Windows 8 Safely Remove Hardware Icon

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phily47

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Oct 10, 2013
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When I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro, the icon for Safely Remove Hardware shows only a row of three dots (...) and I can't find what is causing this. I have the same devices connected in the same ports like I did with Windows 7.
 
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jimmysmitty
Ok I see what you are saying. I just checked my system out as I have 8.1 and mine does the same. It is probably just showing that there are no devices to be removed.

Not sure of a way to remove the icon short of making it not show at all.

It looks like its nothing serious so don't worry about it.
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

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Oct 5, 2007
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So if you add a USB device like a thumb drive and then you left click on the Safely Remove Storage icon it only shows the three dots but no devices?

Do me a favor, go to Control Panel and then go to Devices and Printers. Have a thumb drive in the system and check if it shows up at the top under "Devices". If it does then I can only assume that something in the upgrade from 7 to 8 got borked.

If they do show up as well you can select the device and either right click and select remove or click remove from the top.

Let me know how it goes.
 
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phily47

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Oct 10, 2013
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10,510
jimmy,
I did as you suggested. I placed a thumb drive in a USB slot. The icon shows that the thumb drive is installed. It also shows up in the "Devices and Printers" list.

When I click the icon to remove the device, I get the usual message that it is OK to remove the device. After that, the icon stays on with only ... listed.
 
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

Champion
Oct 5, 2007
21,605
599
59,140
Ok I see what you are saying. I just checked my system out as I have 8.1 and mine does the same. It is probably just showing that there are no devices to be removed.

Not sure of a way to remove the icon short of making it not show at all.

It looks like its nothing serious so don't worry about it.
 
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Solution
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phily47

Honorable
Oct 10, 2013
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10,510
jimmy,
The icon does not cause me any trouble except that I hate wanting to fix something and not being able to do so. I'll try to keep my blood pressure in line. Thanks!
 
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asilva732

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May 17, 2014
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4,510


I also have this problem. I have the same icon. When I click on it, only the 3 dots and the devices and printers option show up. I already have Windows 8 in the machine. For me this problem arised when installing Windows 8.1

 
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IrvSp

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Aug 17, 2013
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18,660


I got a BRAND NEW Dell XPS 8700 a few weeks ago. It has USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. Running W8.1 with the latest Apr. 8.1 update.

What I have found is if I use any type of USB 2.0 device in a USB 2.0 port, they show in Safely Remove H/W. A USB 3.0 device in a USB 3.0 port does too.

What DOES NOT SHOW in Safely Remove H/W is when I insert a USB 2.0 device in the USB 3.0 port. Not completely true though. The 8700 has 6 USB 3.0 ports. 4 directly on the motherboard on the back of the system. 2 others on the front of the system panel. Here is the 'strange' part. If the same USB 2.0 device is plugged into the REAR USB 3.0 ports it DOES show in Safely Remove H/W.

So I call Dell, 1 and 1/2 hours later, after re-installing USB, Media Card, and Chipset drivers, WITH NO change, 'they' research this and declare it is because the front panel ports are connected via a cable and can't draw the power needed to sense the info required. Huh? Then it got more murky as they tell me Win 8.1 works differently than W7 or even W8. Since I was testing with a flash drive (never mind the same happened to my Ext. Powered 1TB drive too) and they know the buffers flush immediately.

So to me there is a design flaw or sense line error in the computer when you put a 2.0 device in a 3.0 port.

Have you tried ALL ports? Different devices?
 
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klepp0906

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Apr 29, 2013
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same exact problema nd im about to go crazy!!!!

just got dont installing and then uninstalling BT drivers for the bt card that isnt installed, wifi drivers for the wireless card that isnt installed, vga drivers for the on die igfx thats disabled, marvell drivers for the sata contrroller that isnt being used and is disabled.... hoping/assuming one of those was causing it to stay and not go away. Alas now that ive thrashed my hdd w/ all of that stuff, im still stuck w/ this damn icon!!
 
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klepp0906

Distinguished
Apr 29, 2013
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18,710
Fwiw it turns out that it is the usb card reader integrated into my monitor.

It's certainly not a fix, and it's definately a trip up on Microsofts part since (how often does one want to safely remove his card reader? That's like having it up for your keyboard and mouse) but if you disable it in device manager under USB mass storage device it will remove the icon.

I know it's not a fix but more of a bandaid. I don't know when I'll ever need to use it but if I do i don't want to have to go thru all this hoopllah. Absolutely ridiculous considering I went thru hell to find a cable long enough to connect it to begin with. Sigh
 
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