Where's the "safe hardware removal" tool?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Julian Moore
  • Start date Start date
J

Julian Moore

The "safe hardware removal tool" has gone missing from
the taskbar. I have a USB ADSL modem always connected,
so it should be there... but it still doesn't appear when
I plug in my USB data key.

Can't find any reference to the s/w which performs this
function so can't attempt to start it manually.

Any ideas? (This is XP pro SP1 and all critical updates)

Ta,

Julian
 
/Julian Moore/ said:
The "safe hardware removal tool" has gone missing from
the taskbar. I have a USB ADSL modem always connected,
so it should be there... but it still doesn't appear when
I plug in my USB data key.

Can't find any reference to the s/w which performs this
function so can't attempt to start it manually.

Any ideas? (This is XP pro SP1 and all critical updates)
Click to expand...

Is it hidden? Click the chevron < at the left of the tray area.
Appearance of the tool should be automatic.
 
If only it were that simple!

No - it's not hidden - I have "hide inactive icons" off
("unchecked")... and I have allowed hiding, checked the
list and marked this item as "always show". Still ain't
there.

What I was hoping is that someone might know the name of
the exe...

BTW - a few other things don't appear when the should
(e.g. a support tool called "BigFix" - it's present in
the task list but has no systray icon - it used to!). If
I kill the process and restart it, it appears.

The non appearance of systray icons has been a feature of
this system for ages... a DOUBLE cold boot is required to
get most of them back!

Thanks,

Julian
 
OK - I have invented a workaround (thanks to a
programming website) - I created a shortcut with this

rundll32.exe shell32.dll Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
SW_SHOW

and that allows me to invoke the functionality - but why
isn't it working in the first place? (rundll32 is on the
process list and when I execute this shortcut a second
rundll32 appears...)

Julian
 
Thanks Julian.

I'd love to know what caused this.

I've been having problems with extranal firewire drives getting
corrupted FREQUENTLY and figure that this is the problem (unsafe
removal)

I don't understand why the drives don't show up as removal devices
(when used with firewire) and why I don't get prompted about unsafe
removal.

Care to share where you found this tip?
 
Back
Top