Error code 38 on USB Flash memory (memory stick)

[E]

Just purchased a PNY Attache USB 2.0 Flash Drive. Worked great when I
first plugged it into a WinXP machine. But upon removing it and then
plugging it back into the XP machine, the found hardware icon presents
itself in system tray, but the USB flash drive is not listed under My
Computer. Listed in Device Manager with red "!", and code 38, "driver
already loaded" error message. The only solution seems to be rebooting
the machine, which is ofcourse unacceptable.

This USB flash drive works great on a Win98SE machine with generic
driver, and the same machine booted with a Live Knoppix CD. Yes while
running Knoppix Linux OS the flash drive is detected and given an icon
on the Knoppix desktop, and can be removed then plugged back in, without
having to reboot.

I've never owned one, but this seems like a next generation deal. One
can install and run applications on it. It has a tutorial and managment
software that boot up on a WinXP machine as soon as you plug it in, but
maybe this is whats boogering up its operation in Windows XP.

Thanks in advance
Crismond

 

[Newbie Coder]

Crismond,

When you have the USB device plugged in is it showing up in Computer
Management (under Storage | Disk Management)? Just right-click MY Computer &
choose Manage from the context menu to get into computer management

When you removed the device did XP release it properly or did you get the
Unsafe device removal error?

 

[E]

Crismond,

When you have the USB device plugged in is it showing up in Computer
Management (under Storage | Disk Management)? Just right-click MY Computer &
choose Manage from the context menu to get into computer management

Its listed under disk management only if it also listed under My
Computer. If I reboot the machine, then insert the USB device, it works
as designed. If I remove it, then reinsert a few seconds later, Windows
will sense that it has been reinserted, but cannot access it, and it
will not then be listed in Disk Management.

When you removed the device did XP release it properly or did you get the
Unsafe device removal error?

Have never seen an error message from the OS. But sometimes the "U3
Smart Technology" software, that came preloaded into the USB Flash
memory stick, will tell me that the device was not released cleanly or
something to that affect. The U3 software has an eject button, that you
must click before you remove this USB device, but I think this is mainly
to close any of the U3 applications that may be running from the USB
device. Maybe its a matter of preventing the U3 software from running
and using the USB device from My Computer, which is all I expected and
wanted from this thing now.

Thanks
Crismond