Problems with Flash Drives and Vista

tim42 · 01-29-2009, 05:27 PM

I am having constant problems getting Flash drives to work with Vista. Sometimes they work and other times they don't. Sometimes when they don't work I get a message telling me that the drive has malfunctioned and other times no message. There appears to be no pattern. Flash drives are Toshiba and AData.

Geekgirl · 01-29-2009, 05:58 PM

Welcome to TSF

Are you trying different usb ports and does it happen in all ports?

tim42 · 01-29-2009, 06:06 PM

It happens with all unused USB ports. I have a printer plugged into a USB port via a USB extension cable. I can always get the Flash drives to work via this cable, ie unplug the printer but can only get them to work sometimes with unused USB ports

Geekgirl · 01-29-2009, 06:08 PM

Try reinstalling the USB port drivers from within Device Manager.

tim42 · 01-29-2009, 06:13 PM

I have tried that. I have also tried deleting the INFCACHE.1 file as suggested on another tech site but no luck

Geekgirl · 01-29-2009, 06:50 PM

Well Google is flooded with the same issue so your not alone

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ta&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...+Vista&spell=1

tim42 · 01-29-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks Geekgirl. I have done the Google thing. The main difference between my problem and most others is that all my flash drives work sometimes where as with most other people they don't appear to work at all.

Geekgirl · 02-02-2009, 06:15 PM

Do the flash drives work flawlessly on another system? You need to rule out the flash drives

tim42 · 02-03-2009, 12:59 AM

I can't be sure about all the flash drives but I use the Toshiba for work from time to time and to date there have been no problems using this with other systems. Also, other people have problems with their flash drives using my system. I have managed to get them working for the moment by plugging the printer into one of the unused USB ports, the one I usually use for flash drives. I guess thats done some sort of resetting but who knows for how long.

Geekgirl · 02-03-2009, 09:05 AM

Maybe some missing system files

The SFC may be of some use too. Click Start/ All Programs/ Accessories
Right click on the Command Prompt option, on the drop down menu which appears, click on the Run as Administrator option
If you haven’t disabled User Account Control (and you shouldn’t!) you will be asked for authorization. Click the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password.

Start the System File Checker

In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow, press Enter
You’ll see “the system scan will begin”.

The scan may take some time and windows will repair/replace any corrupt or missing files. You will be asked to insert your Vista DVD if it’s needed.

Close the Command Prompt Window when the job is finished.

One caveat: you need a Windows CD or DVD to enable SFC to make repairs.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833/en-us

tim42 · 02-05-2009, 12:46 AM

Thanks for the tip on SFC Geekgirl. Since they are working at the moment I will leave it alone however when they start playing up again I will try the SFC.

01-29-2009, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Problems with Flash Drives and Vista I am having constant problems getting Flash drives to work with Vista. Sometimes they work and other times they don't. Sometimes when they don't work I get a message telling me that the drive has malfunctioned and other times no message. There appears to be no pattern. Flash drives are Toshiba and AData.

01-29-2009, 05:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Welcome to TSF Are you trying different usb ports and does it happen in all ports? __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

01-29-2009, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista It happens with all unused USB ports. I have a printer plugged into a USB port via a USB extension cable. I can always get the Flash drives to work via this cable, ie unplug the printer but can only get them to work sometimes with unused USB ports

01-29-2009, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Try reinstalling the USB port drivers from within Device Manager. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

01-29-2009, 06:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista I have tried that. I have also tried deleting the INFCACHE.1 file as suggested on another tech site but no luck

01-29-2009, 06:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Well Google is flooded with the same issue so your not alone http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ta&btnG=Search http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...+Vista&spell=1 __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

01-29-2009, 07:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Thanks Geekgirl. I have done the Google thing. The main difference between my problem and most others is that all my flash drives work sometimes where as with most other people they don't appear to work at all.

02-02-2009, 06:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Do the flash drives work flawlessly on another system? You need to rule out the flash drives __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

02-03-2009, 12:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista I can't be sure about all the flash drives but I use the Toshiba for work from time to time and to date there have been no problems using this with other systems. Also, other people have problems with their flash drives using my system. I have managed to get them working for the moment by plugging the printer into one of the unused USB ports, the one I usually use for flash drives. I guess thats done some sort of resetting but who knows for how long.

02-03-2009, 09:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,163 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Maybe some missing system files The SFC may be of some use too. Click Start/ All Programs/ Accessories Right click on the Command Prompt option, on the drop down menu which appears, click on the Run as Administrator option If you haven’t disabled User Account Control (and you shouldn’t!) you will be asked for authorization. Click the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password. Start the System File Checker In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow, press Enter You’ll see “the system scan will begin”. The scan may take some time and windows will repair/replace any corrupt or missing files. You will be asked to insert your Vista DVD if it’s needed. Close the Command Prompt Window when the job is finished. One caveat: you need a Windows CD or DVD to enable SFC to make repairs. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833/en-us __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

02-05-2009, 12:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
tim42 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Problems with Flash Drives and Vista Thanks for the tip on SFC Geekgirl. Since they are working at the moment I will leave it alone however when they start playing up again I will try the SFC.