What is this USB storage?

[Terry Pinnell[_3_]]

Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg

How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
letter?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Good Guy[_2_]]

On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>
> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
> letter?
>


It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
this issue when I was using XP in those days.

[Paul]

Good Guy wrote:
> On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>>
>> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>> letter?
>>
>
>
> It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
> printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
> this issue when I was using XP in those days.

If so, this program may show it as a "USB Composite" device.
That's for when a complex device has multiple sub-devices
internal to it.

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtreeview_e.html

I don't know if the program will crawl a whole tree or not,
or it's more for looking at the port level. But it's worth
a try, just to see what is there.

Paul

[VanguardLH[_2_]]

Terry Pinnell wrote:

> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>
> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
> letter?

A couple utilities might help:

Microsoft USB Viewer
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.85).aspx

Nirsoft USB Device Viewer
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.85).aspx

[Paul in Houston TX[_2_]]

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>
> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
> letter?

Is it a laptop?
Does that machine have a card reader or cd/dvd drive?

[micky[_2_]]

On Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:18:53 +0100, Terry Pinnell >
wrote:

>Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>
>How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>letter?

NSA drives do not have drive letters. It would tend to make them
accessible.

To remove an NSA drive, you need
http://www.centralsecurity.gov/NSA/Utilities/DriveRemovalTool.exe but
without a security clearance, you won't be able to download.

Maybe you have a friend with a security clearance ID code.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >, VanguardLH >
writes:
[]
>A couple utilities might help:
>
>Microsoft USB Viewer
>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.
>85).aspx
>
>Nirsoft USB Device Viewer
>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.
>85).aspx

A couple (of) utilities might indeed help. Even the same one twice might
.... (-:
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Science is built with facts as a house is with stones--but a collection of
facts
is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house. -Jules Henry Poincare
(1854-1912)

[VanguardLH[_2_]]

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

> VanguardLH WROTE:
>
>> A couple utilities might help:
>>
>> Microsoft USB Viewer
>> https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.85).aspx
>>
>> Nirsoft USB Device Viewer
>> https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=vs.85).aspx
> ^
> A couple (of) utilities might indeed help. Even the same one twice |
> might |
> ... (-: |
|
Oops, must've missed copying the URL when I was at Nirsoft which |
meant I pasted the prior clip from Microsoft. Here it is: |
|
Nirsoft USB Device Viewer |
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html ______________|

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >, VanguardLH >
writes:
[]
>> VanguardLH WROTE:
>>
>>> A couple utilities might help:
>>>
>>> Microsoft USB Viewer
>>>
>>>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=v
>>>s.85).aspx
>>>
>>> Nirsoft USB Device Viewer
[]
>> ^
[]
> Nirsoft USB Device Viewer |
> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html ______________|

Thanks for that.

Such a difference between the two sites! The Microsoft one actually
looked as if it might be useful, but I got lost in a maze of webpages
just looking for the .exe, and eventually gave up. The Nirsoft one, in
contrast, has a link to it on the page. (OK, zipped and near the bottom,
but it's there.) [I already had it, but an earlier version.]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

It's an artist's duty to bite the hand that feeds him... but not too hard.
Grayson Perry, interviewed in Radio Times 12-18 October 2013

[micky[_2_]]

On Sat, 20 Jun 2015 12:39:22 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
> wrote:

>In message >, VanguardLH >
>writes:
>[]
>>> VanguardLH WROTE:
>>>
>>>> A couple utilities might help:
>>>>
>>>> Microsoft USB Viewer
>>>>
>>>>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560019(v=v
>>>>s.85).aspx
>>>>
>>>> Nirsoft USB Device Viewer
>[]
>>> ^
>[]
>> Nirsoft USB Device Viewer |
>> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html ______________|
>
>Thanks for that.
>
>Such a difference between the two sites! The Microsoft one actually
>looked as if it might be useful, but I got lost in a maze of webpages
>just looking for the .exe, and eventually gave up.

Yes, and there explanation pages are just as hard to understand.

IIUC, they won't hire anyone who got a C or above in English Composition
in college or high school. Grades D or below are acceptable..

They have standards and they strive to meet them.

>The Nirsoft one, in
>contrast, has a link to it on the page. (OK, zipped and near the bottom,
>but it's there.) [I already had it, but an earlier version.]

[Terry Pinnell[_3_]]

Good Guy > wrote:

>On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>>
>> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>> letter?
>>
>
>
>It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
>printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
>this issue when I was using XP in those days.
>
>
>
Thanks to all for those helpful suggestions.

I've installed both USB Tree Viewer and Nirsoft's USBDeview, but find
both dauntingly complicated. It's astonishing how much information
there is to report about a USB device like a memory stick plugged into
a socket on the front of a PC case!

Here's an example from USBDeview. (I've split the very wide display
into five sections.)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/UDBView-Mystery-1.jpg

I'm quite out of my depth with this stuff. But I suspect the issue I
reported was somehow due to my using several USB sticks, sometimes in
two different USB sockets, sometimes both at once, sometimes after
renaming them which XP Explorer allows. The background for anyone
curious is that I was testing the transfer of music tracks and
playlists from my PC to my car's player, using the auto sync feature
in my music management program MediaMonkey.

A large part of my confusion is because I've never grasped how Windows
deals with names and drive letters of USB devices and HDs, internal or
external. Plus the apparent absence of any helpful information about
the physical current location of a particular device. What I want is a
list with entries like this:

'32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into fixed USB socket on
front of PC.'

or

'32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into socket #4 of USB Power
Hub brand xyz'


--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Paul]

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Good Guy > wrote:
>
>> On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>>> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>>>
>>> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>>> letter?
>>>
>>
>> It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
>> printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
>> this issue when I was using XP in those days.
>>
>>
>>
> Thanks to all for those helpful suggestions.
>
> I've installed both USB Tree Viewer and Nirsoft's USBDeview, but find
> both dauntingly complicated. It's astonishing how much information
> there is to report about a USB device like a memory stick plugged into
> a socket on the front of a PC case!
>
> Here's an example from USBDeview. (I've split the very wide display
> into five sections.)
>
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/UDBView-Mystery-1.jpg
>
> I'm quite out of my depth with this stuff. But I suspect the issue I
> reported was somehow due to my using several USB sticks, sometimes in
> two different USB sockets, sometimes both at once, sometimes after
> renaming them which XP Explorer allows. The background for anyone
> curious is that I was testing the transfer of music tracks and
> playlists from my PC to my car's player, using the auto sync feature
> in my music management program MediaMonkey.
>
> A large part of my confusion is because I've never grasped how Windows
> deals with names and drive letters of USB devices and HDs, internal or
> external. Plus the apparent absence of any helpful information about
> the physical current location of a particular device. What I want is a
> list with entries like this:
>
> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into fixed USB socket on
> front of PC.'
>
> or
>
> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into socket #4 of USB Power
> Hub brand xyz'

In your dropbox picture, you have a VID and PID
which can be looked up.

vid=05e3 pid=070e

Genesys Logic Smart Card Reader

That's a device with SD card slot or similar. Card
reads come with as many as 52 to 1 or as low as 1 to 1
(single SD slot, only takes SD). I have a thing like
a USB flash stick, with an SD hole on it, and all
it handles is SD (from my camera).

A card reader can be present on a printer.

A card reader can be present on a computer, in
the place where the floppy drive used to be.

Third party card readers also exist for
5.25" bays, and you can add some pretty fancy
ones there. As well as perhaps a couple USB
ports for other things.

The drive letters for card readers, tend to stay
in place, even if the media is absent. More lore
on drive letters, here.

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html

Paul

[Terry Pinnell[_3_]]

Paul > wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> Good Guy > wrote:
>>
>>> On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>>> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>>>> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>>>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>>>>
>>>> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>>>> letter?
>>>>
>>>
>>> It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
>>> printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
>>> this issue when I was using XP in those days.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Thanks to all for those helpful suggestions.
>>
>> I've installed both USB Tree Viewer and Nirsoft's USBDeview, but find
>> both dauntingly complicated. It's astonishing how much information
>> there is to report about a USB device like a memory stick plugged into
>> a socket on the front of a PC case!
>>
>> Here's an example from USBDeview. (I've split the very wide display
>> into five sections.)
>>
>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/UDBView-Mystery-1.jpg
>>
>> I'm quite out of my depth with this stuff. But I suspect the issue I
>> reported was somehow due to my using several USB sticks, sometimes in
>> two different USB sockets, sometimes both at once, sometimes after
>> renaming them which XP Explorer allows. The background for anyone
>> curious is that I was testing the transfer of music tracks and
>> playlists from my PC to my car's player, using the auto sync feature
>> in my music management program MediaMonkey.
>>
>> A large part of my confusion is because I've never grasped how Windows
>> deals with names and drive letters of USB devices and HDs, internal or
>> external. Plus the apparent absence of any helpful information about
>> the physical current location of a particular device. What I want is a
>> list with entries like this:
>>
>> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into fixed USB socket on
>> front of PC.'
>>
>> or
>>
>> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into socket #4 of USB Power
>> Hub brand xyz'
>
>In your dropbox picture, you have a VID and PID
>which can be looked up.
>
> vid=05e3 pid=070e
>
> Genesys Logic Smart Card Reader
>
>That's a device with SD card slot or similar. Card
>reads come with as many as 52 to 1 or as low as 1 to 1
>(single SD slot, only takes SD). I have a thing like
>a USB flash stick, with an SD hole on it, and all
>it handles is SD (from my camera).
>
>A card reader can be present on a printer.
>
>A card reader can be present on a computer, in
>the place where the floppy drive used to be.
>
>Third party card readers also exist for
>5.25" bays, and you can add some pretty fancy
>ones there. As well as perhaps a couple USB
>ports for other things.
>
>The drive letters for card readers, tend to stay
>in place, even if the media is absent. More lore
>on drive letters, here.
>
>http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html
>
> Paul

Thanks Paul, appreciate that helpful advice.

I wonder if my built-in card reader could be implicated?
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MESH-Xtreme-SDreader.JPG

It's rarely used (and certainly not during any of my recent USB
testing). But I do recall that years ago (the PC is 7 years old) it
would sometimes be erratic, occasionally not recognising the inserted
SD card.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Paul]

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Paul > wrote:
>
>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>> Good Guy > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 17/06/2015 19:18, Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>>>> Whenever I use the 'Safely Remove Hardware' tool, say to remove USB
>>>>> stick F:, I also see this mystery entry, with no drive letter.
>>>>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/WhatUSB-1.jpg
>>>>>
>>>>> How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive
>>>>> letter?
>>>>>
>>>> It could be you printer attached via USB port. Try to disconnect the
>>>> printer and then see if it is still visible as in your image. I had
>>>> this issue when I was using XP in those days.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Thanks to all for those helpful suggestions.
>>>
>>> I've installed both USB Tree Viewer and Nirsoft's USBDeview, but find
>>> both dauntingly complicated. It's astonishing how much information
>>> there is to report about a USB device like a memory stick plugged into
>>> a socket on the front of a PC case!
>>>
>>> Here's an example from USBDeview. (I've split the very wide display
>>> into five sections.)
>>>
>>> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/UDBView-Mystery-1.jpg
>>>
>>> I'm quite out of my depth with this stuff. But I suspect the issue I
>>> reported was somehow due to my using several USB sticks, sometimes in
>>> two different USB sockets, sometimes both at once, sometimes after
>>> renaming them which XP Explorer allows. The background for anyone
>>> curious is that I was testing the transfer of music tracks and
>>> playlists from my PC to my car's player, using the auto sync feature
>>> in my music management program MediaMonkey.
>>>
>>> A large part of my confusion is because I've never grasped how Windows
>>> deals with names and drive letters of USB devices and HDs, internal or
>>> external. Plus the apparent absence of any helpful information about
>>> the physical current location of a particular device. What I want is a
>>> list with entries like this:
>>>
>>> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into fixed USB socket on
>>> front of PC.'
>>>
>>> or
>>>
>>> '32 GB USB memory stick currently plugged into socket #4 of USB Power
>>> Hub brand xyz'
>> In your dropbox picture, you have a VID and PID
>> which can be looked up.
>>
>> vid=05e3 pid=070e
>>
>> Genesys Logic Smart Card Reader
>>
>> That's a device with SD card slot or similar. Card
>> reads come with as many as 52 to 1 or as low as 1 to 1
>> (single SD slot, only takes SD). I have a thing like
>> a USB flash stick, with an SD hole on it, and all
>> it handles is SD (from my camera).
>>
>> A card reader can be present on a printer.
>>
>> A card reader can be present on a computer, in
>> the place where the floppy drive used to be.
>>
>> Third party card readers also exist for
>> 5.25" bays, and you can add some pretty fancy
>> ones there. As well as perhaps a couple USB
>> ports for other things.
>>
>> The drive letters for card readers, tend to stay
>> in place, even if the media is absent. More lore
>> on drive letters, here.
>>
>> http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html
>>
>> Paul
>
> Thanks Paul, appreciate that helpful advice.
>
> I wonder if my built-in card reader could be implicated?
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MESH-Xtreme-SDreader.JPG
>
> It's rarely used (and certainly not during any of my recent USB
> testing). But I do recall that years ago (the PC is 7 years old) it
> would sometimes be erratic, occasionally not recognising the inserted
> SD card.

At a guess, that should use up four drive letters,
even when no media is in each slot.

You could disconnect it, but it might be tied into a
hub chip that your USB key (in picture) is using. It
really depends on how it is wired.

The USB cabling may have a 2x5 on the end, with one
pin missing which functions as a keying feature. Each USB
port uses a 1x4 section of that connector. One half of the
cable, could be the 1x4 that feeds the Genesis. The second
1x4 worth of pins, could operate the USB port in the picture.
So no hub chip is needed in that case. But if one USB port
internally is being used to run all that hardware, then
there's probably a hub in there somewhere.

Apple makes this a bit easier in their OS, because
they have a page which shows a stick drawing of the
USB connectivity. If hub devices are present, you
can see the Y they create in the USB map, and that
helps tell you how all the stuff is connected.

Not many OSes, will map physical location to some
information the OS has to share. While there was
some SATA RAID softwares that would do that (display
a picture showing the SATA port that needed attention),
generally that's not a feature on PCs. We have to "guess"
at it instead.

Paul