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Phantom USB drives
My Precision 470 with Windows XP/Pro has a Dell 3007WFP monitor attached with the nifty USB and CF ports in the side. There are two drive letters taken up by USB drives at all times even when nothing is installed. When I do insert a USB flash drive, a third drive letter is taken up. I have tried to get rid of these phantom drives, but if I do then the USB ports stop working. The two devices are listed on the Device Manager under Storage volumes as "Generic volume." One is located on "Generic Flash HS-CF USB Device" and the other is "Generic Flash HS-COMBO USB Device". Does someone know of a way to get rid of these devices or at least stop them from grabbing a drive letter? I'm running out of drive letters! Thanks.
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Posted March 23rd, 2007 00:00
I think that super nice monitor (I'm jealous) has a card reader built in, those phantom drives are supposed to be there, so the card reader is active all the time.From the Dell site"The integrated USB ports (4) and 9-in-2 media card reader also allow the monitor to act as a media extension for your PC."Ron, nice MS article, thanks.
Message Edited by mombodog on 03-22-2007 08:40 PM1843
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Posted March 23rd, 2007 12:00
Well, I am using 17 drive letters, mostly for networked storage. I anticipate that usage might grow. However, I have a hard map of home drive (network) to drive letter H, so the increasing usage of the next available letters could lead to a scenario where the letter H gets overwritten by an inserted USB drive.I used information in the MS article Ron referenced to push the assigned drive letters for those unused drives to some higher letters so it freed up some room. Thanks.1843
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Posted March 23rd, 2007 15:00
:)
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Posted March 23rd, 2007 23:00
buchs2
As stated by mombodog, your phantom drives are the USB Mass Storage Media Card ports permanently connected to your monitor Generic USB Hub.
Un-associated USB Hub ports do not have assigned drive letters.
When a USB mass storage type device is inserted in an un-associated USB Hub port, Windows will:
1. Automatically assign the device the next available (unassigned) drive letter
2. Then reclaim the letter when the USB device is unplugged.
Regarding mapped network drives, see this MS KB link, indicates by default WXP normally assigns the highest letter Z for mapped network drive, thereby avoiding drive letter conflicts.
You can always use the MS KB 307889 procedure link provided by RoHe, if running out of drive letters
RoHe
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Posted March 22nd, 2007 22:00
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307889
Ron