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#1
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../WhatUSB-1.jpg How can I discover what it is please? And why does it have no drive letter? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
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#2
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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. |
#3
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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 |
#4
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/lib...(v=vs.85).aspx Nirsoft USB Device Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...(v=vs.85).aspx |
#5
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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? |
#6
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/U...emovalTool.exe but without a security clearance, you won't be able to download. Maybe you have a friend with a security clearance ID code. |
#7
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What is this USB storage?
In message , VanguardLH
writes: [] A couple utilities might help: Microsoft USB Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib.../ff560019(v=vs. 85).aspx Nirsoft USB Device Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib.../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) |
#8
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What is this USB storage?
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
VanguardLH WROTE: A couple utilities might help: Microsoft USB Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...(v=vs.85).aspx Nirsoft USB Device Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...(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 ______________| |
#9
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What is this USB storage?
In message , VanguardLH
writes: [] VanguardLH WROTE: A couple utilities might help: Microsoft USB Viewer https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib...e/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 |
#10
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What is this USB storage?
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/lib...e/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.] |
#11
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/...-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 |
#12
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/...-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 |
#13
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/...-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/...e-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 |
#14
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What is this USB storage?
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/.../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/...-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/...e-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 |
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