hmmm... my computer thinks my external disk is an app

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2008, 5:02pm

i bought a new external usb hard drive a week ago and i've been happily filling it up with donkey-porn, illegally downloaded metallica albums, and so on...

but i just plugged it in, and when i clicked on COMPUTER in the start menu, instead of the Western Digital icon it now shows as a regular disk (or volume) icon, same as the others... well that's no problem in itself obviously...

but now if i double click it i get the Vista message

Quote:

An unidentified program wants access to your computer.

setup.exe

well there were some bits of dross on the drive from new, Google stuff, WD Sync stuff for backing up etc etc... so i wondered if by double clicking on the drive icon it's maybe trying to run some of that stuff or something?

I can use the disk by right-clicking and selecting OPEN or EXPLORE... and if i get properties, it obviously knows it's a disk from the tabs that come up.

Oddly though, if I right-click, the top option is INSTALL OR RUN PROGRAM.

AVG and Spybot are happy enough with the computer as a whole...

...

Ah, I moved all the stuff that came on it to the wastebasket; now it says

Quote:

G: Application not found

if i double click it.

How do I make the computer understand it's just a disk again?

Oh... also, if I right click on the disk's icon, i don't now have "Safely Remove" ; hrmmm...

Witch · 3rd July 2008, 5:03pm

you're using windows??? FAIL!

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2008, 5:05pm

I know. This never happened to my macs

Largest of Als · 3rd July 2008, 5:06pm

If it's got guff on it, just format it.. I've had a couple of sticks that come with bits of software.. just shite really.

Al

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2008, 5:09pm

It's got 100Gb of... um, picture of supercars and topless models on it now actually it's got 100Gb of sheet music for Big Gay Musicals on it

so it'd be a pain to get that copied elsewhere and format the thing but I guess I could.

No idea how to format a disk with windows

triggerhappy · 3rd July 2008, 5:20pm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2164443AAVYs8r

from Google.

Seems a bit extreme.

This may be more helpful.

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2008, 5:21pm

Hmmm! Not so good.

triggerhappy · 3rd July 2008, 5:22pm

Did you empty the recycle bin? Have you stil got the files?

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2008, 5:27pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

This may be more helpful.

Ah! Thanks, that's done it.

triggerhappy · 3rd July 2008, 5:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtoast

Ah! Thanks, that's done it.

You can take me to the cinema tonight as a thank you

Largest of Als · 3rd July 2008, 5:31pm

Not bad enough you're using Windows... but you're using Vista..

It's all your own fault..

Al

triggerhappy · 3rd July 2008, 5:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largest of Als

Not bad enough you're using Windows... but you're using Vista..

It's all your own fault..

Al

It's shaming.

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