Re-Format Problem!!!

[peomp]

I just upgraded my desktop Windows XP Home Edition to XP Pro...my problems is that the computer doesn;t recognize any USB devices....my MAXTOR external hard drive is not a plug n' play, it has software cd which i have installed it about 5 times, i am able to open up the Maxtor Hard Drive Manger, which i can do all kinds of settings, the Manager says "please turn on or plug the USB in" and its alredy in. when i restart the computer, the New Hardware Found Wizard opens up and tells me to install by CD-Rom or Floppy, i put the software CD in for the wizard, but it says installion failed or cannot install.

My USB Flash Drive is a plug n' play device, no installion or software required, my laptop and my friends computer recognize the flash drive right away and files open up. my desktop opens up the New Hardware Found Wizard window and tells me to install by CD-Rom or Floppy...my flash doesn't have a software cd.

Even my digital camera USB doesn't need or have a software cd but New Hardware Found Wizard opens up and tells me to install by CD-Rom or Floppy.

[redwudz]

Did you re-install your motherboard drivers? I would DL them from the MB manufacture to get the latest versions. Is your new installation using SP1 or SP2? I believe USB 2.0 drivers were included since SP1.

[GKar]

When you installed Windows XP did you leave the USB hard disk plugged in to the USB port during the install? USB devices should not be connected and powered up during the O/S install, they are designed to normally recognized AFTER the drivers have been loaded. Look for the Yellow exclamation point on your device tree and right click on it and click on "update driver" and see if it finds the device since the drivers have already been loaded.

All this is assuming the USB hard disk is a secondary hard disk and the primary hard disk is internal (IDE, etc) and the operating system drive.

[InXess]

...my MAXTOR external hard drive is not a plug n' play, it has software cd...

All USB devices are Plug n'Play. Also your Maxtor. Only the USB interface you have is not included with XP Pro drivers DB. That's why you need to install the driver. Either you are not doing it properly or selecting a wrong driver. Check with the enclosure maker and make sure you have no hardware issues.

[peomp]

Did you re-install your motherboard drivers?

Yes all of them...my desktop is Sony Vaio PCV-RX850

Is your new installation using SP1 or SP2?

SP2

When you installed Windows XP did you leave the USB hard disk plugged in to the USB port during the install?

all USB unplugged

Look for the Yellow exclamation point on your device tree and right click on it and click on "update driver" and see if it finds the device since the drivers have already been loaded.

did that .... it didn;t work

make sure you have no hardware issues.

I don't


should i reformat again or system recovery back to factory state

[GKar]

You can make sure that USB 1.1 & 2.0 is enabled in BIOS, if so try clearing your BIOS and see if it will recognize your USB ports...hit PAUSE/BREAK during boot when it shows the hardware screen during bootup and see if USB is seen by the BIOS.

[InXess]

Hardware issues: I meant that drive USB interface may not be working - then no driver will work.

[budz]

As mentioned your USB ports may not be working. Try buying a USB PCI CARD & install it on one of your PCI SLOTS. Hopefully you'll have one a PCI SLOT available.

[peomp]

Hardware issues: I meant that drive USB interface may not be working - then no driver will work.

my printer is connected to USB port and it works fine. when i plug a flash drive or ext hard drive.....my computer does recognize it, the ew Hardware Found Wizard opens up and tells me to install by CD-Rom or Floppy, okay i put the software cd in for Maxtor hard drive, but it dosen't install properly.

[Bjs]

Has your system had it's own usb2 driver's installed for the motherboard , downloaded from the manufacturer?
Do you have the updated installer from ms installed ?
Check the driver's cd has no major nick's or scratch's ... just one in the right place is enough to cause havoc with "failed device driver" .
Tried a different usb cable ?
When you say "upgraded" ... did you wipeout the older os completely ... issue's can lurk here .

From my device's , it's install the driver package first .
Shut down and turn pc off .
Power the device from it's supplied power adapter .
Connect the usb cable between device and pc .
Turn pc on ... should automatically pick it up from there .

There not plug n play ... nor are they friendly .
Beware of current supply need's ...
Most modern motherboards supply a max of 2 amp's to usb rail .
One sneeze (overload) , and your onboard usb chip will run like a cripple from then on .
BEWARE : This will affect the performance of addon agp cards ... if it happen's ... rip the card out ... it will eventually overheat .

Sound's like you have 1 or more issue's to solve :

The quickest would be to get another usb2 card ... turn pc off , remove power cord , then fit in pci slot as in ...

Onboard agp / agp slot / pci1 (share resource's ... do not use pci1)
Pci2 / pci3 (share resource's - only one may have a card installed)
Pci4 / pci5 (samo)

However ... it would be nice to know if the usb device itself is working correctly , before wasting money on hardware .

You should beable to ...

Download puppy , a mini linux bootable os capable of fitting well on a mini cd (it's how I keep one)
Burn iso with nero or imgburn .
Leave it in the drive , and restart pc .
Enter bios , and set the only bootable drive as cd/dvd rom ... disable all other's for this test run .
Save , and wait .
If all gose well , puppy will load , and may beable to pickup the device .
If in puppy , and it's not , use the probe tool to reprobe the usb sub system for device's (I use a thumb drive)
If it pick's it up this time ... you might beable to mnt the unit , and see if you can view inside the unit (dosent matter if nothings there)

Done ... it's alive ... you now know the issue come's down too .

Usb chipset affected , or
Os upgrade may have caused problem .

I'm just so technical these day's without coffee .

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Ps : just because one device works dosent make it conclusive that other's will .

Some device's are multi ... ie , either usb1 or usb2 , they dont care ... and other's need usb2 to be working correctly or no dice .

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Edit : You have not included you motherboard's details ?

Via need's Via Hyperion 4-1 drivers for the correct system driver's .

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-009024.htm ... about intel ... enable high speed in bios .
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009262.htm ... further reading .

Sis ... I think they do provide an all in one package now ... but dont quote me on that .

Lastly , it asked for driver's ... did you ever allow it to look for them online ... couldnt hurt to see what it has to say ...

[InXess]

Get the driver from Maxtor website, CD may be crap or you are installing a wrong driver. Post a link to your USB drive, let's see it.