Windows not recognizing brand new USB flash drive

[Charlie]

I just received a SanDisk CruzerMicro 512Mb flash drive. I also own a 2Gig
CruzerMicro which I've been extremely pleased with. The problem encountered
with the '512 is that it's not being recognized AT ALL by the same computer
(2.5Gb HP w/XP Pro SP2) used successfully with the 2Gb flash drive.

Upon insertion in a USB port there is the audible sound of a new device, and
it (the '512) lights up. That very same light goes off when 'Stop' in the
Remove Hardware window is clicked. The main issue is that it (the '512) is
not being detected in Windows Explorer.

It functions fine on other computers. The audible alert is heard, as was an
evident Removable drive letter visible in Explorer, but back here on the
work 'puter, even though the new hardware sound was detected there's still
no evidence of it in Explorer.

SanDisk support suggested going into the Device Manager via Computer
Management, then changing the drive letter designator. It's an approach I
hadn't thought of which did allow me to explore, open and add data files to
the USB drive.

Still, I think jumping through all those hoops is, at best, needless, as it
should open the way it's designed to, in Windows Explorer.

I've tried the Device manager, Remove Hardware, refreshing Windows Explorer,
all to no avail. I had suspected a possible malfunction with the existing
USB ports on the computer, but they work fine with the SanDisk 2 Gb Cruzer.

What else would you suggest I do for me to get this new product to function?

Thanks in advance,
Charlie

 

[chris]

Check to make sure you don't have any virtual device software installed such
as VMWARE or Dameon tools. Also you may want to go into device manager and
remove all the usb controllers, reboot the system with the drives out and
let it re-install. In addition to that you can also try this as well. Has
worked for me at work a few times on the hp machines.

This can be caused by "Symantec NetBackup" or by "Adobe Photoshop Album
Starter Edition" being installed. If "Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition"
is installed then just uninstall it. If "Symantec NetBackup" is causing it,
then as a temporary workaround the user can either exit the "Symantec
NetBackup" client and then plug the USB stick in, or under Disk Management
the user can right-click the drive letter and select open to use the drive.
For a more permanent solution try one of the following:



1.. Under Disk Management verify that the drive is not assigned a drive
letter that is mapped to a network drive.
2.. If Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition is installed then uninstall
it.
3.. This problem will likely occur on any laptop with Symantec NetBackup
set to run in Continuous Mode. To alleviate this problem you should set the
backup to run at a scheduled time (Like every 2 hours during the day, so the
user doesn't have to leave it here at night in order to get a backup).
4.. Run msconfig and uncheck RUNDLL32 on the Startup tab and reboot.
5.. Run regedit and edit the Registry as follows:
5.1 Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum

5.2 Right click the "USB" key, and click delete. Do the same for the
"USBSTOR" key, deleting them both.

5.3 Restart the PC, wait a few minutes on startup, as it will re-find any
USB devices attached to the system. After this has completed, plug your USB
thumb drive back in, and it should recognize it

Chris

 

[Michele]

Thank you very much! I had this exact problem -- I uninstalled the Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, and boom, my flash drive was there!!

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[chris]

Not a problem. Glad I could help..

Chris