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USB Flash Memory keys no longer work in XP
I have a colleague with XP on a notebook.
Since someone tried to use their own memory key in his machine, no other memory key works. Indeed, totally new keys are not even detected.
All worked fine before.
I sense it's a driver issue.
I use these kind of keys all the time with little problem with any platform (except lower than 98SE - even ME seems to work) - but since XP technically has the drivers already, I'm just wondering why these have stopped working altogether.
Anyone got an idea of what I should look for to sort this out?
Thanks
Since someone tried to use their own memory key in his machine, no other memory key works. Indeed, totally new keys are not even detected.
All worked fine before.
I sense it's a driver issue.
I use these kind of keys all the time with little problem with any platform (except lower than 98SE - even ME seems to work) - but since XP technically has the drivers already, I'm just wondering why these have stopped working altogether.
Anyone got an idea of what I should look for to sort this out?
Thanks
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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did the problem occur after installing SP2? if so, try uninstalling it. You can also try a system restore to a date prior to the problem
ASKER
No, my colleague has not SP2. The problem seemed to have occured after someone used their own memory key on his laptop and almost certainly didn't stop the device before removing it.
i think you should format it
ASKER
Format what?
The key or the laptop?
No other keys seem to work either.
My colleague's memory key works fine in my XP laptop - so formatting it is not an issue.
The problem occured ages ago - on an unrememberable date, so a rollback is not an option really. I think it's turned off anyway.
The key or the laptop?
No other keys seem to work either.
My colleague's memory key works fine in my XP laptop - so formatting it is not an issue.
The problem occured ages ago - on an unrememberable date, so a rollback is not an option really. I think it's turned off anyway.
the key; i would format it in FAT32 for best compatibility. If it does not work then, you are sure it's not the key. Then i would delete the USB root hub in device manager and on reboot it will get installed again.
You can also delete all USB entries in the device manager, after checking in the "view" tab the option show hidden devices.
You can also delete all USB entries in the device manager, after checking in the "view" tab the option show hidden devices.
Any results from testing the USB ports, checking BIOS or looking in device manager?
After inserting the key, you can also try typing diskmgmt.msc at a prompt and checking to see if there is an entry for a removable disk matching it.
Who is the manufacturer of the USB memory key and what size/model is it? We may need to locate the manufacturer's drivers and reload or update them. If you have other keys available for testing, please list them too.
Thx
After inserting the key, you can also try typing diskmgmt.msc at a prompt and checking to see if there is an entry for a removable disk matching it.
Who is the manufacturer of the USB memory key and what size/model is it? We may need to locate the manufacturer's drivers and reload or update them. If you have other keys available for testing, please list them too.
Thx
ASKER
Thanks,
My colleague is away - but I'll report back when I've tried.
My colleague is away - but I'll report back when I've tried.
ASKER
Hi, an update.
I followed Sirtenken's advice and got the USB key working once again. My colleagues laptop also loaded my USB key fine.
Unfortunately, my colleague then did a Windows XP online Update and got SP2.
He had so much trouble running Outlook, Word and Excel (he lost an hour's work due to a system freeze) that I had to do a SYstem Restore for him to go back (yes, you've guessed it) to before the USB key fix.
So, I had to do Sirtenken's thing again!
Certainly the original problem was caused by someone being careless with their own USB key use on my colleague's computer - something that won't be allowed so readily again.
All is well now!
Many thanks to all for your help.
I followed Sirtenken's advice and got the USB key working once again. My colleagues laptop also loaded my USB key fine.
Unfortunately, my colleague then did a Windows XP online Update and got SP2.
He had so much trouble running Outlook, Word and Excel (he lost an hour's work due to a system freeze) that I had to do a SYstem Restore for him to go back (yes, you've guessed it) to before the USB key fix.
So, I had to do Sirtenken's thing again!
Certainly the original problem was caused by someone being careless with their own USB key use on my colleague's computer - something that won't be allowed so readily again.
All is well now!
Many thanks to all for your help.
ASKER
That seems the thing I need to try. I will need to get the laptop from my colleague and report back.
I presume that deleting a device in devmgmt will enable the computer to redetect it should it be plugged in again.