If the device is detected as new each time then
probably writing some of the required registry
keys fails, so they are not found next time. One
of these keys might be the 'capabilities' value
which is the main criterion for a device beeing
shown in 'Safely remove hardware'.

Norton 360 is known for causing strange effects with
USB drives.


Uwe

 

[M.I.5¾]

That's not true. All availlable information state that
the hplug.dll checks for some device capabilties but
not for any policies.

A quick check reveals that you are correct. However, if all the removable
drives are optimized for removal then the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon
should not show in the system tray.

 

[M.I.5¾]

A quick check reveals that you are correct. However, if all the removable
drives are optimized for removal then the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon
should not show in the system tray (unless set for 'always show').

Corrigendum: A check on another machine shows a different behaviour.
Optimised for removal devies do not appear on the list provided by 'Safely
Remove Hardware', so my initial statement may have validity.