erratic memory stick

[laurence withau]

I have XP/SP2 and the pc is less than 3 years old.I would like to use my 512
mb memory stick for backup and to keep it permanently plugged into a usb
port. But when I try to start the pc with the stick in, the boot-up freezes
until I remove the stick, then boot-up is resumed and continues as normal. If
the pc is already on, the stick being out, and if I insert it in a usb port,
then the screen freezes, normal service being resumed only when I remove the
stick.
It doesn't always happen; very occasionally there is no freezing, and the
stick works, along with the pc.But I don't seem to be doing anything
different on those occasions.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause of the problem could be?
Thanking you in advance,

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have XP/SP2 and the pc is less than 3 years old.I would like to use my
512
mb memory stick for backup and to keep it permanently plugged into a usb
port. But when I try to start the pc with the stick in, the boot-up
freezes
until I remove the stick, then boot-up is resumed and continues as normal.
If
the pc is already on, the stick being out, and if I insert it in a usb
port,
then the screen freezes, normal service being resumed only when I remove
the
stick.
It doesn't always happen; very occasionally there is no freezing, and the
stick works, along with the pc.But I don't seem to be doing anything
different on those occasions.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause of the problem could be?
Thanking you in advance,

Regardless of the problem, what you're proposing isn't a very good idea, for
a couple of reasons.

The first is that these memory sticks have a limited number of write cycles
and will eventually stop accepting new writes.

Second, and more importantly, they also have a tendency to suddenly and
irretrievably fail. When this happens, you suddenly lose your backup.

Use a reliable media for backups, such as optical (CD or DVD/RW) or external
hard disks. Do not rely on only one copy, keep one copy at another site,
and verify that the backups can actually be read.

USB keys are good for transporting files that exist elsewhere, but are not
suitable for backup purposes.

I've seen the specific problem you are describing with one brand of PC and
external USB hard disks. The problem seems to be with the ports on the
motherboard, and the workaround is to install another USB2 card and plug
the backup devices into that card.

HTH
-pk

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

you might try an experiment
by disabling the stick via
device manager before
shutting down windows.

then see if having that device
initially disabled at start up
will not stall the pc.

it is my opinion that these
sticks can be utilized as
backup's.

in fact, some can even have
programs run directly from
them.

I have even installed windows
and booting my system with
it.

however, I think that you may
be utilizing old technology because
the stick is limited to 512; though you
may have just bought it and it is
basically new for you.

it's likely you will have better
performance from faster and
larger capacity sticks that
are 2 gigs and greater.

incidentally, you explore the stick/
drive via computer management
in admin tools.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have XP/SP2 and the pc is less than 3 years old.I would like to use my
512
mb memory stick for backup and to keep it permanently plugged into a usb
port. But when I try to start the pc with the stick in, the boot-up
freezes
until I remove the stick, then boot-up is resumed and continues as normal.
If
the pc is already on, the stick being out, and if I insert it in a usb
port,
then the screen freezes, normal service being resumed only when I remove
the
stick.
It doesn't always happen; very occasionally there is no freezing, and the
stick works, along with the pc.But I don't seem to be doing anything
different on those occasions.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause of the problem could be?
Thanking you in advance,

I agree with Patrick's comment and I would like to add some further
reservations:

- Keeping the backup medium, whatever it is, permanently connected to your
PC deprives you of some highly desireable safeguards. If something goes
wrong with your operating system then the file system on that medium might
get damaged. If the PC gets stolen or damaged by water, lightning, fire etc.
then the backup medium goes too. If you make a mistake then you might
erase/format/partition the backup medium. All of these events have been
reported in this newsgroup. Backup medium must be kept well away from the
main PC for most of the time.

- While a CD/DVD is a better backup medium than a flash disk, an external
hard disk in a USB case is better again. I have seen many burnt CDs/DVDs
that became unreadable after a while. Hard disks appear to be far more
reliable.

 

[beamish]

I have XP/SP2 and the pc is less than 3 years old.I would like to use my 512
mb memory stick for backup and to keep it permanently plugged into a usb
port. But when I try to start the pc with the stick in, the boot-up freezes
until I remove the stick, then boot-up is resumed and continues as normal. If
the pc is already on, the stick being out, and if I insert it in a usb port,
then the screen freezes, normal service being resumed only when I remove the
stick.
It doesn't always happen; very occasionally there is no freezing, and the
stick works, along with the pc.But I don't seem to be doing anything
different on those occasions.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause of the problem could be?
Thanking you in advance,

Hello,
1. With the USB memory stick installed before booting, the BIOS may be
trying to boot from the USB drive.
Check in the BIOS for alternate USB drive, some MB have this ability.
2. Try another memory stick when system is running, find out if the memory
stick or the USB port is causing a problem.
3. Try other USB port if aviliable.
4. Plug the memory stick into another computer.
Some thoughts.

take care.
beamish.

 

[laurence withau]

Hi Patrick, thanks for the advice about backup, and I'll look into using a cd.
Thanks again

 

[laurence withau]

Hi Pegasus,
Thanks for your reply, and I'll use a cd for backing up, which I'll keep
away from the pc for most of the time.
Thanks again

 

[laurence withau]

Hi Beamish.
Thanks for your reply. Although I've decided not to use a memory stick as
backup, given the advice I've had, I still want to know what the problem is,
in case it affects other usb devices, so I'll try what you said.
Thanks again

 

[beamish]

Hi Beamish.
Thanks for your reply. Although I've decided not to use a memory stick as
backup, given the advice I've had, I still want to know what the problem is,
in case it affects other usb devices, so I'll try what you said.
Thanks again

Hello,
You are welcome.
If you have several memory sticks, using some as a third form of back up may
be of some use.
take care.
beamish.