Can I distinguish removable drive (eg. USB flash drive) from fixed drive containing removable medium (eg. SD card reader or DVD-ROM)

Question

Hello,

Context:

• Using Visual C/C++
• Targeting Windows Vista and later (but if a solution is available for WinXP too, it would be welcome)
• What is available to perform an operation: admin rights, regular application (exe), drivers of various types (including volume filter and device filter).

Problem:

Is there a way to distinguish between the following classes of storage devices?

I) A non-removable device that can contain a removable medium (such as DVD-ROM or SD card reader).

II) A removable drive that cannot contain any removable medium (such as USB flash drive).

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

What about a USB DVD or card reader?

You can do some test IO and check the read speed if you are only interested in the medium.

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Answer 2

You're right about USB DVD drives. Let me rephrase and simplify it:

I was hoping there was a simple call that would answer the following simple Yes/No question:

Can the device contain a removable medium? (For USB flash drives the answer would be No, for SD card readers, Yes).

Answer 3

I was hoping there was a simple call that would answer the following simple Yes/No question:

Can the device contain a removable medium? (For USB flash drives the answer would be No, for SD card readers, Yes).

Have you tried the GetDriveType API and checked for DRIVE_REMOVABLE?

Dave

Answer 4

Read these.

 

Device Input and Output Control (IOCTL)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363219(v=vs.85).aspx

 

DeviceIoControl function

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363216(v=vs.85).aspx

 

IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY control code

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560590(v=vs.85).aspx

 

STORAGE_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR structure (see the RemovableMedia member)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff566971(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Answer 5

Have you tried the GetDriveType API and checked for DRIVE_REMOVABLE?

Dave

Yes, sir, I had tried that. GetDriveType returns DRIVE_REMOVABLE for USB flash drives as well as card readers (strangely enough, for CD-ROM drives it doesn't).

Answer 6

Read these.

 

Device Input and Output Control (IOCTL)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363219(v=vs.85).aspx

 

DeviceIoControl function

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363216(v=vs.85).aspx

 

IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY control code

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff560590(v=vs.85).aspx

 

STORAGE_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR structure (see the RemovableMedia member)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff566971(v=vs.85).aspx

 

I am well aware of IOCTL and their usage. I'm looking for the specifics.

You mentioned some specifics, so let me address them:

STORAGE_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR structure (see the RemovableMedia member)

If you read the documentation you link to, you will find out that it does not solve my problem. The doc for RemovableMedia member states: "Indicates when TRUE that the device's media (if any) is removable. If the device has no media, this member should be ignored."

Again, no way to simply decide if the device has any media.

IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY and other similar things would require playing a "whack-a-mole" game trying to white/black-list each specific medium. This is not future-proof and there are other problems with it.

I was hoping there was a simple call that would answer the following simple Yes/No question:

Can the device contain a removable medium? (For USB flash drives the answer would be No, for SD card readers, Yes).

Answer 7

I was hoping there was a simple call that would answer the following simple Yes/No question:

Can the device contain a removable medium? (For USB flash drives the answer would be No, for SD card readers, Yes).

NtQueryVolumeInformationFile(FileFsDeviceInformation)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff556705(v=vs.85).aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff567070(v=vs.85).aspx

FILE_FS_DEVICE_INFORMATION structure

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff545788(v=vs.85).aspx

DEVICE_OBJECT structure (definitions for ‘Characteristics’)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff543147(v=vs.85).aspx

FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA

“Indicates that the storage device supports removable media. Notice that this characteristic indicates removable media, not a removable device. For example, drivers for JAZ drive devices should specify this characteristic, but drivers for PCMCIA flash disks should not.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NtQueryVolumeInformationFile(FileFsDeviceInformation);

if (info.Characteristics & FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA)

{

      // Yep!

}

Answer 8

NtQueryVolumeInformationFile(FileFsDeviceInformation);

if (info.Characteristics & FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA)

{

      // Yep!

}

I appreciate that response, but unfortunately that would work only for file systems. We need to be able to work with unformatted media too (which I forgot to mention in my first post). Any API call for that?

Answer 9

We need to be able to work with unformatted media too (which I forgot to mention in my first post). Any API call for that?

SetupDiGetDeviceRegistryProperty(SPDRP_CAPABILITIES);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff551967(v=vs.85).aspx

 

 

or ..

 

CM_Get_DevNode_Registry_Property(CM_DRP_CAPABILITIES);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff538496(v=vs.85).aspx

 

if (dwCapabilities & (CM_DEVCAP_EJECTSUPPORTED|CM_DEVCAP_REMOVABLE))

{

      // Yeeha!

}

Answer 10

Any API call for that?

Also consider the IOCTL_DISK_GET_DRIVE_GEOMETRY control code.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365169(v=vs.85).aspx

DISK_GEOMETRY structure.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363972(v=vs.85).aspx

MEDIA_TYPE enumeration.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365231(v=vs.85).aspx

Answer 11

NtQueryVolumeInformationFile(FileFsDeviceInformation);

if (info.Characteristics & FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA)

{

      // Yep!

}

...  unfortunately that would work only for file systems.

Are you sure?

 

The link below says NtQueryVolumeInformationFile also works with storage devices:

 

“Handle to a file object returned by ZwCreateFile or ZwOpenFile for an open file, directory, storage device, or volume for which volume information is being requested.”

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff567070(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Answer 12

Another IOCTL to consider …

 

IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_HOTPLUG_INFO control code

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363408(v=vs.85).aspx

 

STORAGE_HOTPLUG_INFO structure

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363466(v=vs.85).aspx

 

MediaRemovable

If this member is set to a nonzero value, the device media is removable. Otherwise, the device media is not removable.

 

Answer 13

I think it would also depend on what the hardware reports.

I am in the transcription business and some voice recorders (memory card readers with fancy recording functions) report themselves as fixed hard drives instead of removable media, when connected via USB. 

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Answer 14

We need to be able to work with unformatted media too (which I forgot to mention in my first post). Any API call for that?

SetupDiGetDeviceRegistryProperty(SPDRP_CAPABILITIES);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff551967(v=vs.85).aspx

 

 

or ..

 

CM_Get_DevNode_Registry_Property(CM_DRP_CAPABILITIES);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff538496(v=vs.85).aspx

 

if (dwCapabilities & (CM_DEVCAP_EJECTSUPPORTED|CM_DEVCAP_REMOVABLE))

{

      // Yeeha!

}

Those do not indicate real physical properties but rather the Windows software removal/eject functionality exposed to users.

Answer 15

Any API call for that?

Also consider the IOCTL_DISK_GET_DRIVE_GEOMETRY control code.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365169(v=vs.85).aspx

DISK_GEOMETRY structure.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363972(v=vs.85).aspx

MEDIA_TYPE enumeration.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365231(v=vs.85).aspx

Those do not distinguish between removable media and removable devices.

Answer 16

NtQueryVolumeInformationFile(FileFsDeviceInformation);

if (info.Characteristics & FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA)

{

      // Yep!

}

...  unfortunately that would work only for file systems.

Are you sure?

 

The link below says NtQueryVolumeInformationFile also works with storage devices:

 

“Handle to a file object returned by ZwCreateFile or ZwOpenFile for an open file, directory, storage device, or volume for which volume information is being requested.”

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff567070(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Thank you for those pointers. This actually looked very promising, because the MS web page really states that the flag should be set only for real removable media . Unfortunately, a few real world tests showed that USB flash drives falsely fire as "containing removable media". It didn't surprise me though...

Answer 17

Another IOCTL to consider …

 

IOCTL_STORAGE_GET_HOTPLUG_INFO control code

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363408(v=vs.85).aspx

 

STORAGE_HOTPLUG_INFO structure

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa363466(v=vs.85).aspx

 

MediaRemovable

If this member is set to a nonzero value, the device media is removable. Otherwise, the device media is not removable.

 

Those functions apply only to hot-plug devices. We need to cover all bases.

Answer 18

I think it would also depend on what the hardware reports.

I am in the transcription business and some voice recorders (memory card readers with fancy recording functions) report themselves as fixed hard drives instead of removable media, when connected via USB. 

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It's actually OK if they report themselves as fixed hard drives, as long as they also report removable media inside. ;)

Answer 19

Thanks for all the replies so far. Very appreciated.

Answer 20

I will try to involve others senior engineers into this thread to help you.

Best wishes,

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Mike Zhang[MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 21

I will try to involve others senior engineers into this thread to help you.

That's very kind of you. Thank you! :)

Answer 22

You're welcome!

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Mike Zhang[MSFT]
MSDN Community Support | Feedback to us

Answer 23

Perhaps this could help you start...

How the Group policy tells removable device from removable media?

-- pa

Answer 24

You might want to check this document first:

Removable Storage Devices and Windows Vista Support

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/windows/hardware/gg463533

==================

e.g.

ATA HDD  is  "Fixed device with fixed media"

ATAPI CD Drive is "Fixed device with removable media"

USB Flash Disk(UFD) is "Hot Pluggable with fixed media"

USB Card Reader is "Hot pluggable with removable media"

=================

• Hot Pluggable

Hot plugging is normally per Connector Interface. Devices that can be added to or removed from the machine while the system is running. USB flash disks and IEEE 1394 disks are examples of hot-pluggable storage device.

Call IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY with StorageAdapterProperty to get STORAGE_BUS_TYPE, if storage bus is USB/1394, it's hot pluggable device.

• Removable Media

1. Use SetupDiGetDeviceRegistryProperty to query FILE_REMOVABLE_MEDIA characteristic
2. Send SCSI pass-through SCSI INQUIRY request. Note: Some UFD vendors choose to set the Removable property in SCSI INQUIRY responses even though the storage media cannot be separated from the physical device

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