Windows 7 - safely remove h/w (eject) icon for permanent device

I have a USB/serial device connected. However, there's always a system tray notification icon saying it's safe to eject/remove that device. It's a permanently connected device like a printer or scanner; it never gets disconnected.

On my 2 prior Windows 7 clean installs, I never had this issue. Another inconsistency.

Should I remove the device and reinstall the driver?

BTW, re: drivers...I've never seen any webpage that describes in any detail the ins and outs of drivers as it relates to the "stack" (Driver Details) of programs (dll/sys). As well, in said device (above), I've downloaded the driver yet when I connected, Windows downloaded it. I've not seen a good explanation as to how YOU point Windows to a folder or wherever such that it uses THAT driver.

How do I know where the installed software will put that driver? Do you point to a folder and the driver install process will scan the whole folder TREE? Or, must it be in that folder? How am I supposed to know what the name of the driver is when it's installed as a part of many other software items? The questions go on and on.

The printer should have native win 7 drivers, and a quickstart guide - did you follow the quickstart guide?

Does anyone on here read?

It's a USB/Serial converter device. It's LIKE a printer in that it's NEVER disconnected so it should never HAVE that "remove hardware/eject media" icon for it. Ever. Yet, I am receiving a notification TO remove/eject that device. That's wrong. It wasn't that way on the prior 2 Windows 7 installs.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but it ALWAYS shows the "remove/eject" notification icon for this USB device.