USB drives won't work, but USB devices will

Cocaine · 07-10-2008, 01:27 AM

When ever a usb flash drive/thumb stick is put into the computer, windows says it isn't functioning. The thumb sticks work in other computers. It happens regardless of the port. USB devices work, I have a netgear dongle working, and the printer works as well. The camera is in between. It sometimes works with its software, but you can't see it in windows explorer.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

**sobeit** · 07-13-2008, 03:19 AM

what do you mean by windows say it isnt functioning? What is the exact error message? Does windows explorer see it?

Cocaine · 07-13-2008, 05:55 AM

USB Device Not Recognized
One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.

No it isn't visible in Windows explorer.

Clicking on the error message shows a list of USB ports, with one in bold saying Unknown Device.

**sobeit** · 07-13-2008, 06:00 AM

are you using a usb hub? if so, does it have its own power source? Have you tried other usb drives?

right click my computer, click on manage, click on disk management and see if the drive is visible on the bottom of the right column. If so, try assigning a drive letter to it.

Cocaine · 07-13-2008, 11:22 PM

Its plugged into the port in the front of the computer.

Its not under computer management.

Happens with all usb thumb drives.

The Brass · 08-05-2008, 11:08 AM

I am having the same problem on a friends computer that I have to do the work for her as she has no clue. Tried 2 USB flash drives on front and back usb ports on Dell desktop with XP Home SP2. 2 printers, camera and USB cordless mouse are working fine. Both of the USB drives work on my laptop. One of the USB drives is mine and is working on several different computers.

The Brass · 08-31-2008, 10:40 PM

For what it is worth, I found the problem or cure for this computer. There was 2 usb printers and usb wireless mouse. If I unplugged the printers the flash drive would work. Plugged the printers back in and could not get a flash drives to work. I am guessing that the printers are pulling enough juice that the flash drives would not work. Will be trying a powered USB hub next to see if in helps.

minirat · 09-24-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Brass

For what it is worth, I found the problem or cure for this computer. There was 2 usb printers and usb wireless mouse. If I unplugged the printers the flash drive would work. Plugged the printers back in and could not get a flash drives to work. I am guessing that the printers are pulling enough juice that the flash drives would not work. Will be trying a powered USB hub next to see if in helps.

Hi, did you ever find a resolution for this problem, as I am having the same problem.

We bought a new computer - generic pent. 4 - with XP Pro SP 3. The USB mouse, modem and printer all work fine, but it won't work USB flash drives. We've tried 5 different ones.

Some are recognised as USB mass storage device, but then a message comes up that there was an error installing the device. Others are not recognised at all. Occassionaly one of them is recognised and I'm even told they are installed and ready to use, but when I try to access the drive in explorer I cannot read to or from it.

I've looked in "system" and there is a yellow exclamation mark next the "mass media device" in the USB section. This suggests a driver problem, but these shouldn't need a driver.

It's really very frustrating.

The Brass · 09-25-2008, 12:24 AM

What I found on this computer was if I had a lot of usb items plugged, I would have problems finding a USB flash drive. There is a HP color laser, HP printer, USB wireless mouse and usb keyboard. I think there was another item but not sure what the lady had. Unplugging a few items and the flash drive would work. I am thinking about trying a USB powered hub for this computer but just don't have one to try out first. Hope this will help you.

minirat · 09-26-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Brass

What I found on this computer was if I had a lot of usb items plugged, I would have problems finding a USB flash drive. There is a HP color laser, HP printer, USB wireless mouse and usb keyboard. I think there was another item but not sure what the lady had. Unplugging a few items and the flash drive would work. I am thinking about trying a USB powered hub for this computer but just don't have one to try out first. Hope this will help you.

Thank you very much for your reply. I actually just solved the problem earlier today, and it was close to the answer you suggest. I had my USB wireless USB adaptor (for the modem) plugged in on a quite long lead. Shortening the lead was enough to give me enough power for my other devices.

I discovered this by unplugging all my USB devices to see if the flash drive would work, and then plugging them back in one by one. Voila, the adaptor stopped the flash drive working.

Again thanks for your reply, as this problem was quite frustrating and if I hadn't accidentaly found the solution, I would be grovelling at your feet at the moment.

Hopefully some other poor person will read this thread and save themselves some frustration.

07-10-2008, 01:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cocaine Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP Home	USB drives won't work, but USB devices will When ever a usb flash drive/thumb stick is put into the computer, windows says it isn't functioning. The thumb sticks work in other computers. It happens regardless of the port. USB devices work, I have a netgear dongle working, and the printer works as well. The camera is in between. It sometimes works with its software, but you can't see it in windows explorer. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

07-13-2008, 03:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,328 OS: windows/linux	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will what do you mean by windows say it isnt functioning? What is the exact error message? Does windows explorer see it? __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

07-13-2008, 05:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cocaine Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP Home	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will USB Device Not Recognized One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. No it isn't visible in Windows explorer. Clicking on the error message shows a list of USB ports, with one in bold saying Unknown Device.

07-13-2008, 06:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,328 OS: windows/linux	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will are you using a usb hub? if so, does it have its own power source? Have you tried other usb drives? right click my computer, click on manage, click on disk management and see if the drive is visible on the bottom of the right column. If so, try assigning a drive letter to it. __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

07-13-2008, 11:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cocaine Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP Home	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will Its plugged into the port in the front of the computer. Its not under computer management. Happens with all usb thumb drives.

08-05-2008, 11:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
The Brass Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 3 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will I am having the same problem on a friends computer that I have to do the work for her as she has no clue. Tried 2 USB flash drives on front and back usb ports on Dell desktop with XP Home SP2. 2 printers, camera and USB cordless mouse are working fine. Both of the USB drives work on my laptop. One of the USB drives is mine and is working on several different computers.

08-31-2008, 10:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
The Brass Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 3 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will For what it is worth, I found the problem or cure for this computer. There was 2 usb printers and usb wireless mouse. If I unplugged the printers the flash drive would work. Plugged the printers back in and could not get a flash drives to work. I am guessing that the printers are pulling enough juice that the flash drives would not work. Will be trying a powered USB hub next to see if in helps.

09-25-2008, 12:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
The Brass Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 3 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	Re: USB drives won't work, but USB devices will What I found on this computer was if I had a lot of usb items plugged, I would have problems finding a USB flash drive. There is a HP color laser, HP printer, USB wireless mouse and usb keyboard. I think there was another item but not sure what the lady had. Unplugging a few items and the flash drive would work. I am thinking about trying a USB powered hub for this computer but just don't have one to try out first. Hope this will help you.