Ghosts in the machine

larrydonline · Feb 14, 2022

I don't know that this is much of a problem but I sure would like to know why it keeps happening. One of my hard drives opens a window without having been in any way summoned by me to do so.

Sometimes it happens only a short time after a reboot. Other times it happens 10 or more hours after a reboot. It's always the same drive "T" and it's happened under Win 10 as well as Win. 11. It's even happened after I replaced the drive that was on that letter with a different drive. It's been going on for over a year at least. I'll be working in some program and up pops drive T on the screen.

I don't know whether it's a function of Windows or some other process deep in the computer. I can't think of anything I'm consistently doing when it pops open. It just seems to happen totally randomly. Any ideas?

I'm wondering if there may be some keyboard combination that I could hit by accident that would open a drive window? I know that with Win 11 it seems like any mistyping causes the computer to attempt some operation.

Ver. 21H2 build 22000.493

humbird · Feb 15, 2022

Well, the obvious seems to be autoplay settings but am unsure if it is. Check your autoplay settings. Settings>Bluetooth and Devices>Autoplay

The-Hive · Feb 15, 2022

What is in this window? is it large or small? what have you got on this drive? a picture would help.

glasskuter · Feb 15, 2022

I agree with The-Hive. Screenshots are helpful. Have you tried something as simple as changing the drive letter to see if it stops? Check event viewer at the time it happens to see if there is information of what process called it to open.

Haydon · Feb 15, 2022

I am guessing an app, like EOM bloatware, that for some reason was not completely uninstalled, and is now acting up every now and then.

Since this has been going on for over a year, I would do a clean install.

Hazel123 · Feb 15, 2022

Yes what kind of window opens up? I also had ghosts in the machine recently when HP Support Assistant suddenly decided my warranty lasted for 122 years and expired in 1899. But more likely software glitch than a ghost!

It could well be accidentally hitting the odd key. But as the others say, maybe more likely some program set to do that automatically. My stepson's laptop has two accounts - one for us, one for him. He doesn't use it much as he has a gaming PC. And it annoys me to death that whenever I sign into the adult side, Steam window opens automatically. Took me ages to work out how to stop it doing that and it keeps coming back. Usual settings are - check to see which programs start up with Windows.

Without seeing what the window is, we don't know if it's a program.

The-Hive · Feb 15, 2022

I am not sure of the cause as it is happening at random times, will have to wait for the OP with more info

Hazel123 · Feb 15, 2022

Is it the drive that has Windows installed? If not - what is on drive T?

CornishRattler · Feb 15, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Is it the drive that has Windows installed? If not - what is on drive T?

As @The-Hive said, we aren’t going a lot further with this unless the OP offers up more info

larrydonline · Feb 16, 2022

Thanks for all the discussion on this issue. The window that opens is the same window that you'd expect if you used file explorer and clicked on that drives icon. It's just the regular window with a list of programs and files. The files are mostly music files, mp3s, waves, and some text files in various folders. There are no computer operating files on it of any kind.

I took a look at the autoplay settings. There must be well over a hundred things to check under Settings>Bluetooth and Devices>Autoplay. I like the suggestion to look at event viewer next time it happens and see if there's a clue there.

As I mentioned, I have changed the hard drive assigned to letter T about a year ago and the strange booting still happened. As you can see there's nothing unusual about the content of the drive.

glasskuter · Feb 16, 2022

You did not say if this drive is fixed or an external hard drive. If it's external, I agree with Humbird that it's related to autoplay. Are you accessing autoplay through settings app or control panel. Try going through control panel.(this is the old autoplay screen that has been around forever) At the bottom, reset autoplay settings to default. Restart.
Go back into autoplay and set each setting to what you want.

larrydonline · Feb 17, 2022

Yes, it's external. I did the reset autoplay and reboot. Guess I won't know whether it worked unless it doesn't happen again. Hard to report a success because nothing happened but I guess that's where I'm at. Thanks for all the contributions.

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2022

In autoplay, make sure REMOVABLE DRIVES is set to "take no action"

Hazel123 · Feb 17, 2022

You could use Panda Usb vaccine. It's a small program that "vaccinates" any usb's you put into the computer to prevent viruses getting onto the computer. But it also prevents autoplay. Both on the usb device and on the computer itself at the click of a button, and it stays like that.

Although there are other ways of achieving this I like the program. And it prevents viruses via usb.

Download Panda USB Vaccine

Panda USB Vaccine is a free security utility that allows you to block malware from spreading through USB drives. These types of malware typically install an Autorun.inf file in the root of the USB drive that causes the malware to execute when you insert them into a computer.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

Hazel123 · Feb 17, 2022

It automatically "vaccinates" a usb when you put it in the machine (ie prevents autorun). When first installed you get this panel and asks if you want to "vaccinate" the computer - which you do. What that does is basically turn off autorun or autoplay (not sure which) in Windows.

What this means is, when you use a usb device it doesn't automatically open. You go to file explorer and double click on it to open. The turning off of autorun in Windows means malware can't be "executed".

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