Re: Dell Dimension 2400 USB Drive Problems

"S.Lewis" <NVRambo@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ZIScj.25879$k27.6215@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"jarettweber" <jarettweber.32956y@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:jarettweber.32956y@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ben, Stew and all the guys on here, your info has been greatly
appreciated and I've learned a ton and solved many problems with your
knowledge. Finally I have ran into something that I cannot seem to find
a fix for. I was doing some work on a friend's business computer (runs
Windows XP). They need to back up their Quickbooks and the files are
too large for standard floppys now. So they went the USB thumb drive
route instead. Thing is, the drive is not accessible. It shows up as a
drive in my computer (f:), but no information can be written to the
drive. Here is what I have done:

I have tried 2 USB drives, both which work in my computer at home. A
Sandisk Cruzer mini 1GB and a Verbatim Store N Go 8GB. Both drives have
a test.txt file on them from my computer, just for testing purposes
(getting data to and from). Both have the same problem as mentioned
above when inserting into the work computer.

I did research via google and the tech support forums and came to the
conclusion that the 2400 has some serious USB issues with thumb drives.

So I downloaded every update available to Windows XP, went to Dell's
support site and did the same. I even tried some chipset updates that
people suggested that were not part of the 2400 series. Still nothing,
so...

I went into the device manager. The drive shows up as a "generic
storage volume" instead of the proper name (Sandisk Cruzer and Verbatim
Store N Go) as they do on my home computer. I tried the whole uninstall
device/reinstall device via the device manager. Still nothing, so...

I went through all the USB components in the device manager and updated
drivers and did the install/uninstall on all of them. Still nothing...

Finally, I tried every other USB port on the computer (thinking it was
a problem with the 2 front ports), but still get the same result. The
computer currently has a mouse, printer and wireless interface connected
to the USB ports in back, all which work flawlessly.

I may end up trying a USB hub connected to one of the rear ports, but
I'm afraid I'll get the same results.

I'm sure I did some other basic tech support things, but can't remember
them right now. So any suggestions, tips, flames, etc. would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks for your time and keep up the good work.

-Jarett



Jarrett -

1) I do wonder if this is a USB port/power overload issue. I've read (as
have you) more than a few posts regarding the 2400. For testing purposes,
it would be nice if a PS2 keyboard and mouse could be attached to see if
there's any different response.

2) I use generic thumb drives (no software required), so please pardon my
ignorance; do either of the drives you're using require an accompanying
software application/install? I've always had some predjudice against such
software as the flash drive should just be a plug and go under Windows XP.

3) I would also try formatting both drives (again) just to be sure there's
no file system corruption going on here. Doubtful, but a possibility.


I do keep a couple of pair of old PS2 externals here (to work on older
Win98/Me machines) and if it were me, that'd be the first thing I'd try.
You did well by checking the rear USB ports also, as they are integrated
into the board versus the cable used to connect the front USB ports.

Do post back.

Stew


Could this system be old enough to have USB 1.x ports? I don't know the
date for the transition, but I seem to recall Dell being Johnny on the spot
to move from 1.x to 2.x USB ports on their systems.

Wouldn't think a thumb drive would draw much power, but I've never really
checked the specs either.


.

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