Thumb drive

[carvin01]

How do I fix not seeing the Thumb drive icon in the task tray?

[NonSequitur777]

@carvin01,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Your issue likely pertains to the missing "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon in your task tray. Here’s how you can troubleshoot and resolve the problem:

Solution Steps:

1. Check if the Icon is Hidden:

   • Click on the upward arrow (^) in the task tray to see if the icon is hidden among the overflow items.
   • If found, drag it back to the task tray for easier access.

2. Restart Windows Explorer:

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
   • Locate Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
   • Right-click it and select Restart.
   • Check if the icon reappears.

3. Enable the Icon in Settings:

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to Personalization > Taskbar > Other system tray icons.
   • Look for the "Safely Remove Hardware" or "Windows Explorer" entry and ensure it is toggled on.

4. Ensure the USB Drive is Recognized:

   • Confirm that the thumb drive is properly connected and recognized by the system:
     • Open File Explorer and check if the USB drive appears under This PC.
     • If not, try connecting it to a different USB port or another device.

5. Check Device Manager:

   • Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
   • Expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers and look for any issues (e.g., yellow warning signs).
   • Right-click the USB device and select Update Driver or Uninstall Device, then restart the PC to reinstall the driver.

6. Re-register the Icon with Windows:

   • Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Type (or copy/paste/enter) the following commands one at a time and press Enter after each:
     regsvr32 /u shell32.dll

     regsvr32 shell32.dll
   • Restart your PC.

7. Install the Latest Windows and Driver Updates:

   • Open Settings > Windows Update and ensure the system is up-to-date.
   • Check HP Support Assistant for updates to drivers or firmware.

8. Alternative Eject Method: If the icon is still missing, you can manually eject your USB drive:

   • Open File Explorer.
   • Right-click the USB drive under This PC and select Eject.

If the issue persists, you can report back for further troubleshooting.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777