usb mass storage devices not recognised

oliver88 · 01-08-2009, 11:32 AM

my laptop isn't picking up any mass storage devices via usb for some reason, it reads my mouse fine thru usb but ipod/phone/flash drive/external hd aren't seen by the computer for some reason.

i'm not sure which specs are really relevent, i'm running vista and its a laptop, i've checked the option to turn off usb to save power and that isnt on

thanks

aznmagic2015 · 01-08-2009, 06:01 PM

Do you see the drives under disk management or Device Manger?

oliver88 · 01-09-2009, 03:49 AM

no - just put my ext hd in and it doesn't show up under that, i just get this message:

"usb device not recognised - one of the usb devies attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognise it. for assistance in solving this problem click this message"

clicking that message gives this:
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/743/usbvv4.jpg

**vladimirb** · 01-09-2009, 03:54 AM

Go to Device Manager, uninstall USB devices, right-click on your PC name in Device Manager and choose 'Scan for hardware changes'
Try again...

oliver88 · 01-09-2009, 07:24 AM

i'm not really sure what you mean by usb devices - i uninstalled the "unknown device" and scanned again and it didn't pick up my ext hd after i hit scan for hardware changes

there's a long list of items under USB controllers, is 5 intel universal host controllers, then 1 unknown device, then 5 usb root hubs - which should i uninstall?

**vladimirb** · 01-09-2009, 07:30 AM

USB root hubs... Uninstall them and than scan for hardware changes...
Unknown device is some device without driver installed...

oliver88 · 01-09-2009, 07:45 AM

ah ok, done that and it found all the root hubs again, then plugged in my ext hd and it didnt show up the "not recognized" message, but it isn't showing the ext hd in disk management or device manager either

**vladimirb** · 01-09-2009, 07:49 AM

You should try external HDD on desktop or some other laptop...
maybe enclosure does not providing enough power...

oliver88 · 01-09-2009, 08:23 AM

the hd is working ok on my desktop, its any kind of mass storage device that the usb ports on my laptop just arent recognising it seems

**vladimirb** · 01-10-2009, 02:38 AM

Are you useing self-powerer external HDD enclosure???
Maybe you need more powerful ecnlosure...

oliver88 · 01-10-2009, 07:54 AM

i'm not really sure what you mean, it powers off of the computer altho i doubt thats what you're asking, i dont think its just my hd because my ipod/flash drive/phone are all not recognised (all mass storage) - and my hd works on my desktop

hope that answers the question

**vladimirb** · 01-10-2009, 09:19 AM

Ok, tell me what is make/model of your laptop???
And what make/model is your external HDD???

oliver88 · 01-10-2009, 11:39 AM

the laptop is a toshiba laptop specs are as follows

toshiba - satellite
intel core 2 duo t5500 @ 1.66ghz
2gb ram
32bit ms vista ultimate

the hd is a maxtor basics - external portable hard drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxtor-Basic.../dp/B0015M08EU
^^^^^

dai · 01-10-2009, 07:12 PM

in the device manager click on view at the top and in the dropdown
show hidden devices
then uninstall all listed usb items
turn the computer off
unplug usb plugs
reboot twice
replug in the usb plugs

i think you will need a powered h/drive enclosure to run it on the laptop

oliver88 · 01-11-2009, 03:45 AM

meh - did all of that and no change. might be right about the hd enclosure but even my memory stick doesnt work on it :S

**vladimirb** · 01-11-2009, 04:24 AM

Well if only your mouse is working I think USB hubs not supplying enough power for any other mass storage device, since on other PC you can easily plug HDD and other components...
Since when this problem started to happen???

oliver88 · 01-11-2009, 04:31 AM

roughly around 1-2 months ago - before then it worked fine, if i was to buy a usb hub thing and plug in to that would that make any difference?

**vladimirb** · 01-11-2009, 04:43 AM

Well self-powered could help if it is hardware issue...
I am not sure but it might be software issue also...
If someone that you know have self-powered USB hub, that could save you money if you realize that problem is not hardware related...

oliver88 · 01-11-2009, 04:54 AM

it has two cables, one for data and one for power - i plugged the power cable into my desktop and data into my lappy on the odd chance that might work - but it didnt and it still just says not recognised

just reformatted using the recovery disc - STILL doesnt recognise my usb flash drive! does this mean its definately a hardware fault?

**vladimirb** · 01-13-2009, 01:36 AM

It does not matter which one USB hub are you using, everything is the same????
If it is under warranty, return it, they will fix it for you...

01-08-2009, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	usb mass storage devices not recognised my laptop isn't picking up any mass storage devices via usb for some reason, it reads my mouse fine thru usb but ipod/phone/flash drive/external hd aren't seen by the computer for some reason. i'm not sure which specs are really relevent, i'm running vista and its a laptop, i've checked the option to turn off usb to save power and that isnt on thanks

01-08-2009, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
aznmagic2015 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 63 OS: XP	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Do you see the drives under disk management or Device Manger?

01-09-2009, 03:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised no - just put my ext hd in and it doesn't show up under that, i just get this message: "usb device not recognised - one of the usb devies attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognise it. for assistance in solving this problem click this message" clicking that message gives this: http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/743/usbvv4.jpg

01-09-2009, 03:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Go to Device Manager, uninstall USB devices, right-click on your PC name in Device Manager and choose 'Scan for hardware changes' Try again... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-09-2009, 07:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised i'm not really sure what you mean by usb devices - i uninstalled the "unknown device" and scanned again and it didn't pick up my ext hd after i hit scan for hardware changes there's a long list of items under USB controllers, is 5 intel universal host controllers, then 1 unknown device, then 5 usb root hubs - which should i uninstall?

01-09-2009, 07:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised USB root hubs... Uninstall them and than scan for hardware changes... Unknown device is some device without driver installed... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-09-2009, 07:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised ah ok, done that and it found all the root hubs again, then plugged in my ext hd and it didnt show up the "not recognized" message, but it isn't showing the ext hd in disk management or device manager either

01-09-2009, 07:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised You should try external HDD on desktop or some other laptop... maybe enclosure does not providing enough power... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-09-2009, 08:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised the hd is working ok on my desktop, its any kind of mass storage device that the usb ports on my laptop just arent recognising it seems

01-10-2009, 02:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Are you useing self-powerer external HDD enclosure??? Maybe you need more powerful ecnlosure... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-10-2009, 07:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised i'm not really sure what you mean, it powers off of the computer altho i doubt thats what you're asking, i dont think its just my hd because my ipod/flash drive/phone are all not recognised (all mass storage) - and my hd works on my desktop hope that answers the question

01-10-2009, 09:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Ok, tell me what is make/model of your laptop??? And what make/model is your external HDD??? __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-10-2009, 11:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised the laptop is a toshiba laptop specs are as follows toshiba - satellite intel core 2 duo t5500 @ 1.66ghz 2gb ram 32bit ms vista ultimate the hd is a maxtor basics - external portable hard drive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxtor-Basic.../dp/B0015M08EU ^^^^^

01-10-2009, 07:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,646 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised in the device manager click on view at the top and in the dropdown show hidden devices then uninstall all listed usb items turn the computer off unplug usb plugs reboot twice replug in the usb plugs i think you will need a powered h/drive enclosure to run it on the laptop __________________

01-11-2009, 03:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised meh - did all of that and no change. might be right about the hd enclosure but even my memory stick doesnt work on it :S

01-11-2009, 04:24 AM	#16 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Well if only your mouse is working I think USB hubs not supplying enough power for any other mass storage device, since on other PC you can easily plug HDD and other components... Since when this problem started to happen??? __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-11-2009, 04:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised roughly around 1-2 months ago - before then it worked fine, if i was to buy a usb hub thing and plug in to that would that make any difference?

01-11-2009, 04:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised Well self-powered could help if it is hardware issue... I am not sure but it might be software issue also... If someone that you know have self-powered USB hub, that could save you money if you realize that problem is not hardware related... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

01-11-2009, 04:54 AM	#19 (permalink)
oliver88 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12 OS: vista ultimate	it has two cables, one for data and one for power - i plugged the power cable into my desktop and data into my lappy on the odd chance that might work - but it didnt and it still just says not recognised just reformatted using the recovery disc - STILL doesnt recognise my usb flash drive! does this mean its definately a hardware fault? Last edited by dai; 01-15-2009 at 09:17 AM.

01-13-2009, 01:36 AM	#20 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,681 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: usb mass storage devices not recognised It does not matter which one USB hub are you using, everything is the same???? If it is under warranty, return it, they will fix it for you... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager