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Flash Drive - Tries to install every time inserted yet it works

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goombawaho

goombawaho

MIS
Oct 7, 2007
6,597
US
I know there are a lot of posts like this on the internet, but my situation is a little different and I can't find an exact match due to the circumstances below. XP SP3 on a Gateway E series desktop.

See picture link below for my error message/situation. It's just like this EXCEPT it's not a Sandisk brand USB Flash drive - it's one I bought from Micro Center.


What happened was this. I arrived to do some work on the PC. It was running slow. Nothing major wrong with it, it just needed some memory (only 256MB installed!!!!) Cleaned out temp files, ran an MBAM scan, reduced startup items. The exact same thing I do on every computer I touch.

I put in my USB flash drive with some programs on it (Java update, flash installer, etc.). It installed and worked just fine. Then the owner put their flash drive in (same brand (Micro Center) as mine) which they had been using just fine without any errors for a while for their backup. But NOW, after my drive had been attached to the system, we get this error every time the drive is inserted and the New Hardware Found routine starts and then ends with the above error.


Many of the other posts state that the drive doesn't have a drive letter. That's not the case here. The USB flash drive IS working and has a drive letter. I can write data to it and I can have full control over the drive in disk management and even change drive letters . But when you go to deceive manager, it will give you "Code 28" Error Message and a Yellow Exclamation Mark Next to a USB Device in Device Manager"

I have already enabled the viewing of hidden devices in Device Manager and removed all references to ANY and ALL USB flash drives, done a reg clean with CCleaner and rebooted. Same thing happens every time the flash drive is plugged in.


I saw one post suggest to replace the c:\windows\inf\USBSTOR.INF file from another working computer. I be stumped.


Thinking about this approach (second post), but it's for Vista


or this:

Remove and reinstall all USB controllers
To remove and reinstall all USB controllers, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Click the Hardware tab.
3. Click the Device Manager button.
4. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
5. Right-click every device under the Universal Serial Bus controllers node, and then click Uninstall to remove them one at a time.
6. Restart the computer, and then reinstall the USB controllers.
7. Plug in the removable USB storage device, and then test to make sure that the issue is resolved.
 
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The message does say:

"the specified service does not exist as an installed service"

You got any idea what service is in question?

do your log files show anything about the service?

sam
 
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Vista, XP, or Windows 7, removing the USB from Device Manager is standard practice for USB troubleshooting, so give it a go. On reboot Windows will rediscover the drivers for each device you removed.

Replacing USBSTOR.INF, open the file via browsing to it with Notepad and make sure there is some entry for your Sandisk brand USB Flash drive.

Solved: error message "usbstor.inf old or missing"

USBSTOR.INF resides in C:\WINDOWS\Inf, it is probably a Hidden and System file, both options need to be set via Folder Options to see such a file.

This is a handy tool to help with USB trouble too.

USBDeview


Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

What about a different user in Normal Mode?

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP
 
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It's not a SANDISK drive as I had mentioned.

Already did: CHKDSK, SFC, Can't do system restore - it's been months since this happened.

I wasn't talking about removing the USB devices in DevMgr - I already did that. No go. I was talking about deleting the device CATEGORY in Device Manager - you know USB Root Hub.

I need a more radical strategy (Don't say format).
 
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My point still stands in that may be worth uninstalling everything USB in the Device Manager whether it is a USB Device, Host Controller, or Composite Device, or Root Hub. If you mean the heading "Universal Serial Bus Controllers", I wouldn't know how to remove that heading and group all in one go.

Even though it is not SanDisk, is the actual USB device listed in the USBSTOR.INF, or is it using USB\VID numbers that are also used for anything SanDisk?

SanDisk.Mfg = "SanDisk Corporation"
USB\VID_0781&PID_0001.DeviceDesc = "SanDisk USB ImageMate"
USB\VID_0781&PID_0002&MI_00.DeviceDesc = "SanDisk USB ImageMate (Authenticated)"
USB\VID_0781&PID_0100.DeviceDesc = "SanDisk USB ImageMate Multimedia Card Reader"

Is the actual USB device purchased from Micro Center an SanDisk device but with a Store name substituted? What is it shown as on your own machine?

Is there anything in the Event Viewer?
 
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Let me clarify - there is NO mention of Sandisk anywhere. Not in the error that pops up. I just used that picture as being the same error message NOT including the Sandisk part.

I already deleted all the USB devices I could find using the "show hidden devices" startup switch for Device Manager. No joy.

This is what Device Manager says about the flash drive in MY computer:

USBSTOR\DISK&VEN_USB_2.0&PROD_USB_FLASH_DRIVE&REV_0.00\DB66E594714646&0

Drivers being used: disk.sys partmgr.sys
 
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What file system is on the USB? You mention that you have run ChkDsk, was that run on the USB drive too? What about a defrag of the USB? You didn't want anyone to mention Format, but what about a Format of the USB drive?

This looks at the perennial problem of upper and lower filter entries in the Registry inserted by other applications.

[SOLVED] "The specified service does not exist as an installed service."

 
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Remember - the problem is with the 2nd Flash drive that is identical to mine. No - never ran chkdsk on her flash drive, but I run it on mine regularly. Both FAT32.

I'll take a look at your links. I didn't know the filters affected anything except optical drives gone missing.
 
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Did or does the other drive work on your machine, if your game enough to try, be wary as it might cause you unknown problems too? Will it, or has it worked on any other machine in any case?
 
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I can't answer any of those questions as the PC in question is not mine nor near me. This will have to be put on hold until I visit that machine again.
 
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Replace the USB drivers from SP3 with those from SP2...

Code: 
Copy c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbport.sys  c:\windows\temp\usbport.sys

Delete c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbport.sys 

Copy c:\windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$\usbport.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbport.sys

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
 
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Well, at this point, the customer doesn't want to pay for any service, so this issue is dead until that time that they want to pay to revive it!!!

Sorry for getting all your answers to a question going nowhere.
 
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Sorry for getting all your answers to a question going nowhere.
Click to expand...
I know who is buying the next round...

now seriously, joke aside, the same problem may hit someone else, so any possible solution may lead to them getting it fixed, so in other words, there was/is no need to apologize (at least in my book)...

but thanks for posting, that it will now be up to the customer to venture further down this road...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
 
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goombawaho
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