Problems in recognizing USB srorage device in Windows Me

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May 3rd, 2005, 08:28 AM
quevedo

Problems in recognizing USB srorage device in Windows Me

Hello all,

I am having a problem with my home computer. I am using Windows Me, and I recently have acquired a USB stick for file storage. When I plugged it into the USB port, the system recognized the new hardware and installed the driver automatically. However, it did not show any drive letter assigned to the device. I can see the icon for desconnecting the device in my toolbar, and it works nicely, but still cannot see the drive letter.

Now the strangest part: if I boot my computer with the device already plugged in, the system assigns a drive letter to it! Same happens if I connect a digital camera.

What could be going on in my system? Any hints?

Best regards to all

Antonio
May 3rd, 2005, 08:51 AM
KeriTechPC

Quote:

Originally Posted by quevedo

Hello all,

I am having a problem with my home computer. I am using Windows Me, and I recently have acquired a USB stick for file storage. When I plugged it into the USB port, the system recognized the new hardware and installed the driver automatically. However, it did not show any drive letter assigned to the device. I can see the icon for desconnecting the device in my toolbar, and it works nicely, but still cannot see the drive letter.

Now the strangest part: if I boot my computer with the device already plugged in, the system assigns a drive letter to it! Same happens if I connect a digital camera.

What could be going on in my system? Any hints?

Best regards to all

Antonio

If you have a "Card Reader" in your system or if you have any "Mapped" network drives this can happen.

If you have either of the above try clicking on the existing drive letters for said devices. One of them will be your USB Flash Drive.
May 3rd, 2005, 12:01 PM
quevedo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeriTechPC

If you have a "Card Reader" in your system or if you have any "Mapped" network drives this can happen.

If you have either of the above try clicking on the existing drive letters for said devices. One of them will be your USB Flash Drive.

Sorry, but that is not the case. I have no card reader neither network drives. This computer is "stand-alone". All I can see in the "My Computer" icon is my floppy (A:), the two partitions of my hard disk (C: and D:), and the "My Documents" folder.

Any other ideas?
May 3rd, 2005, 09:57 PM
Nix

Connect the device as you describe and then go to device manager and check if there are any red, yellow or green splats next to the device.
May 5th, 2005, 07:56 AM
quevedo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nix

Connect the device as you describe and then go to device manager and check if there are any red, yellow or green splats next to the device.

I have done as you said, and there is a green circle with a question mark inside, next to the USB storage device. I do not know what this symbol would mean. Should I install another USB driver?
May 5th, 2005, 09:43 AM
Nix

Quote:

Originally Posted by quevedo

I have done as you said, and there is a green circle with a question mark inside, next to the USB storage device. I do not know what this symbol would mean. Should I install another USB driver?

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=163487
May 6th, 2005, 07:22 AM
quevedo

It Worked!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nix

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=163487

Thanks Nix! Your hint was enough for me to find out what was going on. Here is what happened:

The driver for USB storage device that my Windows Me had installed when I plugged in my pendrive for the first time is the one that comes with the OS itself. The green circle means that the driver works but lacks all functionality. Which means that the driver that comes with Windows Me allows recognition of the device but not the drive letter assignment without a reboot.

How to solve this? I have checked the pendrive manufacturer website and found out the drivers for Windows 98. The manufacturer says that the drives is not needed for Windows Me and "above". However I have installed the Win98 drivers and my system now assigns a drive letter for my pendrive and my digital camera as soon as I plug one of them in the USB port!
May 7th, 2005, 01:26 AM
Nix

That's great, gald I could be of help, thanks for posting back and letting us know.