USB Flash drives not working anymore

[freebird73717]

Hello, I have spent several hours the past 2 days searching google and ask.com looking for answers to this with no luck. I have a sandisk cruzer 2 gb flash key that had U3 on it. U3 was causing nothing but problems. When I would select "safely remove hardware " things would just hang and I would just have to unplug the key (yeah I know not the best idea). Well now no usb flash key I own will work on this computer. I have tried them in another computer and verified they are working okay. So it seems that something is screwed up on my computer. I have tried uninstalling all usb devices through device manager ( no luck there ) and completely powering down the computer and unplugging it from the outlet and let it set overnight ( still no luck ) . Any body have any ideas.

Running
Windows XP service pack 2


Thanks for any help.

[liquid217]

This should work. I had a similar drive and the uninstaller worked.

http://www.u3.com/uninstall/

[TBoneit]

You may have damaged the USB filters. I don't remember the source for the info and lost the saved webpages, Drive died.

Search google with usb filters XP problem as a strating point

This turned up as an example http://www.usbman.com/Guides/VIA%20Tips%20and%20Tricks.htm

Cleanup Windows Device Manager in SAFE MODE , http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup%20Device%20Manager%20Safe%20Mode.htm
I've seen devices that windows marked as bad in the registry so you need to clean them out.

Good Luck

BTW next time just shut down and remove the USB device that way.

[freebird73717]

well booted to safe mode and key was recognized then uninstalled u3. Rebooted still not seen. Went back to safemode uninistalled all usb devices then rebooted still not seen. Am going to try a linux live cd to see if the key is readable there.

[freebird73717]

Did not work using a linux live cd also. I used the same cd and 2 diffenent usb keys just a week ago and had success. I'm guessing that my on board usb ports are going out. Whats funny though is that my printer still works.

[freebird73717]

When you plug the drives in the make the chime sound like they are recognized but nothing shows up.

[fatbloke88]

If you have an application such as Acronis Disk Director or Partion Magic, see if the drive shows in the program,if it does reformat it and make sure you give the drive a drive letter .It sounds like you done the same as i did if your lucky you'll get it back.

[freebird73717]

It's not the usb key as it reads fine in another computer (especially after I removed the U3 launchpad). Now no flash devices show up on my main computer ( flash drives, digital camera).