Solved Win 7 sees 2 optical drives (E: & F:) where there is only one

[icekool]

Hi all,
I seem to have an extra drive letter that is NOT actually used, ie' the F: drive letter which is seen as a CD drive, whereas my DVD drive (the only single one) is actually E:

Everything is working fine and the drive actually used is E: but I would like to know how to delete this F: letter drive as it is simply not used. I have attached 2 images one of Disk Management window here...



and the other of the My Computer window view showing the other unused drive letter here...



If someone could please tell me how to get rid of this unused letter I would be really grateful, obviously if it showed up in the Disk Management section it could easily be done but I just can't think of how else to delete it.

Thank you very much.

 

[F5ing]

If you right click its icon in the Explorer window and select properties, what does it say about this phantom drive?

I've seen some software create virtual CDs (VCD) that'll show up like that (software installed from some brands of external hard drives and I think even that U3 software on Sandisk USB flash drives).

 

[essenbe]

If you have a card reader it will see it as a removable drive also, sometimes.

 

[karlsnooks]

icekool,

not unusual, depending upon your system.

I need you to follow this procedure and do not truncate the display pleas. Follow the procedure, precisely as written.

also another color theme would make for easier reading.

HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY
Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
This method gives you a display without the unneeded navigation pane.
WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top.

Maximize the output of Disk Management:
Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo | X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field.


Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save


Post the snapshot:
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[CB]

Hi Icecool

Normally it happens when you have installed any program that include enabled virtual drive such as, Ultra Iso, Nero, Alcohol, VirtualCD, Daemon, Magic Disk, etc.

Did you install any of it? If you did then it can be disabled from within the program. Sometimes you need to run it in elevated mode (right click, run as administrator)

Hope that helps.

Kevin

 

[karlsnooks]

To that excellent list you received you can also add SlySoft.

You can just live with it, try disabling, or uninstalling.

 

[icekool]

Hey guys, thank you very much for your excellent answers, actually I did the registry method of removing the drive letter and it worked temporarily but then came back. I then realised that it was down to 'PowerISO' doing the virtual drive thing, so disabled it from within the app and all is perfect now, no extra drive letter.

Thanks again

 

[F5ing]

Hey guys, thank you very much for your excellent answers, actually I did the registry method of removing the drive letter and it worked temporarily but then came back. I then realised that it was down to 'PowerISO' doing the virtual drive thing, so disabled it from within the app and all is perfect now, no extra drive letter.

Thanks again

Good to see you fixed up! And thanks for posting what you've found!