Software

Ask something
Question Locked

External device - cannot open, cannot format

0 helpful
7 replies

by priya.velanki

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hello Guys,

I have a Win 2000 XP pro SP2 on my laptop.
A few days ago, while loading songs into my sansa player - the player freezed up. I had to disconnect it unsafely as I had no other choice. Ever since, my computer does not let me open any external device. It recognizes it - but when I double- click on it- it says..do u wish to format.?
if i pick "NO"..it does not open it.
if i say "YES" ..it shows a quick format option.
When I try to format using that option, it says - windows could not complete formatting ur device.
I have tried plugging in my other MP3 player, Seagate External HD, Kingston USB..nothing works -its the same problem with all of them.
I have already tried re-installing the USB host-controllers from the device manager..did not help.
Can somebody tell me how to fix this.
Regards

7 replies

by older mycroft

That would have been less risky.

The 'safe removal' method is frequently misused, if not totally ignored, and users get away with it. However, this is mainly by luck.

Add an internally battery-powered usb device into the equation and your risk of damage tends to run both ways - the guest and the host.

Have you tried ALL your usb ports ?

by Former member

Start > programs > accessories >
system tools > system restore. This should restore your computer to an earlier state.
Hope all works out.

Please post back if you have anymore problems or questions.

by priya.velanki

Ok...I tried all ports..its the same problem.
System restore did not help either.

...I saw that the Kingston USB drive's format was RAW..and the my comp says " Windows could finish formating it."..

This is when i picked FAT or FAT32.

Any ideas..whats going on..
When I plug in my creative webcam or mouse...it has no trouble..identifying or working..

seems to be prob with storage devices only.

by rob miners

Here is a link to a handy little tool. Save it to the desktop.

http://www.usbman.com/WebDrivers/Intel%20USB%20System%20Check/USBREADY.EXE

Using Intel USB System Check
After the download has completed, browse to the file usbready.exe and double-click it. A Welcome to Intel USB System Check message will appear on the screen.
Click Yes . The Intel USB System Check program will check the computer system for USB compatibility.

Computer systems with full USB support
If the computer system has everything required for USB to function correctly, a ?This system has full USB support? message window will be displayed. This message window has green squares with the word "YES" in them.

Computer systems without full USB support
If the computer system does not have everything required for USB to function correctly, a ?This system currently does not have full USB support? message window will be displayed. This message window has red squares with the word "NO" in them.
Click Details, and then read the following summaries that are displayed:
System Software Support
System Hardware Support
USB Driver Support

http://www.usbman.com/winxpusbguide.htm

USB Device Stops Working or Won't Resume

WinXP by Default turns off USB Root Hubs to Conserve Power causing some devices not to resume correctly after Windows resumes from sleep, hibernation or computer inactivity.

In the Device Manager, Universal Serial Bus Controllers, USB Root Hub, Power Management. Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Uncheck all boxes on all root hubs.

Resart the PC.

http://www.usbman.com/WebDrivers/

When I plug in my USB drive, I am told the drive is not formatted. How can I recover my data?

Google "USB Recovery and take your pick." :D

by priya.velanki

OK..I tried unchecking the Allow the computer to turn off....
dint work..
also, I got all YES..for the full USB support

but..i observed somethings from my device manager.
..........there is something called "other devices" in yellow question mark
below that there are 2 things listed
a. video controller
b. video controller (VGA compatible)

both of these are in yellow...and with question marks..

Also, in system devices.
i right clicked the properties of Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM SMBus controller - 266A
..it says no drivers are installed for this device
Location: PCI bUS 0, DEVICE 31, FUNCTION 3

Am not sure if any of the above are relevant...but seems odd...
i tried re-installing the driver from Intel...but nothing has changed.

Help !! :(

by rob miners

got the Motherboard CD that came with the PC. If you have try reinstalling all of the drivers. If you have the Video Driver that came with the PC reinstall that. For a start it is the Chipset drivers that need to be reinstalled.
Down load this file and run it it should be able to tell you what the unidentifed drivers are.
Unknown Device Identifier v5.02

http://www.fileheap.com/software-unknown-device-identifier-download-34861.html

This discussion is closed to new replies.