Unable to use USB devices.

I currently use my mouse and keyboard through my USB ports without any problems at all, but when I plug a device such as a memory stick, or my phone in, XP recognizes that they've been connected and brings up all the usual message bubbles etc. However, I am unable to see the devices in 'My Computer', or gain access to them any other way, even though the device manger is able to display the name and type of the devices plugged in, and tells me that they are working properly.

Can somebody please offer advice on this, as it is such a pain.

 

Do your devices show up in Disk Management? If so do they have a drive letter?

 

By 'Disk Managment', do you mean the 'Disk drive' section of device manger? If so, then this says that my memory stick is plugged in, but I am still unable to access it via 'Device manager'. Basically XP says that the memory stick is plugged in, but I am unable to see or access it through 'My computer'.

 

Welcome to TSG....

Do you use a USB hub to plug directly into the USB ports in the computer or are you using a USB hub?

 

To access Disk Management you right click on My Computer and select Manage. Make sure that your USB device is plugged in. If it is there does it have a drive letter? If it does not have one you can right click on it and assign it one.

 

Thanks for the assistance, but the device does not appear in the device manager, what can I do next?

 

Try this. It worked for me.

With all USB devices disconnected from the computer:

Make these registry edits:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;925196&sd=rss&spid=3223

Then:

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Expand the USB Controller section
Right click and Uninstall any USB Root Hub entry.

Reboot and try your USB Pen drive again.
_________________

 

I'm also having the same problems. I've got into the Disk Management, my external HDD does appear, but after I right click and hit initialise, nothing happens after that, it still does not have a drive letter. I'm not sure what to do.

 

Referring back to ozrom1e's post, my son and I spent a lot of time earlier today attempting to persuade Windows to recognise his new Fuji digital camera.

We got a variety of popups (at least one of which 'recognised' the camera) and then error messages mentioning drivers, memory etc. We solved it eventually by using a USB port on the back of the computer instead.

On this computer at least, the two USB ports on the front must be on a hub so, no go with the camera!

 

Thanks for trying to help, but that didn't really work... I've tried using all different USB ports on my computer, but that doesn't change anything. =(

 

Ok, managed to get the memory stick to appear in Disk Manager, I then assigned a drive letter to it, but it does not assign properly, as the memory stick does not retain the drive letter after I close the Disk Manager, and the memory stick does not become visible in My Computer at any time. I am however able to explore the memory stick whilst in the Disk Manager.

Also thanks for the advice on the registry, I am pretty sure that this would solve the problem, but my computer will not allow me to delete the neccessary registry entrys, as it advises me that an error occurs when I try to do this

 

I think the way to solve your problem is by editing the registry or reinstalling windows - which is a bear. You've seen that you can use your USB drives if you open them in the disk management dialog but that's also a pain. As you've found out, you are having a problem because a drive letter is not being assigned by the disk manager and when you assign one it disappears after a reboot.

Try to edit the registry in Safe Mode and make sure you log in as administrator. Also, if you haven't tried it, do a system restore to a time before you experienced the problem and see if that helps. Also, try to remember what you did that caused the problem so that you can avoid it in the future.