I’ve recently noticed that my system has a new local disk, named Q:
Local Disk (Q:) - Where did it come from?
While I was curious as to how this disk came about, given that no one else uses my computer, I wasn’t too bothered about it. Last night, while working with a friend, I was asked a question - “What’s that Local Disk (Q:)? I’ve got one on my system too and it popped out of nowhere.”
Naturally, I started digging.
The first place I checked was the Disk Management Utility and what I found there was weird.
The disk isn’t there, but then it is.
Disk Management Utility - Q: is not there
I tried to open the disk via Windows Explorer and got an “Access is Denied” error.
Access is Denied
I then took a look in the registry, checking HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices and as expected, Q: was there.
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices - Q: is there
So what is this mysterious Q: that’s there, inaccessible and not a partition of any existing physical drives?
At this point, I was totally lost. It still hasn’t hit me that this drive appeared right after installing Office 2010 Beta.
I continued digging and the answer was found on the Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering Blog’s post on a new feature in Office 2010 – Click-to-Run . This new drive that has appeared in the system, is part of the all new “Click-to-Run” feature in Office 2010.
Office 2010 Click-to-Run is a virtualized application that is stored on Microsoft’s servers. Whenever one launches any of the Office applications as “Click-to-Run”, the system will download the necessary components to the virtual disk (Q:).
Office 2010 Click-to-Run - Downloading files
How does this benefit us?
Easy. Firstly, no updates to install. All updates will be installed on Microsoft’s servers and we’ll always have the most up to date version of Office 2010. In addition to this, since Office 2010 is installed on a server, we’ll be able to take Office 2010 with us anywhere we go. As long as there’s an internet connection, we will be able to use all Office applications that we are licensed to use. This is made possible by both “Click-to-Run” and the Microsoft Office To-Go Device Manager.
Microsoft Office to go Device Manager
So that’s it. More detailed information on “Click-to-Run” and the “Microsoft Office To-Go Device Manager” is available on the Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering Blog.
Now you can rest easy knowing that the drive is there for a reason.
[...] December 26, 2009 proteus555 Leave a comment Go to comments Those who have read my previous post on Office 2010’s “Click-To-Run” feature would understand why Local Disk (Q:) was [...]
yeh ok so we know now, but after uninstalling it via an uninstall manager that deletes all reg files belonging to office 2010 i still get that error….how do i remove it
How sure are you that the uninstall manager removed everything?
The Local Disk Q is added by Softgrid.
[...] release? Would a person actually need to access Disk Q for any reason? Oh well, we'll see. Office 2010 Beta adds Local Disk (Q to the system BTW: MS Office 2010 beta is a free download to use until Oct 2010 It is a big hog…JMHO [...]
So, I can’t use MS 2010 Beta without internet connection?
[...] it without removing Office 2010 Beta see these threads.. Office 2010 Beta – Phantom Q drive Office 2010 Beta adds Local Disk (Q to the system Hide Local Disk (Q added by Office 2010 Beta Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
[...] drive Here's a bit more on the phantom Q drive here… Office 2010 Beta – Phantom Q drive Office 2010 Beta adds Local Disk (Q to the system Hide Local Disk (Q added by Office 2010 Beta Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
Thanks for the info. After uninstalling Office 2010 beta and click to run, I still have a Q drive which is still inaccessible. I cannot download a new Office 2010 because the drive is inaccessible. Can’t take it off, can’t use it. I am really starting to hate this new software. I cna’t even get rid of Q through disk management (no ability to “remove” or do anything else to Q for that matter). Maybe I need a superadministrator privilege???
try this link. i couldn’t get rid of the Q drive either or an annoying click 2 run pop up. this got rid of the Q drive and I haven’t seen the pop up yet since doing this. just scroll to the bottom of the page and select the button to remove the 2010 version.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
[...] online, I discovered that Disk Q is created by Microsoft Office Starter 2010, the OEM-packaged version of Microsoft’s office suite. The phantom drive is created when you [...]
HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET MY NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WITHOUT ME GIVING IT? I CAME HERE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER AND THEN I FIND MY NAME ALREADY TYPED IN ALONG WITH MY EMAIL. I’VE NEVER BEEN TO THIS SITE BEFORE…SO WHAT IS GOING ON?
Heard of autocomplete?
Can’t believe there is still someone in 2011 that doesn’t know a xxxxxxx thing about computers lol.
Here’s the way to remove the Q. Go to your Ctrl Panel & remove “Microsoft Office Click-to-Run 2010″ from Add/Remove Programs. TADA! No more Q.
thanks man………..
it realy helpedme………..
THANK YOU! I had a similar problem on our work computers. We didn’t have Office 2010 beta installed (it was the full version), but there was still a “ghost” drive, though for us it was a V: drive (perhaps because our Q: drive was already mapped to a network drive?). I could not for the life of me figure out where that drive came from or how to remove it. Then I stumbled upon your post, which explained what it was. The helpful comments led me to removing it. Uninstalling Office 2010 didn’t work, but there was another application listed in Programs and Features: Microsoft Application Virtualization Desktop Client. I uninstalled that, and the drive went away. Hooray!
I’m glad this came in handy.
where can i find the microsft application virtualization desktop client
[...] It turns out that some installation of Microsoft Office install a “Phantom Drive” that seems to appear as “Q:” on users machines. This is related to a tool called “Microsoft Office Click-to-Run 2010″. You can read more about this particular issue here. [...]