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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: David H on March 10, 2010, 09:25:07 PM

Title: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: David H on March 10, 2010, 09:25:07 PM
I am using Windows 7 and the Safely Remove Hardware Icon has stopped responding.  I click on it and nothing happens.  It seems to have stopped working about the same time I upgraded to Avast version 5 from version 4, free version.
If I launch safely remove hardware from the Run box, "C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll", it tells me the drive is not removeable.
Has anyone else experienced problems with Safely Remove Hardware, Windows 7, and Avast 5?

 
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: Zyndstoff (aka Steven Gail) on March 10, 2010, 09:28:28 PM
Just checked it: no problems here. System Specs see my sig.

What drivetype are we talkin about? USB-stick, USB-HDD?
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: David H on March 10, 2010, 10:41:34 PM
The drive is a USB External HD, Maxtor My Passport 500G.
If I dont hear anything in the next 24 hours, I am going to try uninstalling Avast, to see if this is the conflict.
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: news on March 10, 2010, 10:50:22 PM
The drive is a USB External HD, Maxtor My Passort 500M.
If i dont hear anything in the next 24 hours, im going to try uninstalling Avast, to see if this is the conflict.

Hello David H....
You may also want to check and be sure any other new software, hardware, drivers..etc aren't the source of your problem as well.
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: YoKenny on March 10, 2010, 11:04:14 PM
Absolutely no problem on my Windows 7 system with my 80G external.
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: Zyndstoff (aka Steven Gail) on March 11, 2010, 08:00:18 AM
You updated from 4.8 to 5. If you did not uninstall 4.8 prior to installation of new version, this might be a source of trouble.
So do this:

1. Download aswclear.exe and aswclear5.exe from link in my sig
2. Uninstall avast
3. Reboot to safe mode
4. In safe mode, run aswclear.exe and aswclear5.exe
5. Search for all remaining "*avast*" and "*alwil*" folders on c: and delete them (make sure that your explorer is set to show all hidden files and folders!)
6. Reboot to normal mode
7. Use Ccleaner or similar program to clean the registry
8. right click on avast5 setup and choose "run as administrator"
9. Reboot

Zyndstoff
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: bong2x on March 11, 2010, 08:37:10 AM
 ;) it happen to me 1 time
in my case i stored the avast in external hard drive,
then i install avast from external hard drive
after installing i set reboot later and try to safety removed hardware
it say that the drive cannot be removed because it is being used or not removable
so i did restart the comp even the external drive is attached
and after reboot its removable again. ;D
but if your case, you did reboot and still not removable, it is not the same case as i am experience :-X
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: bong2x on March 11, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
 :) one option for this is to use unlocker,
you can removed your external drive even it is in used
just right click unlocker then set to unlock.
it will tell you what function is still running from it why it's not removable,
then when you unlock it, your screen may be blink.
and you can removed it. ;D
but be careful to use unlocker ;)
don't use unlocker to delete the thing you don't understand
it can damage your system :-X
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: David H on March 12, 2010, 08:22:26 PM
Thanks everyone for the responses.
I uninstalled Avast 5, and the Safely Remove Hardware is still unresponsive; so apparently it is NOT an Avast issue.
Thank you Zyndstoff for the unintall instructions.
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: Zyndstoff (aka Steven Gail) on March 12, 2010, 08:36:26 PM
Will it work with any other USB device? A USB-stick?
Maybe it's the MyPassport HDD that refuses to work with it?
Title: Re: Safely Remove Hardware Icon Stopped Working
Post by: cazoza on March 12, 2010, 11:09:51 PM
Hi DavidH, maybe you need to try a repair of your windows or a system restore, why dont u try to do a system cleaning with CCleaner or Comodo System Cleaner. maybe something get fixed, and the icon too. Take care.