found new hardware--but it's not

[Jo-Anne]

I have four USB hard drives that I regularly use to back up my WinXP fully
updated computer. Suddenly, Windows stopped recognizing the drives. It says
it's found new hardware--a USB device--and wants to me to use a Wizard to
install it. I've canceled the installation each time, since Windows has
always recognized my USB external drives before.

I've been plugging these drives into a seven-port Kensington USB hub. When
Windows wouldn't recognize the drives, I tried plugging one into the USB
port on the front of my computer. Windows seemed to recognize the drive
there but first said there were faster ports it could be plugged into and
then started making the sound of connecting and disconnecting, over and
over.

I tried shutting down and restarting the computer; no change. I tried
unplugging the hub and plugging it back in; Windows recognized that device.
But still, when I try to plug in any of my USB drives, they don't work.

Any idea of what's wrong and what I can do about it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Paul]

I have four USB hard drives that I regularly use to back up my WinXP fully
updated computer. Suddenly, Windows stopped recognizing the drives. It says
it's found new hardware--a USB device--and wants to me to use a Wizard to
install it. I've canceled the installation each time, since Windows has
always recognized my USB external drives before.

I've been plugging these drives into a seven-port Kensington USB hub. When
Windows wouldn't recognize the drives, I tried plugging one into the USB
port on the front of my computer. Windows seemed to recognize the drive
there but first said there were faster ports it could be plugged into and
then started making the sound of connecting and disconnecting, over and
over.

I tried shutting down and restarting the computer; no change. I tried
unplugging the hub and plugging it back in; Windows recognized that device.
But still, when I try to plug in any of my USB drives, they don't work.

Any idea of what's wrong and what I can do about it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

Have you tested the ports on the back with a drive directly ?

Have you plugged the Kensington into a port on the back, then
plugged a drive into the Kensington ? Does that work ?

Perhaps the front ports are marginal (poor signal quality,
preventing reliable operation).

For more debugging info, check Uwe Sieber's web page.

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

If all else fails, and you've given up hope, then
visit this page. If some registry entry for the USB
devices is screwed up, flushing the whole works and
having WinXP build it up again may work.

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup Device Manager Safe Mode.htm

Paul

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you, Paul! I did something else this morning, and it worked--but I
don't know why.

I had been away for a few days and had turned off the printer from its
powerstrip. (It's on a powerstrip separate from that for the computer
because it can't be plugged into my UPS.) I didn't realize at the time that
something else is also plugged into that strip--and right now I'm not sure
what that other thing is.

Anyway, this morning I turned on the printer's powerstrip, and it occurred
to me to try the USB drive again. I plugged it into the USB hub, and now it
is recognized and works fine.

I'll try to figure out later today what other thing is plugged into the
printer's powerstrip, but I still can't figure out why plugging directly
into the computer didn't work.

I'll definitely keep your instructions for future reference.

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne