USB flash drive will not open

[manontheedge]

I've got several flash drives, but I'm having issues with one of them. I'm using Windows XP. I connect it, then get that message that "new hardware is found", but when I go to the drive, I get a message telling me to "connect a device"...yet, I can still "safely remove" it.

Basically, it's seeings the stick but not letting me open it.

I've never had this problem and no one I've talked to seems to know why this is happening. If someone can help me out I'd appreciate it.

[bartonc]

I've got several flash drives, but I'm having issues with one of them. I'm using Windows XP. I connect it, then get that message that "new hardware is found", but when I go to the drive, I get a message telling me to "connect a device"...yet, I can still "safely remove" it.

Basically, it's seeings the stick but not letting me open it.

I've never had this problem and no one I've talked to seems to know why this is happening. If someone can help me out I'd appreciate it.

Of course, it will help us if tell us the brand of the stick that you are having trouble with. If your system is working (other sticks work) then either that particular stick is broken or the mfgr did something a little wonky.

[Motoma]

I've got several flash drives, but I'm having issues with one of them. I'm using Windows XP. I connect it, then get that message that "new hardware is found", but when I go to the drive, I get a message telling me to "connect a device"...yet, I can still "safely remove" it.

Basically, it's seeings the stick but not letting me open it.

I've never had this problem and no one I've talked to seems to know why this is happening. If someone can help me out I'd appreciate it.

Likely it is not formatted.

[manontheedge]

I have a few flash drives of various brands, but the one not working is a "Verbatim"...th ough I have two others from this brand that work fine.

...formatting, how would I format it?

[Motoma]

I have a few flash drives of various brands, but the one not working is a "Verbatim"...th ough I have two others from this brand that work fine.

...formatting, how would I format it?

Plug it in.
Open My Computer.
Right click on the drive.
Select Format...

[manontheedge]

that leads back to the original problem. I can't format it because it says there's nothing there.

though, I can still "safely remove the hardware", and it shows up that something is in the drive, but when I try to do ANYTHING, it says there's nothing there, it's really weird...i'm about to just trash the thing.

[Motoma]

that leads back to the original problem. I can't format it because it says there's nothing there.

though, I can still "safely remove the hardware", and it shows up that something is in the drive, but when I try to do ANYTHING, it says there's nothing there, it's really weird...i'm about to just trash the thing.

It's probably junk then.

[leiger]

that leads back to the original problem. I can't format it because it says there's nothing there.

though, I can still "safely remove the hardware", and it shows up that something is in the drive, but when I try to do ANYTHING, it says there's nothing there, it's really weird...i'm about to just trash the thing.

I have had this exact same problem with an existing USB drive I had. I think it results from pulling it out from the port before something has finished saving, or the 'safely remove' feature not working correctly.

I took it to numerous places and tried many data recovery techniques on it -- but I ended up losing my data which I was foolish enough to have only one copy of (on the drive).

The fact is that the data on the drive is irrecoverable and the drive cannot be used again. It's just a useless piece of plastic and metal now. The only option is to throw it away and get a new one (if you still need one, sounds like you have plenty of spares anyway).

Hope I helped.

[batman]

NO! NO!

THERE IS NOTING WITH YOUR JUMP DRIVE. IF YOU PUT IT IN ANOTHER COMPTER IT SHOULD WORK. NOT ONLT THAT TO MAKE IT WORK ON YOU COMPUTER AGAIN YOU WILL HAVE TO RESTORE IT TO AN EARLYER TIME. DUE TO SOME HARD WARE OR SOFE WARE CHANGE CAUSE THIS. DONT THROE IT A WAY.


fROM BATMAN IT PRO

[Motoma]

NO! NO!

THERE IS NOTING WITH YOUR JUMP DRIVE. IF YOU PUT IT IN ANOTHER COMPTER IT SHOULD WORK. NOT ONLT THAT TO MAKE IT WORK ON YOU COMPUTER AGAIN YOU WILL HAVE TO RESTORE IT TO AN EARLYER TIME. DUE TO SOME HARD WARE OR SOFE WARE CHANGE CAUSE THIS. DONT THROE IT A WAY.


fROM BATMAN IT PRO

Quite an emphatic response. I guess you know what you need to do.

Thanks for the input batman.

[epots9]

go to www.verbatim.com get see if there any driver updates.

1) go into your device manager (with the stick is plugged in) and see if it hows up there, if it does right-click and click uninstall. then it should be ok to take it out.

2)restart computer

3a)if u found a new driver from the website, install that and wait for it to tell u to plug the stick back in.

3b)if there are no drivers, just plug it back in and see what happens

[botanick]

I've got several flash drives, but I'm having issues with one of them. I'm using Windows XP. I connect it, then get that message that "new hardware is found", but when I go to the drive, I get a message telling me to "connect a device"...yet, I can still "safely remove" it.

Basically, it's seeings the stick but not letting me open it.

I've never had this problem and no one I've talked to seems to know why this is happening. If someone can help me out I'd appreciate it.

I have the exact same problem. It appeared after I removed it from a Mac without unmounting. No matter what compouter I plug it in now or what OS i am using (tried XP, OSX, ubuntu, knoppix) my files do not show up at all. Otherwise the device is working properly, i am even able display how much free space I have left on it. I tried to use some shareware flash drive data recovery and they were able to find the files BUT save is not allowed unless I pay $45 or so.

I keep looking for a solution and get back here if I find any.

BTW, does anyone know a flashdrive file recovery utility which is free?

thanks

[botanick]

go to www.verbatim.com get see if there any driver updates.

1) go into your device manager (with the stick is plugged in) and see if it hows up there, if it does right-click and click uninstall. then it should be ok to take it out.

2)restart computer

3a)if u found a new driver from the website, install that and wait for it to tell u to plug the stick back in.

3b)if there are no drivers, just plug it back in and see what happens

I tried, it did not work for me. Hopefully will work for others...

[sirvy]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I have experenced a similar problem and have sought a "real" solution for many months. Any USB device plugged into my USB ports (ASUS A8N-SLI) will be "seen" by Explorer as a working device in XP, but the data can't be accessed. Some have suggested a BIOS upgrade, which for me, hasn't worked. The only workaround that allows me to use my known-good devices on my computer (they work on other computers) is to physically remove power from the power supply (mine has a power switch, but you could remove the power cord as well). I do this for a 10-count, reconnect power and reboot. My flash drives and portable USB hard drive work fine until I power off and reboot. After a reboot, I usually see the same original problem and need to repeat the wall-power disconnect procedure to make these devices work again. Obviously, this is a pain, but until I can find and fix the real cause, it allows me to function.

I have not had this problem with any other types of USB devices - just ones that Windows sees as removable storage.

Maybe worth a try?

[mofthegame]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I have experenced a similar problem and have sought a "real" solution for many months. Any USB device plugged into my USB ports (ASUS A8N-SLI) will be "seen" by Explorer as a working device in XP, but the data can't be accessed. Some have suggested a BIOS upgrade, which for me, hasn't worked. The only workaround that allows me to use my known-good devices on my computer (they work on other computers) is to physically remove power from the power supply (mine has a power switch, but you could remove the power cord as well). I do this for a 10-count, reconnect power and reboot. My flash drives and portable USB hard drive work fine until I power off and reboot. After a reboot, I usually see the same original problem and need to repeat the wall-power disconnect procedure to make these devices work again. Obviously, this is a pain, but until I can find and fix the real cause, it allows me to function.

I have not had this problem with any other types of USB devices - just ones that Windows sees as removable storage.

Maybe worth a try?

i would see if there is an upgrade for your motherboard and see if it will upgrade your usb ports to 1.0 or 2.0 it sounds like the computer it is being hooked up doesn't have the up to date drivers i would try it in another computer to see if it will work in that one and if you are running windows 98 it will not work unless you have usb 2.0 drivers for your usb and if you can't get 2.0 drivers for your motherboard there are usb adaptor cards that you can install