Flash drive freezes my computer

[Vanillaman]

I just bought a flash drive for my WinXP SP2 Home edition. As soon as I
inserted it, my computer froze and locked up. I've tried it in all my
additional USB ports and it remains the same. Even if I insert it prior to
boot up, Windows stops and freezes. My webcam works fine and the memory stick
light comes on, but the `New Hardware Detected' indicator doesn't even show.
I don't have anything else taking up USB ports other than my webcam. I've
tried it in other computers, not my own, and it worked fine.

This seems to be a mystery, which nobody seems to have an answer for?????

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Return the flash drive.

 

[Vanillaman]

Yeah right, return the flash drive. Don't you have anything else better to do
other than waste peoples time

 

[Dave Cohen]

Return the flash drive.

If it works in other computers, it may be something about your hardware,
possibly the bios. If you return it, try another brand.
On my winxp system, depending on the unit, I can have a problem booting
with a particular brand inserted (old Sandisk model). No problem with
later Sandisk and alternate brands tried. All work hot plugging.
On an earlier win98se machine, no luck getting any flash drive to work,
although card reader works fine. Ok on my son's later win98 machine.
Dave Cohen

 

[PD43]

Yeah right, return the flash drive. Don't you have anything else better to do
other than waste peoples time

OK... since it works on other machines, keep the drive and trash the
offending computer.

 

[R. McCarty]

If it works on other PCs, then it's likely a overcurrent condition on
the USB Root hub on the problem PC. Flash drives draw different
amounts of current. I have a SanDisk 4.0 Gigabyte Cruzer and it
typically draws around 200mA. A similar SanDisk 2.0 Gig also draws
about 200mA. If the problem PC locks up then it may be that other
devices on the Root Hub along with the Flash exceed the 500mA
limit of the Root Hub. While XP should report an overcurrent state
I've seen the result of plugging in a USB device that it simply locks
up the PC.

 

[PD43]

If the problem PC locks up then it may be that other
devices on the Root Hub along with the Flash exceed the 500mA
limit of the Root Hub.

The OP said that the only other USB device was a webcam.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just bought a flash drive for my WinXP SP2 Home edition. As soon as I
inserted it, my computer froze and locked up. I've tried it in all my
additional USB ports and it remains the same. Even if I insert it prior to
boot up, Windows stops and freezes. My webcam works fine and the memory stick
light comes on, but the `New Hardware Detected' indicator doesn't even show.
I don't have anything else taking up USB ports other than my webcam. I've
tried it in other computers, not my own, and it worked fine.

This seems to be a mystery, which nobody seems to have an answer for?????

Return to the store where you purchased that flash drive and exchange
it for one that's not defective.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[R. McCarty]

Doesn't matter, there are some single devices ( Portable Media Players )
that can almost saturate the USB bus by themselves. Unless the OP
checks his Root Hub, Power ( TAB ) we have no way to know what
the power situation is on the PC.

 

[ableriley]

I just bought a flash drive for my WinXP SP2 Home edition. As soon as I
inserted it, my computer froze and locked up. I've tried it in all my
additional USB ports and it remains the same. Even if I insert it prior to
boot up, Windows stops and freezes. My webcam works fine and the memory stick
light comes on, but the `New Hardware Detected' indicator doesn't even show.
I don't have anything else taking up USB ports other than my webcam. I've
tried it in other computers, not my own, and it worked fine.

This seems to be a mystery, which nobody seems to have an answer for?????

Just had the same problem. Brought myself a brand new 2GB A-Data
flash drive. Plugged it into my XP Pro (SP2) pc and everything
froze. Plugged it into my son's pc and it works fine.

I have an ASRock 939Dual-VSTA motherboard and taking some advice from
above I updated the bios to the latest version (was v1.10) and
followed the manufacturer's instructions to the letter (set bios to
"Optimum Default Settings after restart").

The flash drive now works as it should.