External USB disks disappearing, or not being fully removed

[Clairvaux]

I have been using 2 external USB disks in enclosures to make daily images of my computer. I swap them daily to that effect, and use Macrium Reflect for the backup. I set this up 10 years ago. For a long time, it had been going on smoothly. Starting a few years ago, trouble set in.

One of the two disks (at least) sometimes disappears from view. Windows Explorer does not see it anymore. Under Directory Opus, it shows as "Local disk" (the real label is not displayed), and it will refuse to show the files inside. Restarting the computer solves this.

The same disk (this happens on at least one disk) will sometimes accept to be removed by Windows (I often use the program USB Safely Remove for this), the program would confirm that the disk has been removed, however, the disk would continue spinning, I would be able to hear it moving (there would even be some irregular noises at times), it would be warm to the touch, and, if I attempted removing the cable then, the disk would make a very worrying "ting !" noise, showing (I suppose) it had not, in fact, been removed.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

Nice job on System Specs!

1. Are your drives displayed in Disk Management?
2. Have you tried anything to resolve your issue?
3. Are all your system files in tact?
4. sfc /scannow from Administrative CMD?

The noise you are referring to may be read/write head contacting the spinning platter. Bearing usually don't sound like that.

 

[file3456]

Might be interested in this thread. Suspicion about ejecting USB drives

 

[Clairvaux]

Clairvaux
Are your drives displayed in Disk Management?

The external drive I just disconnected is not.

Have you tried anything to resolve your issue?

Many things, spread over the years. Swapping a long cable for a shorter one. Swapping enclosures, going from USB 3 to USB 2. Using a two-pronged USB 2 cable, to supply more power to the disk. Replacing the internal system disk, which had bad sectors, with an SSD. Buying a replacement for the data disk, which has bad sectors (I'm currently testing it).

Now, one of my backup disks is in an Icy Box USB 2 enclosure, the other in an Orico USB 3 enclosure. I've long suspected that the Oricos are faulty, but I'm not sure. The disk which keeps spinning after removal is in the Icy Box.

Are all your system files in tact?
sfc /scannow from Administrative CMD?

"Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them."

The noise you are referring to may be read/write head contacting the spinning platter. Bearing usually don't sound like that.

And that would be very bad, correct ?

Might be interested in this thread. Suspicion about ejecting USB drives

Very interesting, indeed. So, Windows removing an USB disk does not stop the disk spinning ? When do the disk stops, then ? Hard disks do have idle and sleep states, don't they ? Why does that particular disk never sleeps, at times ?

There was a time when I did not have this problem. I'm sure that in the beginning, when I used Western Digital Blues in Icy Box USB 2 enclosures, I did not have this problem.

Now I use Seagate Barracudas. They were first in Orico USB 3 enclosures, then I put one back in a brand new Icy Box USB 2 enclosure. That's the one which refuses to sleep now.

I don't know if it always refuses to sleep, or if it only happens at random. I would say the latter.

It's also possible this is happening with the other disk (same Seagate, Orico USB 3 enclosure). I've tried so many things to no avail.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

Quote: "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them."

Try running sfc /scannow a couple more times please. If you continue to receive that message please download, place on your desktop & run SFCFix.exe by Niemiro
Direct download SFCFix.exe
When completed, please post log that will be open & saved on your desktop.

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

Clairvaux

Quote: "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them."

Try running sfc /scannow a couple more times please. If you continue to receive that message please download, place on your desktop & run SFCFix.exe by Niemiro
Direct download SFCFix.exe
When completed, please post log that will be open & saved on your desktop.

Snick

Thank you. Will do that. First time I hear about SFC Fix -- and I've run SFC quite a few times.

 

[Clairvaux]

I ran SFC Scannow two more times. Still throwing "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them".

Then I ran SFC Fix. It was unable to read my Windows 7 DVD when it asked for it. The DVD drive was not visible under Windows Explorer at that time.

I tried again, restarting the computer, outside of SFC Fix. I put another CD inside, and this time, Windows Explorer could read it normally.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

This is your problem, I'll see if I have that file.

CORRUPT: C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_b591afc466a15356\svchost.exe

I do, uploading AutoSURT with replacement package to my OneDrive.
I'll post the link when upload is finished.
Please download 1AutoSURT64.exe & place on your desktop & double-click, click Install
When the program finishes a copy of the CBS Folder will be on your desktop
Open CBS Folder and upload CheckSUR.log please.
You can open the CheckSUR.log with Notepad, Notepad++, etc. The file should be listed with (f) followed by (fix), if that is the case, run sfc /scannow and report the finding again please.

AutoSURT takes control of Trusted Installer (security permission) installs the folder/file in the winsxs repository and returns permissions to Trusted Installer.

When you run sfc /scannow again, it can locate that good folder/file and install a copy of it in the appropriate location. Again, keeping all the security permissions in tact.

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

Clairvaux
Please download 1AutoSURT64.exe & place on your desktop & double-click, click Install
When the program finishes a copy of the CBS Folder will be on your desktop
Open CBS Folder and upload CheckSUR.log please.
You can open the CheckSUR.log with Notepad, Notepad++, etc. The file should be listed with (f) followed by (fix), if that is the case, run sfc /scannow and report the finding again please.

This is impressive. I "installed" 1AutoSURT64 from the desktop. It ran, and then there was no CBS folder on the desktop. There was one, however, in C:\Windows\Logs. That's where I found the CheckSUR.log file.

There seems to be a huge number of "fixed" files in here. All of them seem to have Avast in their name. Does this mean Avast Anti-virus Free thrashed my computer ? I used to have it installed. Then I uninstalled it looong ago, because it was more acting like malware itself. I had to use not only Avast's dedicated uninstaller for that, but also other tricks (it's even possible that I deleted manually some registry entries).

However, I made a search on that file you identified, and I could not find it. What now ?

 

[Snick]

Avast updates leave remnants quite often. They have optimized for Win10.
There are usually 7-14 that remain. Irregardless, those files have been replaced/repaired.
Do you know you can repair Avast through Control Panel > Uninstall Programs > click on Avast > choose Repair?

You have KB4534310 cat/mum pair missing, I'll download that kb, extract contents and see if I can provide them to you.
The one file I provided is replaced/repaired.

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

The one file I provided is replaced/repaired.
Snick

Even though I did not run SFC again ?

You have KB4534310 cat/mum pair missing, I'll download that kb, extract contents and see if I can provide them to you.

Why, thank you very much. Is that a Windows update ? What does it do ?

Do you know you can repair Avast through Control Panel > Uninstall Programs > click on Avast > choose Repair?

I have divorced from Avast, and I'm afraid it's for ever.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

The files were replaced in winsxs folder, running sfc /scannow will verify or copy them from winsxs to the appropriate location.

1. Did you remove Avast?
2. If so, did you remove it via Uninstall Programs?

Shouldn't have all those remnants if you did.

Here's your missing cat/mum pair.
Unzip/decompress it.

View attachment CheckSUR.zip

Place the CheckSUR folder in C:/Windows/Temp and run AutoSURT again & post CheckSUR.log again please.

Don't know why the CBS folder wasn't copied to your desktop. I ran AutoSURT again on my Win7 & Win10 and CBS appeared on desktop. Weird.

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

Clairvaux
Did you remove Avast?
If so, did you remove it via Uninstall Programs?

Yes, I uninstalled it long ago, as I said. Very likely, I used the uninstall feature of Revo Uninstaller Pro, reverting the saved log of the audited installation. As I do for all programs. This is normally a much more thorough and reliable method than just using Windows uninstall feature.

Since some things were not all right, I then applied Avast's dedicated uninstaller, which is a separate program. I then did other stuff. I never use Windows uninstall feature.

Here's your missing cat/mum pair.

This looks nice . What's a cat/mum pair ?

 

[Clairvaux]

I'm doing things step by step now.

The files were replaced in winsxs folder, running sfc /scannow will verify or copy them from winsxs to the appropriate location.

I have now run sfc /scannow once again. That's all I did. I still got the message :

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

Is that a problem ?

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

No problem, I don't believe your ran AutoSURT after you placed the CheckSUR folder. You have to unzip it and place the folder, placing the zip/compressed folder won't work.

After you placed CheckSUR folder in C:/Windows/Temp, you have to run AutoSURT again to install the files in C:\Windows\winsxs
Please run AutoSURT again & post CheckSUR.log, hopefully the CBS folder will be on your desktop.

Now, please run sfc /scannow, so that it can find the files that AutoSURT placed in winsxs & copy them to C:\Windows\servicing\Packages.

When it completes what is the message?

I ran AutoSURT on my win7 OS & copy of CBS folder is on my desktop.

.cat M$ suffix for Security Catalog. A file with the extension. MUM is an update file that contains information that Windows Update uses to execute the patch on your computer. They are always replaced in matched pairs.

If avast is no longer on your system, how did you run Avast Clear?
According to Avast Forum instructions you are supposed to disconnect from the Internet before running Avast Clear.
Disregard the install part. The instructions -> here

We can run a registry scan with FRSTx64 looking for Avast remnants and see what it finds.

Regarding CheckSUR from Sevenforums Tutorials
System Update Readiness Tool (SURT) - Sevenforums CheckSur.log File Analysis ...

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

All right, I'm completely lost, now. Let's forget this Avast business for the moment.

This Autosurt-Checksur business is Chinese to me. The tutorial is of no help, it's too complex for me.

I ran Autosurt again. There's no visible result. Nothing says : you've succeeded.

I now noticed a CheckSUR.zip on my desktop. It bears the date of yesterday. So it was probably generated before my last run of Autosurt. What do I do now ?

 

[Snick]

Sorry you're lost, it was not or ever my intent!

Did you unzip the CheckSUR.zip and place the contents (the folder) in C:\Windows\Temp?

If so, & you ran AutoSURT, CBS folder is on your desktop, would you please post the CheckSUR.log.

Hope this helps.

Again, I'm truly sorry for your confusion.

Snick

 

[Snick]

BTW: I have Avast Free installed too!

Here's a run of AutoSURT on my Win7x64 Home Premium Drive. & results from CheckSUR.log

=================================
Checking System Update Readiness.
Binary Version 6.1.7601.22471
Package Version 26.0
2020-10-11 10:38

Checking Windows Servicing Packages

Checking Package Manifests and Catalogs

Checking Package Watchlist

Checking Component Watchlist

Checking Packages

Checking Component Store

Summary:
Seconds executed: 281
No errors detected

 

[Clairvaux]

My fault entirely. You've been very kind to help. A few questions :

- Does Autosurt need to be on the desktop ? Can I put it anywhere I like ?
- Does it need to be run as admin ? I do everything under a non-admin account.

 

[Snick]

No problem with fault.
We are here to provide free help & try to answer questions, for educational purposes.
I often forget that not all posters have English as first language!

- Does Autosurt need to be on the desktop ? Can I put it anywhere I like ?
No AutoSURT doesn't have to be on desktop, usually easier for explanations & CBS folder is copied there.
It runs from anywhere though.

- Does it need to be run as admin ? I do everything under a non-admin account.
No, if it runs, & completes without an error message, then all is well.

Question:
Did you unzip the CheckSUR folder & copy it to C:\Windows\Temp?

If you did, ran AutoSURT, & the CBS folder is now on your desktop, please post the CheckSUR.log.
If you placed the CheckSUR.zip there, AutoSURT cannot unzip/decompress that and it doesn't find the files.

The reason I have the CBS folder copied to desktop right after AutoSURT runs, is because the CheckSUR.log is temporary in its original location & to save you from having to go to the CBS folder and copy. It will disappear after only a short time.

Snick