USB Pen Drive now shows as an unknown device

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daryl
  • Start date Start date
D

Daryl

Hi,
I've been scouring the newsgroups for answers to the following problem and
have tried everything suggested to no avail...

My USB 2.0 Pen Drive was working fine until today. It now shows as unknown
device and windows reports that it may not function correctly. It doesn't
work at all!

However, I took it to work with me and (on a USB 1.1 PC) it worked well.

When I returned home, I tried again in my PC to no avail. I then tried
uninstalling Root Hubs and Controllers and the like as suggested in many
newsgroups and the thing sprang back into life. However, as soon as the
Enhanced USB driver is detected, the pen drive vanishes and the 'unknown
device' returns.

I've been into safe mode, I've tried to delete the VID keys from the USB
section of the registry (which won't delete even though I log in as the
administrator) and I've removed all USB devices and then uninstalled all
hubs and the like and let them reinstall themselves.

I now have my Pen Drive working in (I assume) 1.1 mode by means of
'disabling' the 'enhanced host controller'. As soon as it is re-enabled I
lose my Pen Drive and return to 'Unknown Device'.

XP says that my 'Enhanced Controller' has no problems.

Please help - everything was fine yesterday and a restore does no good at
all. Why can I not delete the VID keys?

Thanks in advance,

Daz
 
There is a USB update for WinXP, do you have that installed? Checked to a
driver update for your pen?

I've noticed lately, that changes can be made on my computer without my
knowledge. Maybe something changed yours. And I guess you scanned for any
viruses?

Clark
 
Clark said:
There is a USB update for WinXP, do you have that installed? Checked to a
driver update for your pen?

I've noticed lately, that changes can be made on my computer without my
knowledge. Maybe something changed yours. And I guess you scanned for any
viruses?
Click to expand...

I've done a virus scan, and I have all USB updates. Nothing was installed,
it was working one day and not the next. The only thing I can think of that
may have happened is that I removed the pen drive from the USB port to plug
in my Digital Camera. I didn't 'stop' the device first as I knew it wasn't
reading/writing. It was either when I plugged the camera lead in or took it
out that a warning message flashed up on the screen saying that XP couldn't
write to a certain area of memory. Just one of those things I thought.
After that, the USB Pen Drive wasn't recognised (except when the enhanced
controller is removed).

I've tried copying the Enhanced USB driver and the Pen drive driver from a
Hard Disc backup. Unfortunately, there is no XP driver for the pen drive on
a CD as it was one of those devices which installs automatically.

Any further help will be gratefully received.

Daz
 
Daryl said:
Hi,
I've been scouring the newsgroups for answers to the following problem and
have tried everything suggested to no avail...

My USB 2.0 Pen Drive was working fine until today. It now shows as unknown
device and windows reports that it may not function correctly. It doesn't
work at all!
Click to expand...

I've fixed it and you won't believe how! I've been given support suggesting
that I should delete registry keys, reinstall windows, restore, etc etc.
All help was gratefully received but unfortunately didn't sort the problem.
Then I had a brainwave - unplug the power lead from the wall. It did the
job! Either my motherboard needed some sort of 'reset' or perhaps there was
a build up of charge or something?

Anyway, I thought I'd post the solution here in case anybody else ever
suffered from the same problem. :o)

Daz
 
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