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removable media drive not accessible

By jsjAtVolian ·
Using Windows 2000, up to date with service packs and critical patches.

Get an error message: "k is not accessible, incorrect function" when I try to open a drive letter corresponding to a CD, memory card reader, or digital camera. The CD Drive ia an IDE device while the memory card reader and digital camera are USB devices.

I have disable the anti virus and fireware programs, but still get the error message.

I have done the Repair option from the windows 2000 installation cd, but still get the error message.

I can Burn (with verify) a CD with out problems. The resulting CD works fine in other computers or when I boot in Safe Mode.

In fact the all of the removable media devices work fine in safe mode.

I've read some postings elsewhere and found that others are having simular / same problems even with windows xp. So I'm not convinced that upgrading to xp is the ansser right now.

Is there a reasonable solution to fix this problem?

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by p.j.hutchison In reply to removable media drive not ...

Are there any problems shown in Device Manager?
Have the motherboard drivers for PC been installed to drive IDE and USB controllers?

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by jsjAtVolian In reply to

Device Manager shows these devices are working fine. Not conflicts.
I did re-install the drivers, but it didn't make any difference.

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by Mike (from Canada) In reply to removable media drive not ...

Do the drivers of the faulty devices have a virus, or are they damaged? Try downloading the drivers again from the manufacturer or install them from your disk's or CD's that was shipped with your devices in question. I find that if you are not running Windows in protected mode, you will have no access to any CD-ROM drives, and you might see a message like "Drive x: is using compatibility mode". In that case, re-install your hard drive drivers. To see if you are in protected mode, change your default cursor to an animated cursor, and if the animation works on it, then you are in protected mode. Also, try adding the following line under the [386enh] section of system.ini: RemovableIDE=1

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by Blackcurrant In reply to removable media drive not ...

Hi

Another option you might want to try is to update the BIOS for your machine, and then check that these devices are enabled within the BIOS.

Good luck

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by jsjAtVolian In reply to

Updating the BIOS does not make sense. The machine is only a couple years old and all of the hardware is the orginal.

As for Answer 2, how will re-installing the CD ROM drivers solve the problem with the USB removable media devices?

This is more of a general Removable Media "driver" problem which spans IDE and USB removable media devices.

Could it be that Microsoft yet again screwed up with a service patch?

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by Blackcurrant In reply to removable media drive not ...

Hi again

Drivers sometimes go bad. Reinstalling them, especially the most up to date drivers designed for your system, can help the devices to function better and to operate more smoothly with the OS.

However, you say the devices work fine in Safe Mode so there would appear to be a problem associated with your user account or something is loading (maybe from All Users), which is attempting to take control of these devices.

Have you recently installed any software which may attempt this - if you have, is it designed to work with Windows 2000? If you are unsure, try to make sure all your programs are up to date.

Also, are you getting any other errors in the event log?

Good luck

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by jsjAtVolian In reply to

No other errors in the event log.

no new software was installed since the last time this was all working - only updates for windows, anti virus and firewall software. For a test, I had disabled the anti virus and firewall software, but that didn't make any difference.

The only driver Windows Update comes up with is one for my NIC card.

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by Blackcurrant In reply to removable media drive not ...

Hi

You say that the only driver Windows Update comes up with is one for your NIC. Windows Update is designed primarily to update your OS, and certain basic components. What I meant in my last suggestion was that you visit the manufacturers web site(s) and download the latest drivers for all your hardware - your chipset, your memory card reader, any updated software for your digital camera.

Also, have you checked that your BIOS is the latest version available? You say it does not make sense as your computer is about 2 years old. My machine is less than a year old. I bought it brand new last April, and there have been two BIOS upgrades released since then.

If you are not sure where to look for any updates, post your hardware specs and we may be able to direct you to the right location.

Good luck

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by jsjAtVolian In reply to

Well I decided to try upgrading to XP. (yes I upgraded on top of win2k)
Note that I didn't update any driver or my BIOS.
The upgrade (before getting all the new service packs) appears to have fixed my problem (at least to the point that the CD drive can again read CDs).
I still need to get the updated driver and service packs but it's kind of interesting - isn't it.
So I'm closing my question, but who knows, I may end up posting another one if the new services patches and drivers take me back to square one.

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by jsjAtVolian In reply to removable media drive not ...

This question was closed by the author

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