Indifferent USB performance

Tigers! · 06-15-2006, 12:09 AM

I have an IBM Thinkpad with XP & SP2 on it. Have noticed that USB sticks are not working reliably. Most of the time when I plug them in I get a beep but no indication in Windows Explorer that it can see it. I also notice that I get the message that I can "safely remove the USB Mass storage device". Yet I have not used it yet.
The port(s) themselves appear to be ok as I can plug a USB mouse into any port and it works. Maybe a driver problem? Is there a driver check I could do.
Doing the diagnostics via the Control Panel tells me that the device is working properly.

Any help appreciated.

ebackhus · 06-15-2006, 07:49 AM

I know that some brands (Lexar in particular) will be detected, but won't show unless drivers are installed. What brand are you working with?

Tigers! · 06-15-2006, 08:17 PM

There are 2 USB sticks that I have tried, neither are brand models. Just the ones you can pick up relatively cheaply (128M for $25AUD or 512 for $70AUD). Thet used to work reliably till about 3 weeks ago and the problem has been getting worse.

**laboye** · 06-19-2006, 08:01 PM

Check them on another computer to see if it is the devices themselves or the laptop. I doubt it is the flash drives, but if it is, thats odd. If it is the computer, it could be a driver issue. If the device shows up in Device Manager while it is plugged in, right click it and uninstall it. Otherwise this may need a "simple" reformattin'.

06-15-2006, 12:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tigers! Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 53 OS: XP Home with SP2	Indifferent USB performance I have an IBM Thinkpad with XP & SP2 on it. Have noticed that USB sticks are not working reliably. Most of the time when I plug them in I get a beep but no indication in Windows Explorer that it can see it. I also notice that I get the message that I can "safely remove the USB Mass storage device". Yet I have not used it yet. The port(s) themselves appear to be ok as I can plug a USB mouse into any port and it works. Maybe a driver problem? Is there a driver check I could do. Doing the diagnostics via the Control Panel tells me that the device is working properly. Any help appreciated. __________________ =============================== Carn the Tiges!

06-15-2006, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,974 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 26	I know that some brands (Lexar in particular) will be detected, but won't show unless drivers are installed. What brand are you working with? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-15-2006, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tigers! Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 53 OS: XP Home with SP2	There are 2 USB sticks that I have tried, neither are brand models. Just the ones you can pick up relatively cheaply (128M for $25AUD or 512 for $70AUD). Thet used to work reliably till about 3 weeks ago and the problem has been getting worse. __________________ =============================== Carn the Tiges!

06-19-2006, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Check them on another computer to see if it is the devices themselves or the laptop. I doubt it is the flash drives, but if it is, thats odd. If it is the computer, it could be a driver issue. If the device shows up in Device Manager while it is plugged in, right click it and uninstall it. Otherwise this may need a "simple" reformattin'.