USB Flash drives conflicting with network drives

[CyberSlug]

Problems where removable usb drives conflict with networked drive letters? Here's a script that will try to resolve the conflict by assigning the drive to B:

I was inspired by this thread: http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=938880&page=1

When you run the program, it attempts to resolve the first USB/Network conflict by assigning the USB drive to B: and opening it. Probably requires Win 2000/XP and Admin rights. I've done limited testing and code commenting.

REQUIRED DISKPART AND DP1.TXT

expandcollapse popup

; Script to workaround a Windows bug that causes USB drive letter assignments to conflict with network drives
; The file dp1.txt contains two lines:
;               list volume
;               exit 
; DiskPart.exe can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/new/diskpart-o.asp
; DiskPart documentation http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/diskpart.mspx
;
; Philip Gump - 17 Feb 2005 -  AutoIt 3.1.0 Script
;

#NoTrayIcon
If DriveStatus("B:") <> "INVALID" Then
   Run("explorer b:")
   Exit
EndIf

FileChangeDir(@TempDir)
Dim $diskPart = "DiskPart.exe"
Dim $dpScriptOne = "dpScriptOne.txt"
Dim $dpScriptTwo = "dpScriptTwo.txt"
Dim $infoOutput =  "DiskPartInfo.txt"

FileInstall("C:\DISKPART.EXE", $diskPart)
FileInstall("C:\dp1.txt", $dpScriptOne)

; Otherwise, need to do magic
If @OSType <> "WIN32_NT" Then
   MsgBox(4096,"Error", "This program does not run on " & @OSVersion)
EndIf

If IsAdmin() Then
   MsgBox(4096,"USB Drive maybe not ready yet...", "If device is plugged and Windows says it's ready, click OK.")
Else
   MsgBox(4096,"Error", "You do not have access to change drive letters.  Click OK to exit")
   Exit
EndIf


SplashTextOn("Please wait...", @CRLF & @CRLF & "Assigning the USB drive to letter B:")

Dim $info = ""
$run = RunWait(@Comspec & " /c " & $diskPart & " /s " & $dpScriptOne & " > " & $infoOutput, "", @SW_HIDE)
$info = FileRead($infoOutput, FileGetSize($infoOutput))
SplashOff()

$InfoWithHeaderRemoved = StringTrimLeft($info, StringInStr($info, "Volume 0")-1)
$info = StringSplit($InfoWithHeaderRemoved, @CRLF)

;Sample element in the $info array looks like:
;  "Volume 2     C   HARD DRIVE   NTFS   Partition   73 GB  Healthy System"

For $i = 1 to $info[0]
   If StringStripWS($info[$i], 8) = "" Then ExitLoop ;quit when hit blank lines
   
   If StringInStr($info[$i], "Removeable") Then
      $letter = StringMid($info[$i],16,1)
      $volume = StringMid($info[$i],10,1)
      If DriveMapGet($letter) <> "" Or Not StringInStr($info[$i],"0 B") Then
        ; if drive letter is mapped to something else and Size is larger than 0 bytes, then
         $handle = FileOpen($dpScriptTwo, 2)
         If $handle <> -1 Then 
            FileWrite($handle, "select volume " & $volume & @CRLF & "assign letter=B")
            FileClose($handle)
         EndIf
         RunWait($diskPart & " /s " & $dpScriptTwo, "", @SW_HIDE)
         Run("explorer b:")
         Exit
      EndIf
   EndIf
Next

MsgBox(4096,"Error", "USB drive not detected; no drive letter assignment made...")

[jpm]

Problems where removable usb drives conflict with networked drive letters?  Here's a script that will try to resolve the conflict by assigning the drive to B:

I was inspired by this thread: http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=938880&page=1

When you run the program, it attempts to resolve the first USB/Network conflict by assigning the USB drive to B: and opening it.  Probably requires Win 2000/XP and Admin rights.  I've done limited testing and code commenting.

REQUIRED DISKPART AND DP1.TXT

expandcollapse popup

; Script to workaround a Windows bug that causes USB drive letter assignments to conflict with network drives
; The file dp1.txt contains two lines:
;                list volume
;                exit 
; DiskPart.exe can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/new/diskpart-o.asp
; DiskPart documentation http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/diskpart.mspx
;
; Philip Gump - 17 Feb 2005 -  AutoIt 3.1.0 Script
;

#NoTrayIcon
If DriveStatus("B:") <> "INVALID" Then
   Run("explorer b:")
   Exit
EndIf

FileChangeDir(@TempDir)
Dim $diskPart = "DiskPart.exe"
Dim $dpScriptOne = "dpScriptOne.txt"
Dim $dpScriptTwo = "dpScriptTwo.txt"
Dim $infoOutput =  "DiskPartInfo.txt"

FileInstall("C:\DISKPART.EXE", $diskPart)
FileInstall("C:\dp1.txt", $dpScriptOne)

; Otherwise, need to do magic
If @OSType <> "WIN32_NT" Then
   MsgBox(4096,"Error", "This program does not run on " & @OSVersion)
EndIf

If IsAdmin() Then
   MsgBox(4096,"USB Drive maybe not ready yet...", "If device is plugged and Windows says it's ready, click OK.")
Else
   MsgBox(4096,"Error", "You do not have access to change drive letters.  Click OK to exit")
   Exit
EndIf
SplashTextOn("Please wait...", @CRLF & @CRLF & "Assigning the USB drive to letter B:")

Dim $info = ""
$run = RunWait(@Comspec & " /c " & $diskPart & " /s " & $dpScriptOne & " > " & $infoOutput, "", @SW_HIDE)
$info = FileRead($infoOutput, FileGetSize($infoOutput))
SplashOff()

$InfoWithHeaderRemoved = StringTrimLeft($info, StringInStr($info, "Volume 0")-1)
$info = StringSplit($InfoWithHeaderRemoved, @CRLF)

;Sample element in the $info array looks like:
;  "Volume 2     C   HARD DRIVE   NTFS   Partition     73 GB  Healthy    System"

For $i = 1 to $info[0]
   If StringStripWS($info[$i], 8) = "" Then ExitLoop;quit when hit blank lines
   
   If StringInStr($info[$i], "Removeable") Then
      $letter = StringMid($info[$i],16,1)
      $volume = StringMid($info[$i],10,1)
      If DriveMapGet($letter) <> "" Or Not StringInStr($info[$i],"0 B") Then
        ; if drive letter is mapped to something else and Size is larger than 0 bytes, then
         $handle = FileOpen($dpScriptTwo, 2)
         If $handle <> -1 Then 
            FileWrite($handle, "select volume " & $volume & @CRLF & "assign letter=B")
            FileClose($handle)
         EndIf
         RunWait($diskPart & " /s " & $dpScriptTwo, "", @SW_HIDE)
         Run("explorer b:")
         Exit
      EndIf
   EndIf
Next

MsgBox(4096,"Error", "USB drive not detected; no drive letter assignment made...")

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

you could have use DriveGetDrive ("removable") and start with the letter above c:

[CyberSlug]

you could have use DriveGetDrive ("removable") and start with the letter above c:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Doesn't work... that's the whole point

For example, you could insert a USB drive, and it does not appear in Windows Explorer because Windows tries to assign the drive to E: when E: is already mapped to a network drive.

DriveGetType("E:") returns Network. The only way to can "see" the removable drive is by running diskmgmt.msc (or DiskPart.exe) and notice the drive letter conflict.

[SlimShady]

This sounds like a bug and should be reported to Microsoft.

[CyberSlug]

This sounds like a bug and should be reported to Microsoft.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Microsoft already knows about it

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;297694

but they have not fixed the problem!

[jpm]

Doesn't work... that's the whole point 

For example, you could insert a USB drive, and it does not appear in Windows Explorer because Windows tries to assign the drive to E: when E: is already mapped to a network drive.

DriveGetType("E:") returns Network.  The only way to can "see" the removable drive is by running diskmgmt.msc (or DiskPart.exe) and notice the drive letter conflict.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

on my XP SP2 it works fine I get 2 devices the A: and D:

[CyberSlug]

on my XP SP2 it works fine I get 2 devices the A: and D:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.