Windows 7: Can I remove an item from safely remove hardware list?

pete1185 · 10 Sep 2009

Hi all,

In the safely remove hardware menu (from clicking the icon in the task bar) I have both my internal sata hard drives listed. I'll never want to remove these so is there a way to remove them from the list?

I'm guessing it might require some registry editing but I've no idea where to start!

johngalt · 11 Sep 2009

Actually, it might be something related to your system setup.

It sounds like in your BIOS the SATA channels that are being used for your internal drives are set to allow eSATA - and thus that capability is being shown in Windows 7.

I don't have eSATA enabled for the 3 SATA channels I use for my internal drives, and none of my internal drives shows in the safely remove hardware list.

Take a look around in your BIOS and see if you can disable eSATA for those two ports - if you can, then Windows 7 should no longer offer them as removable items.

stevecn70 · 11 Sep 2009

All SATA devices show up in that list because they can be stopped and removed from the computer. There isn't anyway to not make them show up.

FZ21Z · 11 Sep 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by stevecn70

All SATA devices show up in that list because they can be stopped and removed from the computer. There isn't anyway to not make them show up.

Mine doesn't show up, my external drive does when I plug it in, but not my main drive.

Antman · 11 Sep 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by FZ21Z

Quote: Originally Posted by stevecn70

All SATA devices show up in that list because they can be stopped and removed from the computer. There isn't anyway to not make them show up.

Mine doesn't show up, my external drive does when I plug it in, but not my main drive.

And herein, the key may lie.

The internal SATA drives that appear on the list are connected to a controller with AHCI enabled. Only AHCI ports support hot swapping.

The internal drives that do not appear on the list are connected to a controller with IDE enabled. IDE does not support hot swapping.

The OP can override the appearance of the SRH occurence, but it will reset on every boot. It is hard coded in the driver. Of course, you could add a reg file merge to your start-up to override on each boot.

safelyremovehardware dot com has an app to assist, but it is not free.

My mobo mounted USB wifi appears on the list.

You can create a shortcut to this
%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll

to bring up the dialog box and possibly avoid fatfinger disconnects.

Access403 · 08 Oct 2009

I have been having this same issue, it is a little strange to me as I understand the hot swap ideas of sata, however I have never had this until now. I was running Windows 7 RC build 7100 for a while and NEVER had that icon, now I installed Windows7 Pro full version. (yes its a legal copy I got it from MSDNAA through my College) and now I have that Icon showing up, I did make a few CMOS changes before I installed Windows7 pro. So I am thinking it is related to this, If you make the change in bios or the registry to mimic an ide device it in theory "should" fix this. I have not gotten around to testing it yet though.

Access403 · 08 Oct 2009

on a second note.. you would think windows would have a option on the HD properties to mark a sata drive as internal or non-removable. but w/e

markatneerim · 30 Jan 2010

See this post:

Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media problem.

Windows 7: Can I remove an item from safely remove hardware list?

Can I remove an item from safely remove hardware list? problems?