Storage device mounting issues - software problem?

[kd7nxb]

I am having a rather peculiar storage mounting issue... this has been ongoing for ... years? Since at least my migration to Windows 10 (from 7). I have only recent gotten around to troubleshooting the problem as it's merely an occasional annoyance and doesn't affect normal use. Description:

 

When ever I connect a USB storage device (Thumb drive, HDD, SD, or DVD) the device will "mount" in the disk manager, but will not be visible in the "This PC" window. I can right click on the device and explore it and I can change the drive mounting letter. Since I have two internal SSDs (C: and E:) the next logical mounting letter to use would be "D:" or "F:" and if I select any letter other than "D:" the device will mount with no issues (visible in the "This PC" window). But if I change back to "D:" the same problem will occur (visible in disk manager, but not in "This PC" window"). This is consistent regardless of the type of USB storage device. I have not tried changing the drive lettering for one of my internal SSDs as that would create path errors.

 

While this issue is merely annoying... it would be nice to have some resolution. Presently the work around is manually assigning the drive letter each time I connect a USB storage device as Windows will always try to "auto mount" to the first logical drive letter not being used... which in this case will always be "D:" and to get the drive to show up in windows explorer I have to manually reassign the letter. The drive letter assignment is also not saved... so reconnecting the same device will require the same steps. I have a DVD drive that is external from the computer (due to the case design) and while I don't normally use the DVD, I have to go through these steps to each time I put a disk in it.

 

I have tried to research and have done several "troubleshoot" steps such as making sure all my drivers are up to date... which they are. Resetting the automount in the powershell... All the tech support references from microsoft all tell me how to get the drive mounted, does not specifically address the problem of why "D:" doesn't do the thing its supposed to but all the other letters in the alphabet do...

 

Suggestions?

[Radium_Angel]

6 minutes ago, kd7nxb said:

Suggestions

This is a long shot, but under Win7 (IIRC) drive "D:" was reserved for a DVD drive, and it might be being carried over from that, assuming you did and in-place upgrade as opposed to a fresh install.

 

EDIT:

 

This is a long shot, but look here, see if this might be applicable to anything

https://www.techsupportall.com/fixed-solved-cd-drive-not-found-not-detect-remove-upper-and-lower-filter/

 

 

[kd7nxb]

Thanks Radium_Angel... but yes it was an in-place upgrade.

 

That regedit solution that is one of the things I tried early on. I have deleted both the UpperFilter and LowerFilter from the registry. I also tried deleting all volumes from the registry (to force Windows to repopulate on the ones currently attached). I am hesitant to do any further registry edits in fear of borking the system.

[Radium_Angel]

21 hours ago, kd7nxb said:

I am hesitant to do any further registry edits in fear of borking the system.

Yeah, that's certainly an issue.

I hate to say it, but a fresh install might be the thing you need to do

[homeap5]

So, you already delete all "Mounted Devices" in registry as you said?

 

Other good try may be using Ghostbuster tool and remove all ghosted USB devices.