USB Storage Problem

[Qicksilver]

For some general information, I'm running Windows XP Home Edition, with Service Pack 3. If any additional information in needed, just let me know.

My computer will not recognize any USB storage devices. This includes USB flash drives, external hard drives, SD card readers, cameras, and my iPod. I will plug in whatever storage device I'm trying to get to work, and after a (usually rather long) period, I will get a pop-up saying that there were problems with the installation of my new hardware, and it may not work properly. I will not be able to see or do anything with the device, and when I look in the device manager, it will list the device with a yellow exclamation point next to it.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the device from the device manager. I did some searching on the PC Mech forums a while back, and found someone with what appeared to be the exact same problem; he fixed it by using a USB hub between his computer and whatever storage device he was using. I tried that, with the same results as without it.

I don't know a lot about this kind of thing, but I assume (and hope) that it's as simple as a missing driver.

Any thoughts?

[glc]

How long ago did this start happening? I'm thinking maybe a system restore would be in order.

[EzyStvy]

Did the issue start after a fresh install? If so, you probably need to install the chipset drivers and USB drivers for the mobo.

[rjfvillarosa]

Can you tell me what motherboard is in the machine or is it a brand name machine?
Does this happen with both front and rear USB ports?
You said you tried a USB hub, was this a powered hub with the power supply connected or a non powered hub?

[Qicksilver]

How long ago did this start happening? I'm thinking maybe a system restore would be in order. I've been having problems with USB storage on this computer for as long as I can remember; I'm not sure if it ever worked properly. In the beginning, I could go to the device manager and uninstall and reinstall storage devices, and the device would work until I removed the device or turned off the computer; if I wanted to use the device again, I would have to uninstall and reinstall.
Did the issue start after a fresh install? If so, you probably need to install the chipset drivers and USB drivers for the mobo.
I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. Due to general computer ineptitude on my part, I've had some problems with viruses on this computer. It's been wiped at a local computer repair shop several times. I'm not sure if they would go so far as uninstalling and reinstalling Windows in situations like that. I am suspicious that the problem is due to an omission on their part though.
Can you tell me what motherboard is in the machine or is it a brand name machine?
Does this happen with both front and rear USB ports?
You said you tried a USB hub, was this a powered hub with the power supply connected or a non powered hub? The motherboard is an MSI K8n Neo3. The computer is not a brand name; I had it custom built several years ago at the same computer repair shop that I've had it wiped. (One of the stupidest decisions I've made.)

Yes, the problem extends to both front and rear USB ports.

The USB hub had no external power supply, so I assume that would make it a non powered hub.

[rjfvillarosa]

The first thing I would try, If you can put your hands on one easily would be a powered USB hub.
The second and with help from us, you could try updating your motherboard drivers.
Do you have the motherboard CD?
You can download your motherboard drivers from here:

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=driver&maincat_no=1&prod_no=170

[Qicksilver]

I don't think I would be able to dig up a powered USB hub, without simply going out and buying one.

The only CD I have from my installation packet that looks likely is labeled "MSI Multimedia: Beyond 3D." It says it includes:

VGA Driver
MSI 3D Turbo Experience
MSI Live Update
MSI GoodMEM
MSI LockBox
MSI WMIinfo
MSI SecureDoc
E-Color
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft DirectX
Norton AntiVirus
ThinSoft BeTwin
Media Ring Dialer
D.O.T.

Would that be it? Will I need the installation CD no matter what, or would it just contain the same drivers that you linked to?

[not important]

That CD looks to be the "extra" stuff. There should be one that contains drivers but you can get the latest drivers from the link that rjfvillarosa provided.

[rjfvillarosa]

Most likely the drivers on the site will be an updated version as to what you have on the CD. If I were you I would download the "NVIDIA nForce4 System Drivers" driver package, (even though the USB drivers aren't specifically named in the list) and either double click the .exe in the folder that downloads or if you feel more confident update the USB drivers in Device Manager pointing Windows to the folder you download from MSI.
Check whats in the folder before doing a driver update as the drivers could be in compressed files and you will have to unzip them before Windows will be able to see them.



edit....looks like we posted at the same time, just read what I have posted here and let me know what you think or what happens after you download the driver package.



edit... LOL did it again....:D

[Qicksilver]

Very well, then the next step would simply be to download and install the drivers that applied to my system, correct?

Looking through the list of drivers, it seems like not all of these would be applicable. For instance, the audio on my computer is working fine, so I shouldn't need to download the Realtek ALC Series AC97 Audio Driver, correct? Which drivers would be necessary, or if most of them would be worth reinstalling, which ones would be unnecessary?

[Edit]
You answered my question before I asked it. :D Thanks for the advice; I'll download and install, and see what happens after that.

[Qicksilver]

Just to double check, the download file itself was in .zip format; I unzipped it, and the folder contains a variety of files (several folders, HDR File, BIN File, INX File, IBT File, SKIN File, etc.), an installation .exe, and three WinRAR archives labeled "data1", "data2", and "engine32."

Should I unpack those three archives, or just run the installer?

[rjfvillarosa]

Go ahead and double click the .exe it will unpack those other files itself if it needs them. It is very unlikely that the drivers already installed will be newer than what you have downloaded so don't worry about going backwards by installing older drivers.

[Qicksilver]

Well, that didn't appear to work. =/ I ran the installer, went with the default settings for everything, and restarted my computer when prompted. I then plugged in an SD card reader with a Compact Flash card inserted, and got the same problem as usual. The device shows up in device manager with a yellow exclamation point, as normal.

Is there something I missed, or something else that I should have done?

[rjfvillarosa]

Is there something I missed, or something else that I should have done?Not really no.
Have you right clicked on the listing in Device Manager and gone with update driver in propertries? Give it a try and when prompted allow it to search the internet for a driver.

I am going to see if I can find anything about USB drivers on the MSI site.

[rjfvillarosa]

Is your motherboard pre 09.09.2005?

There is a BIOS update:

Improve compatilbility problem with some USB 2.0 devices

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=170

[Qicksilver]

I right clicked the listing, clicked properties, clicked the Driver tab, and clicked Update Driver. It gave me a choice of whether to install the software automatically or install from a list or specific location. I chose to install automatically, the Wizard searched my computer, and said that it couldn't find any better software than what I have installed. I didn't see anything about searching the internet. :confused:

[Edit]
Yes, I believe I did buy this computer before that date. Should I download the update version 1.7 (the latest), version 1.4 (the one listed to correct the USB problem), or start at the beginning and install each update sequentially up to either 1.4 or 1.7?

[rjfvillarosa]

I didn't see anything about searching the internet.
That's odd, Winblows should ask your permission to access the internet to look for drivers.

BIOS updates are not for the feignt hearted, a bad BIOS flash can write off your motherboard. If you are up for it I would only do the one that supposedly corrects the USB problem at first. It's possible the very last update contains all the previous updates. I'll have a read and see what I can find.

What about the online live update feature at the bottom of the BIOS and driver update pages?

Instructions here:
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=html&name=liveupdate_step

[not important]

I would do the latest Bios.

[Qicksilver]

Those live update programs actually look like more trouble than they're worth. >_> I'd be more afraid of doing something wrong in installing or running them than I would be if I just downloaded and installed an update myself.

I think I'll go ahead and install the 1.4 update; if that doesn't fix the problem, then I can always install later updates as well.

[rjfvillarosa]

Follow the instructions to the letter, BIOS updates can render your motherboard useless if something goes wrong and usually they are ireversable.

[Qicksilver]

I fully intend to post on here before each step, to make sure I'm doing everything properly, as well as read all instructions carefully. The main thing I'm worried about is some step not being fully explained; hopefully everything will go all right.

[Qicksilver]

After looking at the actual instructions, I take it back; I'm definitely more afraid of messing something up by doing it myself than I am by using one of those update utilities. :o

I'll keep my fingers crossed, and hope this works.

[Qicksilver]

YES! I used the Live Update Online, and it worked like a charm. It updated the BIOS all the way to 1.7, and after that my USB devices worked perfectly! :D

Thank you so much for your help! This has been a thorn in my side for years. It's very nice to be able to handle pictures, update my iPod, and do all the miscellaneous stuff that I've been unable to do all this time.

Thanks so much! :D

[rjfvillarosa]

Result...:)

Looks like you are going to have a very happy new year...:)

[Qicksilver]

Indeed. :)

Thanks again for all your help. :)

[rjfvillarosa]

I don't want to sound disrespectful to the people who built your machine, but they are busy trying to make a living, they don't have the time to research a problem like the one you had.
It is situations of this kind that makes us push people to build their own machine and to repair their own machine. We are advocates of the "build it yourself" idea, hopefully this episode will encourage you to have a go yourself again, be it a repair or an upgrade or even a whole new build. Take a look around there are some very knowledgeable people on this site and lots of self help.

Your welcome and if it hasn't been said before, welcome to PCMech...:)

[Qicksilver]

Thanks, and I definitely understand about the people who put my computer together for me, and about doing things like this yourself. No one is going to be as dedicated in finding a problem with your computer than you are; you guys here at PC Mech really make it possible for someone like me with very little knowledge or experience in computers to get things like this done. :)

So thanks again for your help, and I definitely intend to come back here with any further questions or problems! :)