asked on 3/30/2004

USB memory not seen in Windows 2000 Pro

I have a user running Win2K Pro, SP 4. None of his removeable USB memory devices (Memory Sticks) are showing in Explorer. He has three of them which were all working and then all three stopped working at the same time. He has a USB printer that is working fine. I've removed and re-installed the USB 2.0 driver but no go. Any ideas how to troubleshoot this? Thanks, -Andy

Windows 2000

Last Comment

aberdahl

3/30/2004

sunray_2003

3/30/2004

Do you mean thumb drives kind of thing ? go to device manager --> scroll down to universal serial bus controllers and check all are enabled by right-clicking and going to properties

Are those USB memory devices working fine in any other computer ?

aberdahl

3/30/2004

ASKER

Yes, I've checked the USB controllers and they are all working. The memory devices work fine in another computer. But, for instance, when I put the 512K USB memory device in the Win2K machine, I'm prompted for a password as usual. It takes the password but never assigns a drive letter to the device in Explorer.

sunray_2003

3/30/2004

Check this
go to "my computer"
go to tools --> folder options ---> view
scroll down and
check "Show hidden files and folders"

now check giving the password and see if it would give the folder.

Also you may want to do this. go to other computer. insert the USB device and remove the password protection.
Now check once you insert the device , you are able to view the folder.

Fatal_Exception

3/30/2004

this is a problem with these 'flash' sticks... They are unreliable, and I have personally given up on them.. I have had 3 in the past 2 years, and all went south, just as yours perhaps have done... they lasted me about 4 months, and just plain stopped working.. If you search the newsgroups, you will find it full of unsatisfying experiences with these devices..

That being said, I would test them on another machine to see if they are indeed dead before you give up on them... :)

FE

sunray_2003

3/30/2004

>> I would test them on another machine to see if they are indeed dead before you give up on them...

fatal , looks like questioner has already checked in another machine ..

He says that he had to give a password to go inside and ofcourse only giving the password, it would show the driver letter anyway. I have asked him to remove that and see if it would work

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

JamesDS

3/30/2004

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Fatal_Exception

3/30/2004

Missed that second comment.. Must read a little closer, especially after a long day.. :)

aberdahl

3/30/2004

ASKER

Thanks for all your comments. I will make sure that hidden files and folders are showing and try removing the password also. I'll also check Disk Management for drive letter assignments. I'll get back to you after that. -Andy

sunray_2003

3/30/2004

Andy

Thanks

aberdahl

3/30/2004

ASKER

JamesDS lead me to a workaround. In Disk Management I was able to assign a drive letter to the memory stick and then access the device from Explorer. We'll go with that for now. Thanks to all who commented. -Andy