USB devices not recognized or installed on Vista

[PeteV]

Hi!

Yes, inspired by some recent activity on a thread on this same subject,
following you have my findings/suggestions for checking to solve this
problem, which I faced and got solved in October on one of my support
clients:


1. Recovery from usbstor.inf

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?forumID=133&threadID=215320&messageID=2298800

The last 11th post on the thread:

USB WORKING!!
by noblemosby - 22.10.2007 9:28
In reply to: Know Vista USB problem by camf33
Ok, so I found out why vista has problems installing USB drives. Here's how
to fix it:

1. In C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository I had two folders named
"usbstor.inf" but each one had a different set of numbers attached to the end
of the folder name. - could this be where part of the problem lies?

2. When i looked in my C:\Windows\inf folder i discovered the usbstor.inf
and usb stor.pnf files were missing - this definitely had to be an issue.

Once I discovered these anomalies, I proceeded to copy the pnf and inf files
from the most recently updated usbstor.inf folder to C:\Windows\inf. I then
went back to the update driver wizard, pointed to the inf folder and what do
you know but they all started working again.

I did this for my ipod and as soon as I reconnected it, it recognized it and
worked immediately. This worked for my Vista Ultimate 64-bit hope it works
for you.


2. Point to the C:\Windows\System32

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=101664

The 5th post on the thread:

01-31-2007, 03:49 PM #5
lmychajluk
Notebook Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 580
Rep Power: 8 Re: Windows Vista USB Flash Drive Driver Problem

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you plug in the stick, does it prompt you to install the driver? If so,
tell it you have the disk, and then point the directory to
"C:\Windows\System32".

Also, check Device Manager. Are there any unrecognized devices? Try to
install a driver for each, using the same method as above.

I couldn't get any USB sticks working with Vista until I did the above.

-Lee


3. MS updates/hotfixes

One more suggestion, check the relevant hotfixes/KB's from MS pages.


OK, and, still there was one more different type of solution suggestion,
but, sorry I can't remember/find it anymore ... check it on the net, hope it
pops up to you ...


Best regards,

Pete V.

 

[PeteV]

Hi!

OK, here you have the 4th missing solution suggestion:


4. Deletion of infcache.1

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...ices&mid=d04cce68-f008-4fdd-8df0-18d4476b158f

Found the issue was with daemon tools!

I did the following:

"Try this:
Navigate to C:\windows\inf (substitute a different drive letter for
whichever one your OS is installed on) and find the file infcache.1
You will need to have windows set to show hidden and system files most
likely. Since this is Vista, you also may need to go to the properties
and permissions for the file and take full control. Once that is done,
delete the file. Try reinstalling your device at that point and see if
it works."

- nino


Best regards,

Pete V.

 

[PeteV]

Hi!

OK, I found still this article, including same hints as the others, but
presented some more in deep:


5. Further solutions

http://teknobabble.wordpress.com/20...ems-installing-a-usb-media-reader-a-solution/

Vista Driver Problems installing a USB Media Reader - A solution!
Aug 18th, 2007 by teknobabble

Summary
I had problems in installing USB flash card readers with Vista.

I had tried products by both Kingston and Belkin :
Belkin F5U271
Kingston FCR-HS215/1

Each time Windows tried to get a driver online and asked for a CD with a
driver. But there was no success.

Eventually I found a solution. To skip to the solution see “Detailed
Solution Steps†below.

Problem Research
I sent an email to Kingston and telephoned them in the UK. Amazingly there
was prompt help via both routes. However they gave slightly different
solutions.

Their most detailed response was…
Thank you for contacting Kingston Technical Support.
Note that Windows Vista does not require any drivers for the DataTraveler.

1. Insert drive and wait for about 20 seconds to see if the driver
installation is slow.

2. During device driver search, point to a location
Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and enable “Include subfoldersâ€
in the Browse window.

If this fails, point to one of the subfolders within FileRepository:
FileRepository\usbstor.inf_…
FileRepository\disk.inf_…
FileRepository\volume.inf_…
FileRepository\wpdfs.inf_…

3. If FileRepository location(s) doesn’t work, point to location
Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers and enable “Include subfolders†in the Browse
window.

4. Check Device Manager for incorrectly installed drivers for the
DataTraveler; uninstall them and reinsert the drive.

I tried all this and still no success. Each time Vista reported “The system
cannot find the file specifiedâ€.

After searching the web for a couple of frustrating hours I cam across this
entry by WickedMX…

I’ve been experiencing the same problem with usb storage devices for the
last few weeks and have visited numerous forums discussing it. After having
no joy I decided to take a look around my system folders and have now got
these devices working again. While looking around I discovered 2 points of
interest:

In C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository I had two folders named
“usbstor.inf†but each one had a different set of numbers attached to the end
of the folder name. - could this be where part of the problem lies?
When I looked in my C:\Windows\inf folder I discovered the usbstor.inf and
usb stor.pnf files were missing - this definitely had to be an issue.
Once I discovered these anomalies, I proceeded to copy the pnf and inf files
from the most recently updated usbstor.inf folder to C:\Windows\inf. I then
went back to the update driver wizard, pointed to the inf folder and what do
you know but they all started working again.

So with some scepticism I tried this approach and it worked.

Detailed Solution Steps
1. Go to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
Find files named usbstore…

2. Choose the most recent usbstor folder
Open the folder
You’ll see a number of files…

3. Select and copy usbstor.inf

4. Now go to C:\Windows\Inf
Paste the usbstor.inf file into this folder (On my system there was no
usbstor.inf file already in this folder).

5. Now try again to install the reader
When Vista reports it cannot find a driver direct it to C:\Windows\Inf

If all goes well you will see the following information from Vista
(a display capture pic)

Footnote
I don’t know whether this approach works with other types of USB device on
Vista or other card readers but it certainly worked for me.

- Teknobabble


Best regards,

Pete V.