ValiDrive windows disappears when I run it.

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BrionA

New member
Oct 12, 2023
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Just downloaded ValiDrive V1.0.1 and taking it out for a spin, but I can't seem to get it to work. I run it then click on Check USB Drive, and the windows disappears. I can see it in the task bar, but can't do anything but close it. I can also see it in Task Manager, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Am I missing something?

I did try in on another PC, and it worked fine. So, not sure what is wrong with my work PC.
 
Last edited:
If this is the same issue as what I mentioned briefly in the newsgroups a few days ago you're overthinking it. If it isn't, just ignore the rest of this post.

There's an issue where clicking on the Check USB Drive button will sometimes cause the ValiDrive window to hide behind the next highest window on the screen. (I don't think I've seen it with anything other than File Explorer but I could be wrong.)

There are two ways to find the hidden window:
1) Minimize whatever window is currently on top to reveal the hiding ValiDrive.
2) Click ValiDrive's taskbar button TWICE. The first click will minimize it. The second will restore it on top.

Why? I don't know. He's on third. And I don't give a damn. ;)
 
the "ValiDriveDlg" stays on the taskbar, no action on left click, no action on double click, right click offers a local menu of "ValiDrive USB mass storage validator" (no action when selected), "Pin" (works), and "Close window" (returns to main window). win7 64bit
 
PHolder said:
Do you have any other USB drive to test? I am wondering if the problem is tied to the drive specifically or to your PC or something else.
Click to expand...
i don't quite understand your question. i have not mentioned any drives in my post.
 
greg77 said:
i have not mentioned any drives in my post.
Click to expand...
I made the assumption you were running ValiDrive for its intended purpose. The first thing it requests is for the insertion of a device to test. If you're not seeing this request, then there is something quite odd with your Windows operating system. Maybe check for any interference from anti-malware software or something similar?

Edit to add: Also, maybe download it again to make sure you have a good copy.
 
Last edited:
Free Sysinternals Process Explorer allows us to see all tasks and
right-click and ask to open a window.

1773442483921.png


https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

For me, that brings up windows that somehow never come back otherwise.
 
thank you for your suggestions.
on previous occasions, the drive selection window showed up without inserting a drive, and i expected it
peterblaise said:
Free Sysinternals Process Explorer allows us to see all tasks and
right-click and ask to open a window.



https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

For me, that brings up windows that somehow never come back otherwise.
Click to expand...
fyi, v17.0 fails to run on my win7 with the error message "missing getprocessinformation procedure in kernel32". i managed to download an older version.
the "bring to front" command did not do anything, but the "maxmize" command worked.
thank you for the suggestion.
 
PHolder said:
I made the assumption you were running ValiDrive for its intended purpose. The first thing it requests is for the insertion of a device to test. If you're not seeing this request, then there is something quite odd with your Windows operating system. Maybe check for any interference from anti-malware software or something similar?

Edit to add: Also, maybe download it again to make sure you have a good copy.
Click to expand...
i have downoaded it again previously and have scanned my computer for any exe-infecting viruses. validrive.exe seems to be valid.
your assumption about my intent matching the intended purpose was right.
my version first greets me with a welcome window that has a "check usb drive" button at its bottom. when i click on it another window pops up and the program looks for usb drives but expects none. i need to insert the drive after the second window appears. in case i insert the drive to be tested before clicking the button, i need to remove and reinsert it to allow the program to automatically identify it. i don't see this request because the drive selection/identification window does not show up anywhere, hence my [possibly partially incomprehensible] original post.
i managed to maximize the window with processexplorer.
 
maximize the window with Sysinternals Process Explorer.​

I've seen this before, and am not sure the cause.

I also have free right-click utilities from WinAero Tweaker that let me
restart Explorer, and sometimes that "fixes" misbehavior in the system
tray.

https://winaero.com/downloads/winaerotweaker.zip

- - - - -

Free Sysinternals Process Explorer v17.0 on my Windows 7
"missing getprocessinformation procedure in kernel32".
download an older version​

https://sysinternals-suite.en.uptodown.com/windows/versions

Oy, 17.06 works on my Windows 7 x64 Pro, but I've seen
incompatibility when updating Sysinternals Suite.

I'm not sure how I resolved it, maybe update if Microsoft fixed their
own problems, but I frequently update all-purpose utilities such as
C++ and so on, using free Ninite, free PatchMyPC, and various free
giveaway utilities, so my Windows 7 may now have support that
other Windows 7 installs do not.

- - - - -

Insert the drive after the second window appears. If insert the​
drive to be tested before clicking the button, we need to remove​
and reinsert it to allow the program to identify it.​

Yes, this drives me crazy, so to speak, especially when I'm testing a
whole series of drives, and I get the sequence wrong and have to
remove and reinsert each drive twice.

But it's manageable, and I see the need to "protect" other USB storage
devices that may be attached at the same time, but that we don't want
ValiDrive to test.

- - - - -

So, how are your USB drives?
 
peterblaise said:
maximize the window with Sysinternals Process Explorer.​

I've seen this before, and am not sure the cause.

I also have free right-click utilities from WinAero Tweaker that let me
restart Explorer, and sometimes that "fixes" misbehavior in the system
tray.

https://winaero.com/downloads/winaerotweaker.zip

- - - - -

Free Sysinternals Process Explorer v17.0 on my Windows 7 ​
"missing getprocessinformation procedure in kernel32". ​
download an older version​

https://sysinternals-suite.en.uptodown.com/windows/versions

Oy, 17.06 works on my Windows 7 x64 Pro, but I've seen
incompatibility when updating Sysinternals Suite.

I'm not sure how I resolved it, maybe update if Microsoft fixed their
own problems, but I frequently update all-purpose utilities such as
C++ and so on, using free Ninite, free PatchMyPC, and various free
giveaway utilities, so my Windows 7 may now have support that
other Windows 7 installs do not.

- - - - -

Insert the drive after the second window appears. If insert the​
drive to be tested before clicking the button, we need to remove​
and reinsert it to allow the program to identify it.​

Yes, this drives me crazy, so to speak, especially when I'm testing a
whole series of drives, and I get the sequence wrong and have to
remove and reinsert each drive twice.

But it's manageable, and I see the need to "protect" other USB storage
devices that may be attached at the same time, but that we don't want
ValiDrive to test.

- - - - -

So, how are your USB drives?
Click to expand...
thank you for the long update.
i agree that the insert/remove mechanism is a bit "too straightforward" but otherwise works flawlessly.
my main goal was to test a clearly scam external drive that had a 4tb volume with a label "ssd". it proved to be 16gb. i have not opened it physically yet, but i'm guessing there is a 16gb [micro]sd card and a card-reader-to-usb3-micro-b-socket circuit inside.
 
the insert/remove mechanism is a bit "too straightforward" but ​
otherwise works flawlessly​

Free ( and fee ) USB Safely Remove has a dialog to stop and restart a
USB drive without physically removing it, and I use this feature quite
often when using ValiDrive to test HDDs in docking stations.

1773594794634.png


The feature works well when I get out of "sync" with ValiDrive.

https://safelyremove.com/index.htm

- - - - -

4tb volume with a label "ssd". it proved to be 16gb​

Ouch!

Cheap, though, right?

Are you going to keep it and use it to test and challenge a future
ValiDrive 2 in development?
 
peterblaise said:
the insert/remove mechanism is a bit "too straightforward" but ​
otherwise works flawlessly​

Free ( and fee ) USB Safely Remove has a dialog to stop and restart a
USB drive without physically removing it, and I use this feature quite
often when using ValiDrive to test HDDs in docking stations.

View attachment 1989

The feature works well when I get out of "sync" with ValiDrive.

https://safelyremove.com/index.htm

- - - - -

4tb volume with a label "ssd". it proved to be 16gb​

Ouch!

Cheap, though, right?

Are you going to keep it and use it to test and challenge a future
ValiDrive 2 in development?
Click to expand...
apart from the issue i was here for, validrive works perfectly. i usually test a single device. but thanks for the tip.
the "4tb" drive was bought by someone else for ~eur30.00 and i will return the item to her.
i'm not quite interested in validrive2 apart from the issue above. hopefully it will work better in this regard.
 
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