[SOLVED] USB Key-Disks not showing up under Explorer - SP2 / patch problem?

horrgakx · 03-01-2005, 02:40 AM

I have three USB key disks, two from Disgo and one from Integral.
They were working under SP2 until a host of fixes came in through Windows Update.

My home and work PC's have the same level of patching and none of the 3 USB disks now work on *either* system.

Does anyone know of an issue with any of the fixes that would have been installed?

Thanks,
Dave

ksteiger · 03-01-2005, 06:17 AM

You might try inserting a USB key and then checking Disk Management (right click My Computer, left click Manage, left click Disk Management). See if the key shows up there and if possibly Windows is assigning a drive letter that's already in use by another device or network drive. If so, you can change the drive letter for the key from within Disk Management by right clicking on the drive and following the prompts.

horrgakx · 03-01-2005, 07:45 AM

It is really bizarre.

I managed to get to the data by opening the Disk Management console, right-clicking and choosing "Open".
If I choose "Explore" it does not show up.
Also if I "Open" and then put the folder view on the drive disappears from the list.

Dave

ksteiger · 03-01-2005, 08:13 AM

Is XP assigning it a drive letter? And is that letter a conflict with another device in your system, such as a CD-ROM?

horrgakx · 03-01-2005, 08:21 AM

Yep - last physical drive D:, 1st network drive K:. XP is assigning it as E: but I also changed it to F: and same result.

ksteiger · 03-01-2005, 09:26 AM

Sorry, Dave, I've run out of ideas. I was hoping there was a conflict with a mapped network drive since that's a very common problem with USB key disks. Maybe someone else has an idea, but I'm fresh out. Good luck.

**johnwill** · 03-01-2005, 11:13 AM

Unplug ALL USB devices.
Open Device Manager.
View, Show Hidden Devices.
Uninstall all devices under USB Controllers.
Uninstall all devices under Storage Volumes. Say no to any reboot prompts until you are finished. Also, if a Storage Volume doesn't uninstall, ignore it and move to the next one.
If you have a yellow ? with unknown devices, uninstall all of the entries there as well.

When this is done, reboot TWICE.

Reconnect the USB devices and see if they're recognized properly.

horrgakx · 03-02-2005, 01:32 AM

Johnwill, thanks for that, I followed your instructions and all 3 USB key-disks are now working!!!

Can you tell me what caused that problem then?

Thanks,
Dave

**johnwill** · 03-02-2005, 10:14 AM

Glad we got you going. To be truthful, it's somewhat difficult to know exactly how things get hosed. What happens is that a driver that is incorrectly configured for the disk in question gets loaded, and it blocks the proper driver. By removing all the references, you clean out the pool, and allow a fresh configuration.

This happens more than you might imagine.

01-20-2008, 12:23 PM

hi there, sorry to jump on thread, but I have exactly the same issue I think, except the pc makes the DUH! DAH! noise when I put a usb in and I see it under usb controllers as mass storage device, but for the life of me I cant see it in My computer.

Tried the uninstall process twice but no luck, any ideas guys?

thanks

ksteiger · 01-20-2008, 12:59 PM

You may have a drive letter conflict. Right click on My Computer, left click on Manage, then click on Disk Management and see if you can find your USB thumb drive. If so, right click on it in the top pane and opt to change drive letter. Then assign it a drive letter that is not currently in use.

01-21-2008, 03:01 AM

thanks, I'll try that tonight, fingers crossed

shadowman59 · 01-21-2008, 03:17 AM

i would try to uninstall everything under usb but there is no usb in the list. it just vanished. gone . no where to be found. what can i do. please help.

01-23-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksteiger

You may have a drive letter conflict. Right click on My Computer, left click on Manage, then click on Disk Management and see if you can find your USB thumb drive. If so, right click on it in the top pane and opt to change drive letter. Then assign it a drive letter that is not currently in use.

ok, disk management sees the usb mass storage device, I assign a letter and still cant see it in My Computer, pull out the key and the pc does the DAH! DAH! noise. SO, it sees it, it def has it in disk management, its def in safely remove hardware but I cant see the fooker anywhere to open it.

P.S if i put it in again and go to disc management it wants to assign another letter and the letter I already assigned isnt in the drop down anymore!!

help please, am I going MAD

01-27-2008, 04:28 PM

anyone? :(

01-28-2008, 04:37 PM

anyone??

Mountainman1863 · 02-01-2008, 01:05 PM

Try looking at the removables using Windows Explorer, rather than just double-clicking on My Computer. Why there is a difference between the two, I do not know.

**elf** · 02-01-2008, 02:11 PM

cherokee, this thread was resolved in 2005. Please start a new thread with your problem.

dimpils666 · 02-03-2008, 12:19 AM

Update ur windows security.. KB updates all of them....

02-03-2008, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountainman1863

Try looking at the removables using Windows Explorer, rather than just double-clicking on My Computer. Why there is a difference between the two, I do not know.

there isnt and its not there eiether as that is a mirror of my comp, thanks anyway.

NEW thread started Elf, sorry