External drive - xp keeps displaying Hardware Wizard 3

[manhunter2826]

Folks, I really need your help. I have a Fujitsu HandyDrive and it has worked beautifully on my laptop without any problems. Last week I needed to install SP2 on my laptop (I only had SP1 installed prior to this). I have no idea if this is a coincidence but XP just keeps insisting on running the 'New Hardware Found' Wizard every time I plug in the drive. This would not in itself be a problem but XP refuses to 'see' the drive now due to this.

I have looked in Hardware Devices also and, as you would expect, there is a Yellow Exclamation mark as it insists on installing a driver BUT the drive is completely driver-less. It needs no driver and never has done. The drive itself is fine: I have looked after it well (only six months old) and the power on LED is lit when connected. But XP refuses to now see it: It's not visible anymore in my computer. Any suggestions. Thanks all for your help.

 

[vacunita]

If you plug it into another computer does it get recognized and assigned a letter? In other words is it usable?


Have tried a different USB cable and a different port?

Is the drive in Disk Management form within Windows?

Control-Panel->Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage->Disk Management





----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[BadBigBen]

Do any other USB devices work correctly, e.g. external Keyboard, mice, printer, etc...

There is a possibility that updating to SP2 has damaged the USB drivers, and it is thus that it is not working...

another possibility is that the external drive is just not getting enough power, for it to initialize. In that case you either use a Y cable, that comes with most external HDDs, that plug into two usb ports, the other option is to use a power adapter to power the drive (some enclosures do not come with this option though)...

Q: why did you not update to SP3 instead?

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[linney]

When you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, the USB 2.0 drivers do not appear to update

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=873169#appliesto

Change or Delete System Drive Letter via Registry to Remove Conflict USB or FireWire Drive Letter

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...remove-conflict-usb-or-firewire-drive-letter/

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310575&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Disable the Use of USB Storage Devices in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q823732#3

314634 - Windows XP Does Not Detect Your New USB Device

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314634&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

disable new hardware option
thread779-376415

Disable new hardware wizard auto detect
thread779-797567

 

[manhunter2826]

You guys are fantastic. I have a cheap four-port usb hub (cost me a $) and it seems temperamental with particular devices (it's fine with a mouse/keyboard), and so I plugged the drive's power cable directly into the laptop usb port and the other usb device cable into the four-port hub. It's now working fine as before.

Yes, it does come specifically with a power cable for extra juice (plugs into a usb port as above).

Not sure why I did not upgrade directly to SP3; silly of me.

Thanks both for your help. Stars* for both

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks Linney also (I just missed your post LOL). Star* given also

 

[manhunter2826]

Just as an addendum I always wish to stop the device before unplugging it (I've been told this is the correct way), but I am now getting the following message (below). The device is not 'in action'; and I have indeed tried later. Any ideas??


"The device 'Generic volume' cannot be stopped right now. Try stopping the device later."

 

[linney]

Some ideas and fixes mentioned here.

"Generic volume cannot be stopped right now" error when Removing a pen-drive

http://www.troublefixers.com/problem-removing-pen-drivenot-able-to-remove-pen-drive/

http://www.google.com/search?q="The...topping+the+device+later."&rls=com.microsoft:

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks Linney: the Unlocker application looks very promising

 

[manhunter2826]

My drive works absolutely fine now but as an addendum (and I'm always trying to learn, and hopefully share, on this forum) is there any reason why an external hard drive would almost refuse to work with a usb extension (usb adaptor)? What I mean is, it works absolutely fine when connected to the primary usb ports attached to the laptop (motherboard). Is it the case that using a usb adapter perhaps means less voltage being supplied? Thanks.

 

[BadBigBen]

Is it the case that using a usb adapter perhaps means less voltage being supplied?

Correct, as the mainboard powers the adapter AND the devices attached with a max of 500mA, that is why I always recommend using a POWERED HUB...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks Ben.