calling all computer geeks
 

Ok so i bought a 4gb sandisk flash drive to store some files on esp. for work with all the pictures I need to take of peoples houses it makes life easier. Or at least it would if I could get the damn thing to work. I've tried it on other computers and it's fine but my main use is my laptop and it just won't work.

I plug it in and it says it recognizes new hardware, the wizard pops up asking me to search for drivers and it shouldn't do that. After it's complete it says it could not detect hardware and there is a device listed as OTHER DEVICE with a yellow question mark.

Anyone know why this would happen? I have a sony vaio it is about 5 years old and has 3 usb ports I've tried it in all and it does the same thing each time.

BOOOOO!!! any help greatly appreciated.

What OS?

First, leave the flash drive plugged in and reboot your laptop - sometimes it will recognize it when it boots up cleanly.

Second - post up the model numbers of the flash drive and especially the laptop.

- Justin

mmm a Sony vaio is it the 15in one in like a dark gray
or the sliver one.

mm could it be a 2.0 USB drive and 1.0 or 1.1 port i have seen some removeable drives not work for that reason or you can try to update the chipset on the sony web sit

go to the sony support and update the drivers

it is a sony vaio pcg-8v1l model the sandisk is cruzer 2.0 flash drivesdcz36-004g

operating system is windows xp

computer is 5 years old so sony tech support won't help since it is out of warranty.

justin i'll try the reboot thing later and let you know.

hate this thing right now.... :(

Format the drive. I had one of them and it comes with some wacky firmware built into it thats suppose to "ease file transfer" for dummies but requires the installation of some garbage on your computer.

O and btw a usb 2.0 key in a 1.0 or 1.1 port will still work and recognize fine. It just transfers slower.

Yep. The exception is on some older operating systems- they require drivers. But Windows XP should not.

try removing the driver for the usb and chipset and then reinstall fresh ones
could it be the registry? to maybe a reg cleaner ?

Too much porn

MAYBE!!!

Either google(i mean topeka) drivers for the flash drive and install them on your computer or reformat it alltogether using another computer and see if either way works.

On a side note Does it show up at all in your "My Computer"? Because then a reformat from their will def work.

Is your windows copy legit? Did you buy you drive direct from some shady asian reseller or is it legit?

does not show up on my computer.

yes legit on both counts. staples and sony vaio original setup

insert into comp, right click on my computer, hit manage, then go to the disk manager or whatever it's called (something similar)

do you see it there?

def. a setting screwed up with my computer. I returned the sandisk one and got an HP and the same thing happened. It tries to install the hardware instead of recognizing it as a plug and play type device that should just run.

ryan it shows up as an OTHER device and when you try to get it to recognize it goes into the found new hardware wizard. It's so Screwy. I am starting to hate this computer.

I didn't say go into the new hardware wizard :)

Go into the disk manager and see if it displays anything there.

Trying to install the hardware is normal when windows can't find the plug and play driver. I'm wonder if any USB device will install.... got a spare external HD or USB keyboard / mouse to try and plug into a different USB slot to see if it installs the plug and play drivers for them?

I know what ya said but I told you it was listed in the my computer device manager as OTHER device, NOT hp 1257 or whatever it is called. Basically it didn't recognize it

I use a mouse for the laptop and it has no problem recognizing that I haven't tried anything else recently though. I have a different mouse i can see if it recognizes it

Yep take it to a different computer and try formatting the drive.

Also as someone mentioned there are some very good generic usb keys floating around on the net.

MY guess as to whats weirding out is that you have a computer with a main/mother board that was a brand new design/chipset when you bought the PC and the BIOS is an early revision. This can cause all sorts of odd hardware conflicts in regards to things that were just becoming standard at the time you bought the computer.

It can never hurt to upgrade your bios and its pretty fool proof at this stage of the game unlike 10 years ago. Goto your makes website and see if they offer a newer version. Give it a try.

it doesn't mean it won't show up in the disk manager. I've had this same thing happen.


Check the disk manager.

did you try to install the software for it and see if that works?

it doesn't need or have software it's a usb flashdrive, plug it in and it works. I have no problems with any other computer but this one stupid laptop SUCKS ASS>

Holy crap man. Start trying some of the fixes we've given you!

Start with formatting the flash drive in a computer that recognizes it. Then try the BIOS if that doesnt work.

make another post when you want to actually begin troubleshooting

:werd:

how about you read what I'm saying and stop pretending you are know it alls. I've done these things the computer does not recognize the usb flash drive it thinks I'm trying to install hardware.

If you know how a flash drive works you plug it in and the computer allows you to put files to that drive automatically there is NO software needed. I don't have to format it on other computers. There is a SETTING on the laptop that needs to be changed but I don't know what that might be. If you have any helpful suggestions I'm willing to listen if you are going to keep saying the same things then I'll just take it to someone and let them figure it out. $50 is worth it to stop hearing you tell me I'm an idiot.