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Why does my computer tell me there's a flash drive attached when there isn't?

When I turn on my computer, a flash drive icon on the tray shows up (it's a gray rectangle with a green splash on the top).

How do I correct this problem? It's quite a hassle "removing" the phantom flash drives prior to attaching legitimate flash drives.

(I have this problem on two of my computers - one has Vista and the other has XP.)

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    if you have used a flash drive in the past...then the flash drive installed files on your pc to install the drivers ...kind of a self installation..but when not in use the files still remain..if you want to get rid of them you may have to go through the registry.....unless you are no longer using that drive you should just leave them because when you get rid of them and then plug the flash drive in ..they will re-install..otherwise go to run type regedit..when the box opens go to edit...then in the drop down menu go to find...type the file name you want and when it finds it be careful..don't just delete anything ...delete entries..sub menu folders should only be deleted if you know they were created by the program..and is not a system sub menu..folder..ok..this is your registry no room for mistakes..i have a sandisk flash drive and it does a similiar thing i just basically ignore them now..

  • 1 decade ago

    u pulled it out without clicking remove saftly and it still thinks its in

  • 1 decade ago

    you pulled it out without ejecting it.

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