USB Thumbdrive Problem

[Steve]

I have a Thinkpad T40 updated to the latest bios and have
XP. I recently reinstalled XP, from the reload option on
IBM revery - eg no disc) which was required due to the
new bios. I went to tranfer some files via my
thumbdrives and when inserted I got a message that my
drive is not formatted and when I say yes to format I get
the message format can't be completed. When I check the
device manager, it says the usb hubs and ports are
working properly. The thumbdrives drives work fine on all
other computors. I need some wise counsel here. Thanks

 

[Ron Martell]

I have a Thinkpad T40 updated to the latest bios and have
XP. I recently reinstalled XP, from the reload option on
IBM revery - eg no disc) which was required due to the
new bios. I went to tranfer some files via my
thumbdrives and when inserted I got a message that my
drive is not formatted and when I say yes to format I get
the message format can't be completed. When I check the
device manager, it says the usb hubs and ports are
working properly. The thumbdrives drives work fine on all
other computors. I need some wise counsel here. Thanks

Sounds like a possible problem with the USB ports on the Thinkpad, or
with the drivers for them.

Do you have another USB device of any kind (e.g. a printer, scanner,
or digital camera) that you can connect to the same USB port as you
tried the thumb drive in. If that device is also not detected
properly then you have a problem with the USB port itself. On the
other hand if other USB devices are usable in that same USB port then
the suspicion turns back to the thumb drive. Perhaps it has a dirty
connector or something.

One thing you could try. Boot the computer into Safe Mode. Then open
Control Panel - System - Hardware and click on the Device Manage
button. Locate the entries for the USB ports, right-click on each
one in turn and select "Uninstall". When all of the USB port entries
have been uninstalled shut down the computer and restart it normally.
The USB ports will be redetected and the drivers reloaded. That may
correct the problem if it is in fact software related.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."