Removable hardware option in my taskbar???

I had to completely reinstall Windows (xp) today after a major computer malfunction. Ive managed to get most of my drivers etc up and running and got the net back up (obviously as im on it now !) but my hard drive (maxtor) is showing as a removable hardware device in my taskbar!! Although its doesnt seem to be doing any problems there and it wont let me "safely remove hardware" but i want to kow how to get rid of it. Any ideas why its there in the first place either?