USB Mass Storage - Not Recognised in XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter MarkAR
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MarkAR

Help, I have tried various USB stroage devices (including
Memory Pens and Multi Card Readers) but cannot get access
to them. When they are plugged in, there is some
recognition as they appear in Device Manager under both
USB Serial Controller and Disk Drives. In addition they
appear in the 'Safely Remove Hardware' section under PnP
in the System Icon BUT nowhere in any program. I cannot
see them under Explorer or under the My Computer section
or any other option. Please advise how I can get these to
appear and be accessed under the 'normal' bits of XP.

Thanks

MarkAR
 
Can you let me know when you figure this out, because I,
too am having the same problem. I'm running XP on a Dell
Optiplex 260.

Thanks,
Brad
(e-mail address removed)
 
I figured it out. I had a netword drive mapped as E: I
disconnected the mapped drive, rebooted, and now my USB
device shows up under E:
 
That gives me one idea to try. When I first set up the
system on Saturday, I had three physical hard drives,
each with two partitions (my original 2 IDE drives and my
new S-ATA drive). They mapped at C-F, D-G, E-H. I also
had two CD drives, I and J. After I copied my data off of
the old E-H to the new C-F, I removed the original 2nd
IDE drive and now I had C-E, D-F. The CD drives stayed at
I,J so I then changed their assignments to G and H. The
camera or Sandisk, whichever I plug in, tries to map to
I:. Maybe that old letter has some left over vestige of
the CD. I will try moving the CD back to I: and seeing
what happens. I don't have alot of hope, but it's
something!

Stan
 
I am having the same problem using XP home with one
extrenal harddrive, however my problem is that for 20
months it worked,now it won't but it is listed in device
manager and I have reinstalled the drivers and got the
message about finding new hardware, but it doesn't
recognize it properly, it says the door is open.
 
By any chance, do any of your motherboards
support USB Mass Storage devices?

And if it does, is the option for USB
Mass Storage device in the BIOS?

I use the ASUS P4P800, which has
the option in BIOS. I wonder if the mobo/BIOS
would have to have the option, before you
can use a USB Mass Storage Device?

I use a Apacer 7-1 card reader (USB2) internal
which XP picks up as a Mass Storage Device
no probs at all. And gives me 4 extra removable
devices (I,J,K,L). I've just replaced the floppy
with this, as you can also boot from the card
reader, by the looks of it.

Which can can take the SD/CF/MD/MMC
Smartmedia, MS and MS PRO cards.

I use it with a digital camera, which uses
an SD card, with no probs at all.
 
I have the ASUS P4C800E-Deluxe. It does have BIOS setting
related to usb mass storage devices, but they seem to be
for permanent devices that are present at boot. They
don't seem to be for removable devices, like my SANDISK 6-
in-1 card reader, Sony camera, or USB flash card (all of
which don't work).

I noticed another interesting thing last night. I ran the
Management Console/Disk Management utility while I
plugged in the devices. They showed up with letters for
30 seconds or so before they disappeared. Even while
showing in Disk Management, however, they did not appear
in Explorer. After 30 seconds they disappeared and the
new hardware utility reported a failure installing a new
device.

This is very strange and I would sure appreciate if one
of the MVPs would jump in with some advise!
 
NMy idea didn't help, even when I moved the CDs up to
X/Y.

Waiting now for some MVP help!
 
That sounds right Stan. This reader is permanent
you could say. As it's connected to a USB2 header
on the mobo. And is internal.

And DOES run as soon I turn the
computer on (It has a power, and an access light)
so you know when NOT to take a card out of it).

It might have to do with certain updates as well.

I dont know.?
 
This is getting stranger.

I looked in the USB section of the BIOS last night. I
found it displays the number of currently active USB
devices, and would show the hub plus 1 or 2 drives,
depending on what was plugged in. BTW, it makes no
difference whether the failing devices are plugged into
the hub or directly into the motherboard. The BIOS
settings were related to post delay time, how to handle
USB 2.0, etc. and appeared to be unrelated to the problem
at hand.

I then booted back into XP, and low-and-behold, the
camera and SANDISK were working. The flash disk card was
not. Then, with no changes, the SANDISK stopped working
again. Periodically the system would freeze up until I
unplugged the cable.

I will probably end up doing a repair install of XP, but
after only 4 days I shouldn't have to do that.

Would sure like to hear from an MVP . . .

Stan
 
Hmmm how many watts is your power
supply? If you are running too many things
on a well 250-320/350 p/s. It maybe draining
the power needed for USB. Unless you use
a powered hub (which I see u have, by the
looks of it). BUT how many of your USB
devices are plugged into the hub?

All, or 1?? And how many things inside
the case? ie: hdd's / cd's burners etc.
 
I have a 275 Watt PS. The devices are plugged into a
Dlink USB 2.0, high speed 7 port powered hub. In the case
are:
- ASUS P4C800E-Deluxe MB
- ATI Radeon 8500
- Creative Audigy Platinum
- WD IDE drive
- WD A-ATA drive
- Sony DRU-510A DVD+-RW
- CD-RW drive
- 3 1/2" Floppy

I would be surprised if the problem was power-related,
but I have been surprised in the past!
 
Umm, thats a bit low I think for all those
devices in the case Stan. Even with the hub.

A reasonable p/s would be 300+ at least.

If you can borrow / have a spare p/s higher
than 275 watts, I would test it, just to see
if it fixes your USB prob.
 
i am having the exact same problem, so please include me on any
solutions you find . With my situation,i am having problems using the
dell usb memory key in a dell dimension 8200 dsktop computer

This memory key works fine on my dell inspiron 8600 laptop AND my dell
dimension xps desktop system AND my Sony vaio F180 laptop (6 yrs
old). I only have problems on the 8200. Any clues as to what i can
try? The only way i can get memory key to appear is to reboot. Then
when i try to "Safely Remove Hardware" by stopping the memory key, it
says "safe to remove". When i take it out, and reinsert, it will not
recognize the mem. key.

I have a USB belkin hub and have a smartmedia reader, scanner,
photosmart printer plugged into that. They all work perfectly. To get
memory key working, I have tried putting memory key in the front ports
on dell 8200 (doesn't work), plugged into the belkin usb hub ALONE
w/no other items plugged into hub(doesn't work), and even plugged
directly in back of dell 8200 with NO OTHER USB ITEMS PLUGGED IN , NOT
EVEN USING USB KEYBOARD (doesn't work).

Last night while still trying to figure it out, i booted in safe mode
and the memory key works perfectly in Safe mode (maybe this is or
isn't a clue). I can plug/unplug it into computer or hub numerous
times and it's recognized every time immediately. So of course now i'm
trying to figure out what's difft about safe mode and normal mode.
This is becoming curious-er and curious-er. I tried disabling ALL
startup items and all selective items in Msconfig. And still the usb
items won't work in normal windows startup. But they will work (when
unplugged and replugged) if running in safe mode. Any thoughts?

Oh and i did update to latest bios (A09) thinking that would solve
problem but no luck. Also played with all reasonable settings in the
F2 setup screen (on/off setting for USB controller and USB Emulation).

SORRY FOR LONG POST, BUT WANTED TO INCLUDE ALL MY RESEARCH.
thanks in advance.
u can email me directly at (e-mail address removed). Let's
figure this out!
 
Have any of you got SP1 installed as
well? I think you need this for USB2 to work
properly. None of you have stated that
you DO have SP1 installed.

Maybe you havent got it? Thats why
the USB doesnt work?

Also, with these hubs/ and/or memory keys
they may say that XP detects and runs them
BUT did any of them come with drivers anyway?

And this is onboard USB 2 you're
talking about isn't it? If you're talking about
PCI USB 2. You'll most probably have to
install the drivers then reboot. And you'll most
probably have to install SP1 after you
install the drivers for the PCI card, if you use 1.
 
Thanks paul. And sorry i ommitted, but i am running Windows xp sp1A.
I did see some info in knowledgebase on Microsoft webpage about these
problems being fixed in sp1a. When i got the dell usb memory key i
was running xp sp1. After it didn't work and i saw the info on Mcrsoft
about sp1a, i downloaded and installed sp1a. Now, are u suggesting
that i need to uninstall and reinstall something AFTER installign the
sp1a? Or uninstall sp1a, then install my drivers (and what drivers are
u talking about?) and then reinstall sp1a?

[did any come with drivers] No my usb port (belkin) nor the dell
memory key came with any driver or software of any kind.

thanks so much, appreciate your time to problem solving.
 
Yup if the devices DID come with drivers.

BUT in your case and mine. There arent any!
So, we cant install drivers.

The only software I had to install was for the
digital camera I bought. Just so, I can connect
it up via usb cable. So XP knows whats there
etc. BUT the reader I bought, I just plugged
in and away it went. Did anyone here upgrade
from a previous version to XP? Or are all of
your XP's clean installs?
 
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