Strange USB Drive Showing in Device Manager

[Boozad]

Thanks for the data. It really helps.
An item in interest is the Computer Management top item. It has no name.
Can you enter a name and see if it effects the USB Device.
It shouldn't, but it looks different without one.

Wouldn't this be the recovery partition set by Windows? That's what I've always presumed it was anyway.

Since you have removed all USB devices, I'm a little confused.
One thing I am thinking, what about a printer? They some time have a Disk capability to them.
Do you have a printer connect? If so what is its Make/Model?

I do have a printer but I only connect it up when I need to use it so it's not connected right now.

 

[Gandalf]

Outfits like Dell usually install Recovery partitions in place of providing Installation DVDs.
I've never seen Windows direct from Microsoft make a Recovery partition.

It seems your other helper has you on a different track. I'll just watch for now and hope he resolves the issue.
I might even learn something from him. If not, I'll come to the rescue as any good Wizard would do.

 

[Boozad]

Outfits like Dell usually install Recovery partitions in place of providing Installation DVDs.
I've never seen Windows direct from Microsoft make a Recovery partition.

I can confirm that it is a recovery partition on C: (Disk 0), it is the 3.42GB partition on there. I didn't actually install the OS (I have an unbranded OEM copy) so just presumed that this was standard during an installation.

 

[Gandalf]

I can confirm that it is a recovery partition on C: (Disk 0), it is the 3.42GB partition on there. I didn't actually install the OS (I have an unbranded OEM copy) so just presumed that this was standard during an installation.

No comment on your last. You could be in violation of site SOPs, but that is not my area of expertise.
I could point you to someone to ask, if you want to know.
You might want to secure a legitimate copy of Windows. Your call.

Edit: If you can't afford a certified copy of Win7, you might want to jump into the world of Linux. There OS's are free. Just a thought.

 

[Boozad]

I can confirm that it is a recovery partition on C: (Disk 0), it is the 3.42GB partition on there. I didn't actually install the OS (I have an unbranded OEM copy) so just presumed that this was standard during an installation.

No comment on your last. You could be in violation of site SOPs, but that is not my area of expertise.
I could point you to someone to ask, if you want to know.
You might want to secure a legitimate copy of Windows. Your call.

Edit: If you can't afford a certified copy of Win7, you might want to jump into the world of Linux. There OS's are free. Just a thought.

My copy is genuine, it is just an OEM copy that is not branded by a manufacturer like DELL or the like. I'm not going to purchase an £1,800 system and cheap on a pirated copy of an OS. All of my systems have legitimate copies of Windows on.



Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-KD9K9-TXM8H-QBKT3
Windows Product Key Hash: RUuhREeLMukjQKZvinniLBY05gY=
Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-9045622-56580
Windows Product ID Type: 3
Windows License Type: OEM System Builder
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {DF76B663-E4C6-41AA-84AE-A42B6C0A5E58}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{DF76B663-E4C6-41AA-84AE-A42B6C0A5E58}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-QBKT3</PKey><PID>00371-OEM-9045622-56580</PID><PIDType>3</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-812890902-3511591539-1744712487</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>ASUS</Manufacturer><Model>All Series</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>American Megatrends Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>3009</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="7"/><Date>20130524000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>DA973E07018400F4</HWID><UserLCID>0809</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>GMT Standard Time(GMT+00:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_COA_NSLP channel
Activation ID: e120e868-3df2-464a-95a0-b52fa5ada4bf
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00371-00180-456-256580-02-2057-7601.0000-1652013
Installation ID: 003255929654251550909453846205836101233303710436007172
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: QBKT3
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 2
Trusted time: 25/04/2014 15:08:38

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: 0x00000000
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: 3:12:2014 22:40
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MgAAAAEABAABAAEAAAACAAAAAQABAAEAln3CDeqWdMSsENwY5hRcjoTOKCDiSO6NyPY=

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes, but no SLIC table
Windows marker version: N/A
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: N/A
BIOS Information:
ACPI Table Name OEMID Value OEMTableID Value
APIC ALASKA A M I
FACP ALASKA A M I
HPET ALASKA A M I
MCFG ALASKA A M I
FPDT ALASKA A M I
SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist
SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist
SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist
SSDT PmRef Cpu0Ist
BGRT ALASKA A M I

 

[Gandalf]

I'm am relieved to hear you are legit. That didn't come out right, did it. I think it time I hit the sack. These all nighters ware me out. Good Night/Morning.

 

[Boozad]

Don't worry about it, I've no problem with proving my OS legitimacy, I abhor piracy.

 

[ComputerGeek]

OK. Back to topic :focus:

Forgive me, but at this point, i've lost track of just what problem we're trying to solve.

@Boozad
Do you still care about the screwy disk name? Does everything seem to otherwise work? or where do you want to go from here?

 

[Boozad]

I'm not really bothered about the name of the disk no, and I think it's pretty much been confirmed that both that weird drive and the Windows Portable Device (which has reappeared in Device Manager following a reboot) are the result of the AI Suite III's USB3.0 Boost function. It does bother me a little that I can't seem to get rid of these drives but I do have an idea or two which may resolve that. One would to be uninstall AI Suite III and see what happens, failing that I could uninstall my Extensible Host Controller (this applies to one of my front USB 3.0 ports coming from the midboard header) and reinstall. Theoretically one of those should remove these annoyances.

But no, there is no impairment to the system performance so it's not a major issue. If I ever get rid of them I'll update the thread.

 

[ComputerGeek]

One curiosity question (if and should you feel like looking).

When you view Devices by Connection right click the USB Mass Storage device parent of the ???? Disk. Select Properties->Details. Use the pull down menu to report Hardware IDs. Copy/paste the result. The IDs for the parent device may be a clue.

 

[Boozad]

Here you go CG, I did look into this briefly before but didn't find anything. I've got to admit my quick search was half hearted at best.

An interesting subject turned up on here last night though, while doing a bit of investigative work in this thread it turned out the user has the same Windows Portable Devices showing up when not even connected that I have. I had put this down to AI Suite III, but that user doesn't have an ASUS motherboard so I doubt that's the cause of his problem.
That's made me wonder if it actually something to do with Windows and how it's handling USB connected devices.



An interesting alternative view:

 

[ComputerGeek]

Do you have a Card Reader? As seems to me, that's what it is.

Create a System Restore point, download the driver HERE. Right cick and select "Run as Admin" to install

 

[Boozad]

No, no card reader. I believe this is all relating to one of my front USB3.0 ports (or both) running from the midboard header. I'm tempted to set a Restore Point and uninstall my eXtensible Host Controller, reboot and reinstall the drivers.

 

[ComputerGeek]

Well, then it is strange. As the Hardware ID of USB Mass Storage (USB MS)device:
> Indicates the hardware vendor for the USB MS is Genesys
> It's a real / physical device (from all indications i see)
> The Hardware Id is among those listed in the Installation Setup File which indicates the UB SM driver from Genesys supports it.

You may want to create a restore point and try.

 

[Boozad]

I just uninstalled my eXtensible Host Controller, rebooted and reinstalled. Guess what? The drive was reinstalled during the process.



Now that drive is assigned the path L: which is also the path assigned to flash drives when inserted in the front USB3.0 ports. I hear what you're saying regarding the driver above but I don't have any Genesys hardware in my system at all. The drive that is showing up isn't physically attached to my system, that's what's really confusing me.

 

[Boozad]

This confuses the issue even more, I inserted my Kingston data Traveller into the front USB3.0 port and this popped up



However, Device Manager shows both the Data Traveller and the strange drive as still there. The Data Traveller has been assigned the L: path again when inserted.

 

[ComputerGeek]

OH. I just noticed your thread started in 2013! That answered one of my questions: Is this a recent problem?!

If you like, and at your leisure, I wouldn't mind exploring your issues further. My curiosity is definitely piqued!

One thing i've noticed, drivers for Windows Portable devices (WPD) install different then other drivers. But still some things to try / look at for both your USB and WPD puzzles

By default, Device Manager only displays connected devices. And i think each flash drive should also appear with a corresponding Portable device. Do you see one portable device per flash? To confirm if a Portable device is associated with a flash drive (and which one)

• Watch Portable Devices while you "Safely Remove" a flash drive. DevMgr will refresh. Does a portable device disappear? If yes, it's associated with the flash you just removed
• Does ??? Disk appear as a Safely Remove option? Anything change under Portable devices when you do?
• Unplug all the flash drives and run the 32- or 64-bit version of USBTreeView as appropriate for your OS. Give me a snapshot of the left pane. Click File->Save Report and upload to next post

 

[Phone Man]

Someone posted this utility the other day and it shows everything about your USB system. Maybe it will let you get a fix on your problem. Just unpack and run the exe.

USB Device Tree Viewer

There are right click options on the ports,hub and controller that may let you clear it up.

Jim

ComputerGeek beat me to it while I was getting the information. First time I have used it so still checking it out.

 

[ComputerGeek]

Hey Phone man

Ahhh... Great minds think alike. (Guess I'm the early bird - with the worm )

/* EDIT */
btw... Boozad, you have two very cute kids (on your Desktop Wallpaper). Are they your daughters?

 

[Boozad]

I'll give this a go later lads, just running around doing stuff that needs doing at the moment. I can tell you that the strange drive doesn't show up in Safely Remove Hardware though. I'll take some screenshots later with flash drives plugged in and what not. I can record my desktop activity so I'll give that a go and see how big the file is, it may be easier to understand what's going on. It may take me a few hours to upload it though.

btw... Boozad, you have two very cute kids (on your Desktop Wallpaper). Are they your daughters?

Thanks mate, yeah they're my daughters. That photo's a couple of years old now but it's still one of my favourites.