Access denied on USB memory stick

[rotem.hermon]

Hi,

I have a strange problem. Suddenly I cannot access my USB memory stick.

When I plug it in it is recognized, and the drive letter is assigned to

it. But when I try to open or explore its drive I get an error "I:\ is
not accessible, access is denied".


I checked the USB stick on other computer and it works fine. I also
have another USB stick and it's the same with it. Other USB devices on
this computer (camera, modem) are working fine.
I tried to reinstall the Mass storage device driver, but it did not
help. I contacted the USB company for help but all they could find is
that the USB device itself is working properly. They gussed that maybe
there's some collision in the drive letters assignment, but I see
nothing like that.
I'm using WinXP SP2.


Anyone have any idea what could cause this, or where else can I look?
It's getting quite critical.


Thanks.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a strange problem. Suddenly I cannot access my USB memory
stick.

When I plug it in it is recognized, and the drive letter is
assigned to

it. But when I try to open or explore its drive I get an error "I:\
is not accessible, access is denied".


I checked the USB stick on other computer and it works fine. I also
have another USB stick and it's the same with it. Other USB devices
on this computer (camera, modem) are working fine.
I tried to reinstall the Mass storage device driver, but it did not
help. I contacted the USB company for help but all they could find
is that the USB device itself is working properly. They gussed that
maybe there's some collision in the drive letters assignment, but I
see nothing like that.
I'm using WinXP SP2.


Anyone have any idea what could cause this, or where else can I
look? It's getting quite critical.

Was the USB stick somehow reformatted using NTFS?

Suggestion...
Get the data off onto another computer, put it into your computer, format
it - put it back in the other computer - copy the data back to it.

 

[rotem.hermon]

The USB is was not formatted using NTFS, it's still FAT. Also it
happens with another USB stick I have, and they both work ok on other
computers.
I have some more info - I tried bringing Windows up in safe mode - and
then I can access the USB drive. I guess this means that there is some
conflict or that something is blocking the access to USB drives on my
system. I just have no idea how to locate what's causing the problem...

 

[Elmo]

Hi,

I have a strange problem. Suddenly I cannot access my USB memory stick.

When I plug it in it is recognized, and the drive letter is assigned to

it. But when I try to open or explore its drive I get an error "I:\ is
not accessible, access is denied".


I checked the USB stick on other computer and it works fine. I also
have another USB stick and it's the same with it. Other USB devices on
this computer (camera, modem) are working fine.
I tried to reinstall the Mass storage device driver, but it did not
help. I contacted the USB company for help but all they could find is
that the USB device itself is working properly. They gussed that maybe
there's some collision in the drive letters assignment, but I see
nothing like that.
I'm using WinXP SP2.


Anyone have any idea what could cause this, or where else can I look?
It's getting quite critical.

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

 

[rotem.hermon]

Thanks, that link was useful.
I managed to isolate what caused the problem. Turns out it was the
Intel Desktop Utilities. It uses the AdminWorks service, and for no
special reason it just went crazy and started blocking devices on the
machine. Reinstalling it solved the problem.