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Won't recognize USB drive in My Computer
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SCAMPER
Member
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21. July 2006 @ 08:32 |
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One of my three computers (the laptop, WinXP SP2) also doesn't recognize the removeable USB drive. It seems to be caused by Window Media Player, but I haven't fix it yet. My computer also says that the drive is running fine, and I can see a drive letter in Media player. I cannot see the drive letter in "My Computer". I don't think this is too uncommon.
BOB, SCAMPER3821
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laddyboy
AfterDawn Addict
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22. July 2006 @ 17:20 |
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Hello.
Use Device Manager to uninstall the USB controller hosting the USB drive. Also uninstall the drive under DVD/CD_ROM Drives.
To uninstall, right click on the USB controller or drive name and select Uninstall.
Then restart the system without the drive plugged in. Next, plug in the drive and see if the OS recognizes and reinstalls.
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SCAMPER
Member
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22. July 2006 @ 23:34 |
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Before I followed your detailed procedure, I reinstalled Windows Media Player. The device now shows up under Portable Media Devices in the Control Panel, but not in My Computer. It also shows up under Itunes. All very confusing.
BOB, SCAMPER3821
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laddyboy
AfterDawn Addict
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23. July 2006 @ 06:36 |
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Hello again.
I assume the problem is not solved then. Reformatting your HDD and reinstalling the OS is an obvious solution of course. :)
You could try setting a restore point back in time when the thing worked correctly.
What happens when you insert a DVD? Does it play? Can DVD burning programs locate the external drive?
You might try a registry cleaner. There are free ones out there. Just google: registry cleaner.
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SCAMPER
Member
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23. July 2006 @ 12:47 |
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Yes, the computer does recognize cd's and dvd's. The external drive does not recognize them. I ran windows washer, but not a registry cleaner.
Still does not see any external drive, so I reinstalled Windows XP and all is well. I still suspect Windows media player.
BOB, SCAMPER3821
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laddyboy
AfterDawn Addict
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23. July 2006 @ 12:55 |
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I imagine it was a conflicting/corrupted driver. It doesn't take much to make things inoperable. Glad you solved your problem.
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. July 2006 @ 17:48 |
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did you do the re-install cleanly or did you just re-install over the top of the Windows you have now. Last time I did that it was like putting a bandaide over a wound!! The problem comes back, eventually. But, that was my old computer and windows Mellanium... maybe it's different now, with XP.
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SCAMPER
Member
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23. July 2006 @ 19:16 |
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IHOE, I re-installed over the existing XP. I had some of your same thoughts. Will see how it plays out.
BOB, SCAMPER3821
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. July 2006 @ 19:23 |
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remember ...... it was my old computer and I eventually just did a whole system restore with the original disks that brought back the computer to the original state as if it came out of the box! then I did all the windows updates and put back some programing as I sold it to my friend who had a worse computer than my old one! He loves it.... but he's eyeing my new computer now and I will not sell him this one! LOL hahahahahahah he buys all my older stuff and yet he makes more money than I do! hahahahahaha he is such a cheapooooooo.
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SCAMPER
Member
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24. July 2006 @ 07:48 |
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Have a complete backup with Disk Image. Like you, did it when computer was young and had hardly anything on it. Can use the backup if necessary.
BOB, SCAMPER3821
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AfterDawn Addict
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24. July 2006 @ 10:24 |
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just info
i did not try this stuff,
Restore Missing CD Drive.
Win XP ONLY!
The popular CDGONE patch. CD drives may vanish in Windows Explorer, Device Manager, etc. if a third-party CD-burning package has been uninstalled and Registry references for some code modules aren?t removed successfully. This patch and a reboot usually will restore the missing drives. Any third party package still required will then have to be re-installed. For more information on this and other possible causes, see the ?Problems? section of Alex Nichol?s Burning CDs in Windows XP article.
download
http://aumha.org/downloads/cdgone.zip
all of the REGISTRY PATCHES
go here to the site
http://www.aumha.org/regfiles.php
examples to whats there
http://www.aumha.org/regfiles.php
Drag & Drop Fix. Win 2000, Win XP
Has repaired the very few cases of lost drag-and-drop ability we?ve encountered so far in Windows XP, and has also worked in Windows 2000. Don?t confuse this with the Win9x version ? there are small differences in the Registry structures involved.
XP Icon Repair. Win XP
Some users (very few) have reported that installation and use of XP PowerToys causes desktop icons to revert to older (pre-XP) forms. When this occurs, the cause is corruption of Registry keys which this patch repairs.
Disable CD AutoRun.
Enable CD AutoRun.
This is the fastest way to turn AutoRun on or off if the usual methods aren?t working for you. Useful for solving a variety of woes. ?Win-XP safe?
Restore JPEG Preview capability in Explorer.
JPEG preview capability is sometimes lost. This file stands a good chance of restoring it in Win 95/98. (It has worked in WinME & Win 2000 too.) ?Win-XP safe?
WARNING: This patch resets the JPEG program association to the Windows default, wiping out any custom associations. This has been the most successful JPEG Preview patch for many people, but does have this side-effect. Edit the file in Notepad to see instructions on removing this characteristic.
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