Connecting USB2.0 Flash Drive to XPS System

Question

I have a brand new XPS 700 with all the bells and whistles. Unfortunately neither my USB ports on the front or back of the computer will recognize Flash Drives that utilize USB2.0. I just spent 2 hours with tech support taking control of my system and going through a lot of trials and tribulations but nothing seemed to work. This system is less that 2 weeks old and should be able to read nearly everything. It does read those thumb drives that do not use the USB2.0 (256K) and the like. But it will not read the higher Gig versions.   Anyone else out there have this problem?

jmsbcknr · Answer

ok. This is a standard imation 1GB flash. under XP SP2 it should automatically install it. The manifacturers don't even include drivers because XP should automatically install them. on my system it attempts and can't find a driver. As I said, i just got the system--brand new. Why whould the Bios be out of date. It just came off the assembly line?

Flooby · Answer

jmsbcknr wrote:

Anyone else out there have this problem?

No. It might help to know some specifics about the flash drive you're trying to use, as well as whether the manufacturer site has any pertinent instructions for setup. Another suggestion would be to make sure the BIOS is up to date. Yet another would be to reset the default hardware configuration via System Setup with the flash drive connected, restart, then see if it's recognized.

Flooby · Answer

jmsbcknr wrote:

ok.

This is a standard imation 1GB flash. under XP SP2 it should automatically install it. The manifacturers don't even include drivers because XP should automatically install them. on my system it attempts and can't find a driver. As I said, i just got the system--brand new. Why whould the Bios be out of date. It just came off the assembly line?

I didn't say that it was, I only asked if you had checked. Since we can't do those things for you from here, it's occasionally incumbent upon the actual user to do a bit of independent homework. Also, since I'm not experiencing the problem you're describing on a similar system, I'm attempting to determine what, if any, the differences between the two systems might be.

By the same token, and regardless of the fact that "it just came off the assembly line," I'd be willing to bet that both Windows XP and your AV application have updates waiting for installation, so you might want to check in with Windows Update and your AV software parent site, too.

msgale · Answer

'It does read those thumb drives that do not use the USB2.0 (256K) and the like.'  What does this mean?

msgale · Answer

I have had a similar problem.  I have two USB 2.0 PNY flash drives, one 2 GBytes and the other 1 Gbytes.  I use them to move school files between a Dell PWS 530, which is actually USB 1.1, and an Intel based iMAC.  iMACs use USB keyboards and mice which are daisy chained.  The keyboard plugs into the iMAC and the mouse plugs into the keyboard.  There is a spare USB port on the keyboard where I can plug in and use 1 Gbyte flash, but the 2 Gbyte flash drive will not work.  Either flash drive will work when plugged directly into the iMAC.  Larger drives require more power.  Now for the question, not counting the flash drive how many USB 2.0 peripherals do you have connected and what are they?

jmsbcknr · Answer

I have all six ports on the back filled--printer, mouse, card reader, keyboard, monitor, something else--not at home so can't look. I use the front ports occassionally.

jmsbcknr · Answer

I have one thumb that has 256MB that works fine on my home system. I have a thumb from PQI with 4GB that has the same problem as the 1GB from imation.

jmsbcknr · Answer

As I said in my original message, I use this same thumb drive on my office dell computer at the office with no problem and it is running XP SP1. I have XP SP2 on my home computer. It works beautiful on other computer so it can't be the thumb drive itself. I can plug in my 256MB version of the same thumb drive and it works on my system. It won't recognize the higher versions.

msgale · Answer

Two tests you may want to make, 1 - try the flash drive on different PC;  2 - Try a different flash drive on the same PC.  The results should determine whether the PC or the flash drive is the problem.

jmsbcknr · Answer

I have 10 USB2.0 ports. 2 front, 6 back, 2 internal

jmsbcknr · Answer

The lower level thumbs will work on just about anything without a problem. If you get the latest thumbs that are high speed and have 1-8 GBs won't be recognized on systems that do not have USB2.0 capability

msgale · Answer

Try removing everything except the keyboard and mouse, and then try the flash drive again.  P.S. I am not sure why there is a USB connection, may for additional USB ports on the moniter?

jmsbcknr · Answer

Thanks but it is not a lack of power issue. The system attempts to install it. It finds it every time. But when it attempts to load the driver it cannot find it. I am pushing a huge power pack in this monster that will run 3 times what I have connected.

Windows General

Connecting USB2.0 Flash Drive to XPS System

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