Additional CD drive? Options

[orange]

I have recently moved from W2k Pro SM4 to XP Pro SP2. I also have 2 internal HD and 2 ext HD
as well as a DVD RW.

My HD s are set up as C,D E; DVD is F and 2nd HD is G, H, I

My externals are USB and are typically J and K.

The USB ext drives are optimized for unplugging - I can remove the USB drive without losing data.

I use the J drive for regular backups (daily/weekly)
The K drive is new and I use it and remove it form time to time.
I've noticed that I have a new K drive at the moment. The system thinks its a CD drive.
When I try to do Properties it tells me there is 0 bytes used 0 bytes available etc. There is No such drive, but some how XP thinks there is.

Has anyone else had similar issue? Is there a way to remove this "phantom drive"?
Thanks
orange

[theurgy]

Looks like you have quite a few different drive letters.
Now.. keep in mind that drive letters are assigned as they are seen. So these are not static values but are assigned once they appear.
The registry keys that handle this is found in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

You'll notice keys that have the names like \DosDevice\X: ... then the data will show it's addressing and info queried from the device (in Hex values of course).

Now if this is truely a "fantom" device .. try and identify what is causing it to be created (and if it still appears when you reboot). Also check your device Manager and see if any devices could be causing this. If all else fails and you DON'T want a drive letter assigned to this device.. then delete it's registry key (make a backup first)

[orange]

Looks like you have quite a few different drive letters.
Now.. keep in mind that drive letters are assigned as they are seen. So these are not static values but are assigned once they appear.
The registry keys that handle this is found in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

You'll notice keys that have the names like \DosDevice\X: ... then the data will show it's addressing and info queried from the device (in Hex values of course).

Now if this is truely a "fantom" device .. try and identify what is causing it to be created (and if it still appears when you reboot). Also check your device Manager and see if any devices could be causing this. If all else fails and you DON'T want a drive letter assigned to this device.. then delete it's registry key (make a backup first)

Theurgy: Thanks for replying.

Here is a list of devices from Registry (registryValues.jpg)
 registryValues.jpg ( 19.65k ) Number of downloads: 0


Don't know what to make of M:

Here is the list of drives from explorer (CurrentDrives.jpg)
 CurrentDrives.jpg ( 13.46k ) Number of downloads: 0


This is the K: that seems to be a phantom..?
Hmmm...

Here is device manager info.
 DeviceMgr.jpg ( 15.01k ) Number of downloads: 0


SAMSUNG is 500G Tony_H L: ext usb
ST3250620A is internal 250 G Seagate that houses XP C:, D:, and E:
WDC WD1600JB is 160 G WD J: ext usb
WDC WD400JB is internal 40 G WD that houses W2K © G:;(D)H:, and (E) I:

The PIONEER DVD-RW is drive F:

This post has been edited by orange: Jan 2 2008, 09:20 PM

[Andy]

I have a similar entry, that's where a USB flash drive appears if I plug one in. I have one of those memory card reader things, with a USB slot also. I discovered by trial and error that if I used the "safely unplug device" feature, the card reader would not recognise a new memory card plugged in to it until I rebooted the machine. However, if I selected to "eject" the drive, it would let me unplug it without telling me I'd been a naughty boy. And it would still recognise new cards inserted. I wonder if something about selecting the "eject" on the menu somehow labels it a CD drive?!!!
 phantomdrive.png ( 16.45k ) Number of downloads: 0

[theurgy]

Also if you have any Daemon Tools like Alcohol 120% or PowerISO they will create a virtual CD-ROM drive.

[orange]

Also if you have any Daemon Tools like Alcohol 120% or PowerISO they will create a virtual CD-ROM drive.

I do have PowerISO but have not used it for a while. I have rebooted the machine several times -- ah just checked again and now the K drive is NOT there??

I was just going thru some testing with sympatico re internet speed. Removed my router, changed some parms, and rebooted a few times. Got the line reset/adjusted and speeds are better - reinstalled router. Just now noticed the K: CD drive is not there.

 DrivesJan3.jpg ( 13.27k ) Number of downloads: 0


I do have USB stick memory devices and they do pick up the next available Letter when inserted. I do/did not have any of these inserted during my tests.
I do use the tray icon to "safely remove hardware" for the sticks. I found a parameter for the USB external drives that lets me shut down the disk (when necessary) without using the tray tool.

Thanks for your efforts and advice.

[orange]

I do have PowerISO but have not used it for a while. I have rebooted the machine several times -- ah just checked again and now the K drive is NOT there??

I was just going thru some testing with sympatico re internet speed. Removed my router, changed some parms, and rebooted a few times. Got the line reset/adjusted and speeds are better - reinstalled router. Just now noticed the K: CD drive is not there.

 DrivesJan3.jpg ( 13.27k ) Number of downloads: 0


I do have USB stick memory devices and they do pick up the next available Letter when inserted. I do/did not have any of these inserted during my tests.
I do use the tray icon to "safely remove hardware" for the sticks. I found a parameter for the USB external drives that lets me shut down the disk (when necessary) without using the tray tool.

Thanks for your efforts and advice.

Jan 6 11:05 PM

 DrivesJan62008.jpg ( 22.6k ) Number of downloads: 3


The strange CD Drive K: is back?

I did remove the External drive Tony_H(which was my L: drive), and have rebooted a few times. But this K: drive is back?

[theurgy]

Like I said.. check your Power ISO Settings.

Jan 6 11:05 PM

 DrivesJan62008.jpg ( 22.6k ) Number of downloads: 3


The strange CD Drive K: is back?

I did remove the External drive Tony_H(which was my L: drive), and have rebooted a few times. But this K: drive is back?