Windows 7 - Windows trying to install a "Disk Drive" I never plugged in.

Heya. Windows7 recently popped up saying it was installing a Disk Drive, only problem is that I hadn't plugged anything in. Now in the device manage an Unknown device is listed.

Does anyone know of anything that could cause this and if there's any way to remove it?

Hello nums. Welcome to the Forum.

Things that can usually causes that is a device that is part of your system that does not have proper Plug-and-Play capabilities and does not have the correct driver installed for it, or a phantom device that was not removed from the system properly.

But before anyone here can begin to think about what it could be we will need to know what we are working with. Could you fill out your "My System Specs" under your forum profile for us? Include somewhere whether this is a laptop or desktop and don't forget to mention any connected devices or peripherals on your system.
That will help us help you.

Thanks for the reply. I have filled out the My Specs page.
I have used my current rig for the last 6-7 months or so without any problems until yesterday.

Not sure if its related, recently this message has been showing up in the Event Viewer.
The device, \Device\Ide\iaStor0, did not respond within the timeout period.
I have tried updating the drivers, it still happens.

The iastor is Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver

Do you have a printer or another device attached with USB ports in it? your 3.3V CMOS motherboard battery may have run down in the interim of non-use too.

I do have an external HDD but its only connected when needed. There is also a camera (rarely ever connected) and the occasional thumb drive.

Try this:
In Device Manager > Unknown Device > Properties
Go to the Details Tab > Drop Down Box > Hardware Ids

And note the listing in the first line and post that here, or better, a screen shot.

Note: you can attach your snip to your post using the paperclip icon on the top of the post window).

Let's see what that tells us.

Attached the screenshot.

OK. I did a quick web check and USB device code
VID - OCF3
PID - 3000

comes up as an Atheros Valkarie BootROM device

Most likely suspects:

• USB Universal Serial Bus
• Bluetooth device driver
• Touchchip Fingerprint Reader

If you've never installed a bluetooth device or a fingerprint reader then I would guess it's the USB controller itself.

Can we get a look at your USB tree in Device Manager?

EDIT: Looks like a Bluetooth Device
http://www.linux-usb.org/usb.ids

I've never installed any bluetooth devices though my motherboard has wireless BT built in.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS P8P67 PRO

If that's the case why would it be listed as an unknown device? (and why did it suddenly turn on?)

Most likely because the on-board Bluetooth device is enabled in the BIOS settings but the Bluetooth driver was never installed.

A Bluetooth driver (Atheros AW_AR3011 for Windows 7) is offered on your motherboard website. You could install this driver to fully enable the device, or you could go into the BIOS settings and see if you can disable the Bluetooth features there - then you would not need the driver.

Hard to say. I'll guess that some other connected device triggered a bluetooth feature call and switched a setting on somewhere. But that is just a WAG!