External USB disks disappearing, or not being fully removed

[Clairvaux]

Thank you for your patience.

I created a special working folder for all those files.

I downloaded again, into that folder, the CheckSUR.zip you posted.

I unzipped it.

I copied it into C:\Windows\Temp. But I copied only the CheckSUR folder which was inside the top CheckSUR folder (with its contents). Maybe I should have copied the top CheckSUR folder instead ?

Also, I did not move the CheckSUR folder into Windows\Temp. I copied it.

I did not delete the CheckSUR.zip from my working folder. This seems to contradict what you just said :

If you placed the CheckSUR.zip there, AutoSURT cannot unzip/decompress that and it doesn't find the files.

Then I ran AutoSURT. It asked for UAC, which I cleared. Then it opened a box saying it was working.

When the box closed, there was no CBS folder in that special working folder I put everything in.

A search did dig up a CBS folder in C:\Windows\Logs.

Inside, there is a CBS.log file whose date modified seems to correspond with the end of AutoSURT doing its work right now.

There is also a CheckSUR.log file and a CheckSUR.persist.log file with roughly the same timestamp.

There are also files of the type CbsPersist_20200514151206.cab, which are several months old (date modified).

There is a FilterList.log file several months old.

The CBS.log file is > 4 MB, which is much bigger than what you expect, I guess. That's why I had to zip it.

Is it possible that it just appended the operations we're attempting right now to older operations ?

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

CBS Folder is not CheckSUR.log. There is no CheckSUR.log in folder you uploaded.
AutoSURT is set (with a batch file) to place CBS Folder on your Desktop, not a special folder you created.



Please perform this steps

1. Place AutoSURT.exe on your Desktop
2. Place CheckSUR.zip on your Desktop
3. Extract Contents of CheckSUR.zip to Desktop
4. Copy & paste or Cut & Paste CheckSUR folder, see screenshot above, to C:\Windows\Temp
5. Run AutoSURT from your Desktop. IF User Account Control (UAC) asks, give permission for AutoSURT to run. When it completes, CBS Folder should be on your Desktop.
6. Open it and upload CheckSUR.log If not, go to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS & upload CheckSUR.log please.

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

I ran things once again according to your last post.

Is this attachment what you expected ?

It was in Windows\Logs\CBS, it wasn't on the desktop.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

Thank you!
I'll peruse the CheckSUR.log. I have a very busy day today so it may be a while.

Snick

 

[Snick]

How to remove Avast Errors from CheckSUR.log

1. Download avastclear.exe to your Desktop
2. SHUTDOWN your computer.
   
3. Start Windows in Safe Mode. Turn on the computer and immediately begin pressing the F8 key repeatedly in 1 second intervals. Faster or slower will not enter the proper menu & you'll have to repeat the process.
4. From the Windows Advanced Options Menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and press ENTER.
5. Open (execute) the uninstall utility
6. If you installed Avast in a different folder than the default, browse for it. (Note: Be careful! The content of any folder you choose will be deleted!)
7. Click REMOVE
8. Restart your computer

Please run AutoSURT from your desktop and post CheckSUR.log again.

Snick

 

[Snick]

If/when you can correct your Avast errors, you should consider a Repair Install for the registry errors which I cannot correct for you unfortunately.

View attachment Repair Install, correct windows problems without reformatting.docx

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

Snick,

Thank you for your quick replies. I can wait. Those problems have been going on for so long, I'd rather fix them correctly than rush a half-baked solution through the door.

It seems I haven't made myself clear enough on one point : I don't have Avast anti-virus installed. I uninstalled it long ago. There might be remnants, but the main program is gone. Therefore, I could not do this :

If you installed Avast in a different folder than the default, browse for it. (Note: Be careful! The content of any folder you choose will be deleted!)
Click REMOVE

I re-extracted CheckSUR.zip and re-pasted it in C:\Windows\Temp. I don't know if this needs to be done each time one runs AutoSURT.

I ran Avast uninstaller as instructed. I left the default options about the locations, as the program says. However, I'm positive that the program was not installed in that place. It was in a custom folder.

The CheckSUR.log is attached.

You should consider a Repair Install for the registry errors which I cannot correct for you unfortunately.

Would that destroy the unorthodox install I made according to this ?

An Old School Geek’s approach to Installing & Setting Up a Windows PC

This method separates data and system more than Windows normally does. I want to keep it that way.

 

[Snick]

Clairvaux

The CheckSUR.log is temporary in it original location, the CBS folder. It is replaced each time you run SURT and the CheckSUR.persist.log is updated with each new entry. I have assisted you as far as my knowledge permit me to.

Please check you Private Message (PM) for further assistance. They will be able to answer any and all of your questions, including fixing your CheckSUR.log registry errors.

Wishing you the BEST,

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

Snick,

Thank you for your kind assistance.

Is there anything valuable you can tell out of that last CheckSUR.log ?

Could you tell me what we have achieved and not achieved up to now ?

My understanding is, we were trying to fix missing or botched Windows Updates, and imperfect Avast anti-virus uninstalling.

However, is this related to my initial issue, of external USB disks disappearing and being imperfectly removed ? Or are those just extra issues we discovered going along ?

 

[Snick]

Your corrupt registry entries may be related to your problem you described regarding your USB. When you have issues with your system files, they can cause many problems you wouldn't think they would. The complexities of an Operating System are mind-boggling. Many different files are used to help facilitate an operation or function to work. For example, you can change or delete a registry entry, just one, not knowing what else its purpose may serve, and render your entire OS dysfunctional.

Pose those question you are concerned about too. Maybe in the general questions forum there also.
WU people may have an answer for that, many Microsoft Valued Professional on the entire site. Click on their usernames and peruse the credentials. Impressive to say the least.
Real smart individuals!

Snick

 

[Clairvaux]

All right. This poor beast is 10 years old, and it seems full of problems despite my throwing new hardware at it. MVPs have helped me tremendously to use Microsoft Office 2003. If only the Microsoft of today was up to their level...

All the best,

Clairvaux