Removing Drive H on Windows 7 - Phantom Drive

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the issue of a phantom drive labeled "H" on a Windows 7 system, which appears to persist after the removal of a USB device. Participants explore potential solutions for removing this drive, including registry edits and device management techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Paul describes the issue of a phantom drive "H" that remains after possibly removing a USB device without proper unmounting.
  • One participant suggests a link to a tutorial on changing or removing drive letters in Windows 7.
  • Another participant recommends using Windows Explorer to right-click and "eject" the drive, or reconnecting the USB drive and disconnecting it properly.
  • Paul reports that the eject option did not work and mentions trying to manually remove the drive via the registry editor.
  • Paul shares that deleting the drive from the registry did not resolve the issue permanently, as it reappeared upon logging back in. He identifies that the phantom drive was linked to a Kodak printer that connects as a drive.
  • Paul considers disconnecting the printer to remove both drives and then reinstalling it as a potential solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a definitive solution, as multiple approaches are suggested and Paul continues to experience issues with the phantom drive.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of drive management in Windows 7, particularly when devices like printers also function as storage devices. There are unresolved aspects regarding the persistence of the phantom drive despite attempts to remove it.

PaulS1950
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"Phantom Drive" "H"

I believe I may have removed a thumb drive or maybe a USB hard disk drive without unmounting it. I have a drive "H" that I can't get rid of.
I am running Win 7, intel quad core.
Is there any way to "remove" the drive?

Paul
 
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This may apply: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows-7-a.html

(Disclaimer: it's been a long time since I've seriously used Windows.)
 


Try opening Windows explorer, right-click the drive letter that shouldn't be there, and select "eject".

Or you could try re-connecting the USB drive and disconnecting it properly.

If Windows has somehow decided H: is a permanently mounted drive, that won't work, so try the solution in #2.
 


I have tried right clicking and ejecting the drive but it doesn't work.
When I put the thumb drive in it assigns a new drive letter to it.
I will try the manual renoval in registry editor.

Thanks,
Paul
 


Ok, I deleted it in regedit and it disappeared from the registry until I logged back on.
I did it again and then restarted the computer but it came back.
I did find out it was formed when my wife disconnected our Kodak printer to upgrade the drivers on her laptop. I have another drive associated with the printer now and drive H is just a persistany name.

I am thinking I will have to disconnect the printer to remove both drives and then reinstall the printer.
The Kodak printer has a flash drive in it so it connects as a drive on the computer as well as a printer/scanner.

Thanks,
Paul
 

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