I bought a PNY Attache' 512MB USB flash drive and am using it for the first time today. I read back through December posts on this thread, and did not see anyone describing my problem, so I am posting my problem here...
I attached the flash drive to one of the USB ports on the front of my computer, and I could not get it to work. I attached the drive via the supplied cable to one of the four USB ports in the rear, and it still wasn't recognized. I had to turn the computer off and on for the device to be recognized... and THEN I was finally able to get the flash drive light to power up...saved a file to the flash drive (an MP3 file)...and played the MP3 from the flash drive -- and I thought all was great... until...
I disconncected the flash drive from the cable and *poof* the drive disappeared. I plugged it back in, and the computer won't recognize the flash drive. The little USB icon in the task bar wouldn't reappear. I have to reboot the computer for the drive to be recognized, which is a pain... I have tried to connect and reconnect the flash drive using the "safe removal" thingy, and even when I do that, it is just a non-existent thing. The ONLY way for the flash drive to be recognized is to reboot. BY THE WAY, I am NOT using any other USB devices here at home... so I am not dealing with any power issues.
At work, on a completely different system, we "plug and play" USB devices -- cameras, flash drives, external floppy drives -- all day long and the devices are immediately recognized when they are plugged in, unplugged, moved, etc... with no problems. This is the appeal of this technology. PLUG N PLAY, right???
But here at home, I have to reboot every time I plug and unplug????? This ain't plug n play....
What am I doing wrong???
Here's my computer info:
System Type: Dimension 4500S
Ship Date:7/18/2002
Dell IBU:Americas
Hardware Type Description
DVD/CD-ROM DrivesHL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8400BDisk DrivesWDC WD400BB-75DEA0 37.25GbDisplay AdaptersIntel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller 64MbFloppy Disk Drives(Standard floppy disk drives) Floppy disk driveIDE ATA/ATAPI ControllersIntel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CBPrimary IDE ChannelSecondary IDE ChannelKeyboardsStandard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 KeyboardMice and Other Pointing DevicesPS/2 Compatible MouseMonitorsAvitron AV-7TF - Korea Data SystemsSound DevicesSoundMAX Integrated Digital AudioUSB ControllersIntel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7Intel PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller
SoftwareNameVersion
WebFldrs XP9.50.5318MSRedist1.0.0.0Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 Starter Edition2.00.000Symantec Network Drivers Update5.5.1.6Adobe Acrobat 7.0.1 and Reader 7.0.1 Update7.0.2Adobe Acrobat 7.0.2 and Reader 7.0.2 Update7.0.3Adobe Acrobat 7.0.3 and Reader 7.0.3 Update7.0.4Adobe Reader 7.07.0.0Norton AntiVirus SYMLT MSI10.0.0ccCommon2.0.0.635Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_031.4.2_03Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_051.4.2_05Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_061.4.2_06J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 21.5.0.20J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 41.5.0.40J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 61.5.0.60Easy CD Creator 5 Basic5.1.0.0000Microsoft Office XP Media Content10.0.2619.0Microsoft Office XP Standard10.0.6626.0Norton AntiVirus Parent MSI10.0.0Symantec Script Blocking Installer1.0.0Windows Genuine Advantage v1.3.0254.01.3.0254.0MSN Messenger 7.57.5.0311.0SymNet4.7.1Windows Messenger 5.05.0.0468Norton WMI Update2005.1.0.111HighMAT Extension to Microsoft Windows XP CD Writing Wizard1.1.1905.1QuickTime7.0.3Norton AntiVirus 200410.00.00
Message Edited by DrWorm_ on 01-15-2006 04:56 PM
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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January 15th, 2006 23:00
If you want to be able to unplug without using Safely Remove icon, plug the drive into USB and open Device Manager. Double-click flash drive entry in Disk Drives list, and click Policies tab. Check the box "Optimize for quick removal". Click OK back to Device Manager.
When you're back at Device Manager, expand list under USB. Double-click each root hub, one at a time, and click Power Management tab. Uncheck the box "Allow PC to turn off this device to save power".
See if that helps.
Ron
DrWorm_
3 Posts
0
January 16th, 2006 05:00
Thanks for your reply
I had the device set for quick removal the first time I used it. And this setting has not changed.
I changed all the power management settings on all of the USB hub listings as you suggested also.
So, after all that, I used the "Stop" button and unplugged the flash drive -- it disappeared. Plugged it in again and no dice -- it won't show up again unless I reboot.
Something is still wrong... I am still irritated. Will try again tomorrow. Maybe a chat session with Dell Support will help
Message Edited by DrWorm_ on 01-16-2006 08:19 AM
DrWorm_
3 Posts
0
January 16th, 2006 15:00
New information --
Oh boy.. the problem may be with the flash drive...
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 16th, 2006 16:00
Sounds like it could be a bad flash drive. If it's under warranty contact PNY for replacement. Otherwise, you could try reformatting it (back up the files first).
Good luck!
Ron