Hummm....
I used to have a little icon bottom right of the desktop, it would allow me to 'stop' and safely remove USB devices without possible loss of data. (thumbdrive for instance)
Anyway, after installing some software, it's disappeared :suspect: and I can't find out how to get it back.
Can anyone help?
Thanks!

Okay here goes:

Right click 'My Computer' > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager

Right click one of your said removable devices (usb drives etc) in the list and select Properties > Policies and the 'Restore Default' button, then OK it.

See if the icon returns after this.

Fingers crossed :(

Okay here goes:

Right click 'My Computer' > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager

Right click one of your said removable devices (usb drives etc) in the list and select Properties > Policies and the 'Restore Default' button, then OK it.

See if the icon returns after this.

Fingers crossed :(

Followed the path most of the way daleam, but when right clicking on removable device and selecting 'properties' I don't get policies/restore default.
I get 'USB mass storage device properties' screen with Gen/Driver/details tabs.
Am using XP....
Cheers, Draggle

It could be just hidden....

Right click on the bottom task bar>Properties>Taskbar tab, click Customize....

Then check to see whether it shows in the list. If the message beside it says either "Always hide" or "Hide when inactive", change it to "Always show".

I tried daleam's suggestion, but get the same results as you.

EDIT: Just another thought, but I know it's a pain. Have you tried a system restore to before you installed the software, to make sure that the icon was there at the time? If it wasn't, you know that it wasn't the software that was causing the problem, and you can reverse the restore. If the icon is visible, you can try a fresh install of the software, to see whether that is the cause.

It could be just hidden....

Right click on the bottom task bar>Properties>Taskbar tab, click Customize....

Then check to see whether it shows in the list. If the message beside it says either "Always hide" or "Hide when inactive", change it to "Always show".

I tried daleam's suggestion, but get the same results as you.

EDIT: Just another thought, but I know it's a pain. Have you tried a system restore to before you installed the software, to make sure that the icon was there at the time? If it wasn't, you know that it wasn't the software that was causing the problem, and you can reverse the restore. If the icon is visible, you can try a fresh install of the software, to see whether that is the cause.
I customised the taskbar as you said Ann_x but strangely it would not save the new settings......

I just did a system restore as you suggested (I decided I would not use the software I had installed anyway) so I have a result - the little green icon is back where it belongs :)
Thanks again,
Draggle

Followed the path most of the way daleam, but when right clicking on removable device and selecting 'properties' I don't get policies/restore default.
I get 'USB mass storage device properties' screen with Gen/Driver/details tabs.
Am using XP....
Cheers, Draggle I think the 'policies' tab only shows up for storage devices, not for scanners, modems etc.

But you've sorted it now :D