Solved Strange USB device issue

[swervr1]

Hi,

I have spent quite a while checking through the "safely remove USB device" issues here in the forum but I cannot find an example quite like mine.

If I connect a USB device it will work correctly. It appears correctly under "Computer". The "Safely remove hardware and eject media" icon appears in the taskbar ok. However when you click on this icon to remove the device all that shows is 3 dots (...) instead of the device name. If you open Devices and Printers nothing shows there either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Mervyn

 

[bassfisher6522]

What type of usb device is this? Do you have the latest driver/firmware, software for said usb device?

 

[Britton30]

You can try entering a name for it in Computer with the device(s) connected.

 

[swervr1]

Thanks for the replies, but this is the weird thing. It is not limited to one device. Anything I plug in now shows as (...) where as all devices worked correctly before.

Looking under "Computer" the device appears correctly, but does not show at all in "Devices and Printers" and so doesn't offer a "safely remove" option.

Regards
Mervyn

 

[Britton30]

You're welcome. Have a look in Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Device Manager and see if anything shows a yellow triangle beside it.

Have you installed any new software or done any "optimizing" before which you didn't have this issue?
you can run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html#post14392 to see if you have some files corrupted.

 

[swervr1]

Hi Britton30,

I looked in Device Manager and there are no items with a yellow triangle.

I then ran SFC /Scannow and it found and repaired a number of corrupted files, mainly to do with Internet Explorer it seems. I have uploaded the txt file in case it helps.

I rebooted the PC but the problem remains with any device plugged in showing as (...)

I have not completed any optimizing of C:/ drive, I have a separate drive D:/ solely for Flight Sim and this has been defragmented. I do run Spyware Doctor, Panda Antivirus and Registry Mechanic regularly but have never had an issue previously.

Regards
Mervyn

 

[Britton30]

I don't recommend Registry Mechanic for Windows 7 although it was good for XP. In my sig are some links for toher security programs and CCleaner. CCleaner has a Registry cleaner option that seems safe with Win 7, I use it.

Could you post a screenshot of the USB device shown as (...)?

 

[swervr1]

I have downloaded CCleaner and will use that moving forward.

I have also attached the screenshot you asked for. This particular device is a 4Gb memory stick.

Regards
Mervyn

 

[Britton30]

Two more ideas and I'm stumped if they don't work.
1. Use system restore to a point before the problem occurred.

2. While rebooting, hit F8 repeatedly and you'll get the Advanced Boot Options screen. Scroll and choose Last Known Good Configuration, enter.

Well one more. If you didn't reboot after the SFC run, run it again and reboot. If you still see it fixed something, run again. A clean one will say No Integrity Violations found.

 

[swervr1]

Hi Britton30,

Thanks for your assistance with this but I have been unable to resolve it.

I did reboot after running SFC, but I did it again and nothing was found this time. I then tried last known good configuration without success and system restore is my last try I guess. I will report how that goes but I dont have the time to run it right at the moment.

If that doesn't help do you think I should do a repair install of W7?

Regards
Mervyn

 

[Britton30]

Lets try one more thing. In Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Folder Options\view tab, make sure you have the items in the red box set as below.

 

[swervr1]

I have looked at the folder options and Show Hidden Files, Folders and drives was already selected, but so was Hide empty drives in the Computer Folder so I unselected that. After rebooting still no change.

I have just completed a system restore back to 12th September which was prior to the issue appearing and this has not corrected the problem either.

 

[The Unofficial]

How long has this been happening for? Can you do a system restore?

 

[Britton30]

Can't think of anything else to try to fix this issue.
Unless this is a real annoyance, it is something minor and shouldn't affect the OS.
There is the option (best) to save all of your data and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html#post16008

Also you can do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html#post31238 which will keep your files and most settings.

Hang in there, I will ask for some help.

 

[pooch]

I am unsure that this will help, but it will do no harm; http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165554-usb-driver-general-fix-problems.html?filter[2]=Hardware%20and%20Drivers

 

[Britton30]

If you can, try Enhanced USB Host controller hardware or driver and update it.

 

[swervr1]

I have checked the Enhanced USB Host Controller and tried to update it but it says the most up to date driver is already installed.

I also ran through the tutorial suggested by pooch, but the problem persists.

Thanks again Britton30 for hanging with this, I will wait a while in case you discover something before I reinstall.

Regards
Mervyn

 

[maxseven]

I'd try Uwe Sieber's DriveCleanup on your PC. From an elevated command prompt enter drivecleanup -t which will list everything it wants to clear away. To cleanup everything, just drivecleanup.

I've used it a few times, and on one occasion it solved a nasty wierd problem for me. Long shot perhaps; do a System Restore point before trying it. Look about midway down this page:

Drive Tools for Windows

 

[pooch]

If you are not happy about doing a repair install/new install I have a workaround that may help, this is a bit long winded, but if it works I will go on to explain how to make a shortcut on your desktop.
When you want to remove hardware open a command prompt (click on rb: and type command ) and type RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll then press enter.

 

[Britton30]

Something else to check is in services UPnP Device Host, make sure it's running and startup is Automatic. Go to Start\All Programs\Services to locate it.