Windows XP forum: Task Manager "Removable Storage" isn't working anymore !

Have a look in accessories/sys tools/systems info/components
then the following sub directories
CDROM, storage, problem devices
If you have trouble with the above your WMI data base must have got corrupted - if so let me know.
Peter

You say "task manager" but do you mean:-
"admin tools/computer manager/storage/removable storage" ???
Peter

Does everything look OK in "device manager" under; dvd,disk drives, SCSI and IDE folders??? - and do you have any other problems with your removable storage devices or any other problems??? - please tell me what removable storage you have, including virtual devices such as "Nero" image drive?
Peter

First have a look in "event viewer" to see if there are any problems shown then
make sure the "removable storage" service is running and that all it's dependencies are up and running - go all the way up the dependency chain to "Remote procedure call" to "workstation" and so on - if you have been tinkering with the services this could well be the problem.
Peter

A few more things to try
1/ Log in as the administrator and see if you gain access.
2/ Run the "removable drive" snap-in from explorer - goto sys32/ntmsmgr.msc - right click on the file and select "author" - then right click on main folder and select properties/security, make sure you have rights. If you can view items with this method let me know
3/ repair the WMI repository - here is how you do it:-
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/reinstalling_wmi.asp
4/ In msconfig run diagnostic mode - then remove all removable devices except your master CDROM - also remove any other non essential hardware eg pci cards, hard drives except C drive. Then try with your other CDROM installed by itself.
If when you run the "removable drive" snap-in it now works it then a matter of finding which of the above programs or hardware is causing the conflict - you can do this by adding the above one at a time.
5/ The WMI is very sensitive to incorrect or incorrectly installed drivers - Particularly SP2 - also make sure all your hardware is on the compatibility list.
Let me know how you go,
Peter

Michlaz, maybe it is easier if we talk real time on one of the messenger programs
my msn name is: AussiePete747
my AOL name is AussiePete747a
So let me know if you want to talk this way as it will be much much easier???
To comment on your post:-
1/Using diagnostics mode in msconfig is step 1 - you will get a message when you reboot saying changes have been made - just tick the box for it not to ask you again. If after this you can view "removable drives" it is a program or service loading that is causing the trouble.
2/If the above doesn't work then you can take all your hardware out - as in unplug everything (not uninstall drivers). The reason why you had to reactive was because you unplugged the hardware not because you changed things in msconfig - to explain how "activation" works is a long story. But we can maybe solve this problem - But try removing all your hardware all at once - you may have to reactivate but at least we may then know if it is your hardware or it is a systems program problem that is stopping you reading the removable drives. You didn't say how you had to reactivate - if you did it by phone last time and this time your get transferred to a microsoft person then tell them you are having system or hardware problems and you are unplugging EXISTING harware to find the problem.
3/ You asked me "Does it says something ?" I am not sure what you mean - I gather you uninstalled the driver in the DVD/CDROM folder of device manager and when it booted you got the errors - this tells us there maybe something wrong with this device or driver, or perhaps your motherboard drivers - make sure you get any updates for the above as SP2 seems to be causing problems with CDROMS.

Anyway best if we talk on MSN messenger - or send me an email (look at my profile) and give me your email - dont give me it in a post!
Peter

Peter, I finally solved the problem, look how :
The solution is in Microsoft's Article "Problems with a Damaged Removable Storage Manager Database"
(Article ID : 235032)
It concerns a problem of Windows 2000 !!!
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Anyway, thanks a lot for everything.
Michael from Athens/Greece