USB Drive My vista (Home edition) only recognizes one pen drive. Does not recognize any other USB device. Device manager says USB ports are functional.

USB hard drive is a portable external storage device that works just like a conventional hard drive. The device is simply plugged into a USB port on your computer as you would connect a flash drive. Unlike a flash drive, however, a USB hard drive can store a much larger amount of data. If your computer will not recognize your USB hard drive, you can try troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

Plug one end of the USB cable into the port on your hard drive and plug the other end into the USB port of your computer. Ensure that both ends of the cable are connected securely. Open "My Computer" (Windows XP) or "Computer" (Windows Vista/7). The USB device should be listed as "removable disk" once it is plugged into the computer. If it is not listed among the available drives on your computer, proceed to the next step. Ensure that the data cable is working properly. Try another USB cable if you have one available. Disconnect all other USB devices from the computer as they may interfere with the operating system detecting the external hard drive. Reboot the computer if the USB hard drive is still not recognized. Plug the USB cable into another USB port and check to see if the device is detected. If you are using a USB hub, remove the device and plug the external hard drive directly into a USB port. If the computer still fails to recognize the device, the external hard drive itself may be experiencing a hardware problem. Check the status of the hard drive in the "Device Manager" window. Under Windows XP, right click "My Computer" and select "Device Manager." For Windows Vista and Windows 7, click the "Windows" button in the lower left corner of the screen, then type "Computer Management" in the search bar and press "Enter." Select "Device Manager" in the "Computer Management" window. In the Device Manager window, click the "+" sign that appears beside "Disk Drives." If the external drive is not listed, click "Other Devices" in the Device Manager window and see if an "Unknown Device" appears. The external hard drive may have been detected but the device is not working properly. If it is still under warranty, take the device to the computer store where it was purchased to have it repaired or replaced. Hope this helps.

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A USB hard drive is a portable external storage device that works just like a conventional hard drive.

The device is simply plugged into a USB port on your computer as you would connect a flash drive.

Unlike a flash drive, however, a USB hard drive can store a much larger amount of data.

If your computer will not recognize your USB hard drive, you can try troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

Plug one end of the USB cable into the port on your hard drive and plug the other end into the USB port of your computer. Ensure that both ends of the cable are connected securely.

Open "My Computer" (Windows XP) or "Computer" (Windows Vista/7).

The USB device should be listed as "removable disk" once it is plugged into the computer.

If it is not listed among the available drives on your computer, proceed to the next step.

Ensure that the data cable is working properly.

Try another USB cable if you have one available.

Disconnect all other USB devices from the computer as they may interfere with the operating system detecting the external hard drive.

Reboot the computer if the USB hard drive is still not recognized.

Plug the USB cable into another USB port and check to see if the device is detected.

If you are using a USB hub, remove the device and plug the external hard drive directly into a USB port.

If the computer still fails to recognize the device, the external hard drive itself may be experiencing a hardware problem.

Check the status of the hard drive in the "Device Manager" window. Under Windows XP, right click "My Computer" and select "Device Manager."

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, click the "Windows" button in the lower left corner of the screen, then type "Computer Management" in the search bar and press "Enter."

Select "Device Manager" in the "Computer Management" window. In the Device Manager window, click the "+" sign that appears beside "Disk Drives."

If the external drive is not listed, click "Other Devices" in the Device Manager window and see if an "Unknown Device" appears.

The external hard drive may have been detected but the device is not working properly.

If it is still under warranty, take the device to the computer store where it was purchased to have it repaired or replaced.

Hope this helps

Generally USB ports are part of the motherboard so you will not be able to replace just the USB ports. you can try to uninstall the USB controllers in device manager then reboot your computer. they should automatically get reinstalled. also try booting to safemode and check if it will recognize your USB devices.

*if you get a pop up for found new hardware when you plug in any of your USB devices then it would usually indicate that the hardware is working fine and the problem is with your OS

Hello,

Try the usb drive on another pc to see if it is dead. If the usb drive works on another pc, reply to me and I can help more. If the usb drive does not respond on another pc, it may be dead.

Please reply with test results, and I can help more.

Regards,

Joe

This may cause if your USB port is out of order. Or your pen drive is not in good condition.
Think this is helpful !

Dear Sir,madam
You have to do some steps about fixing this problem :
1: Go to Device manager by right click on my computer then manage and then device manager.
2: Go to universal serial bus controller and export it.
3: in each USB root hub right click and then properties.
4: In properties screen select power management tab and unmark on " allow the computer to turn off this device to save power ".
5: After finishing this steps in each USB root hun restart your computer and then done

Hi s8vysakh6 ,

I would suggest you to try the following steps:

Step 1: Run the fixit provided in the link below.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Tips-for-solving-problems-with-USB-devices
Check if the issue is resolved

Step 2: Connect the device to a different USB port\ and also connect the USB pen drive to another computer to eliminate issues with the pen drive itself.

If the issue persists,

Step 3: Reinstall USB controllers.


First, please disconnect all USB devices and then perform the following steps:

1. Click "Start", type in Device Manager the Search bar and press "Enter". Click Continue if necessary.

2. In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the "Host Controller", click "Uninstall" and click "OK".

3. Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

Then, restart your computer and Windows vista will reinstall all USB controllers automatically.

Step 4: Update the motherboard driver to the latest version.
Note: Please check with the motherboard manufacturer before installing the driver.

If the issue persists, you may want to check with USB pen manufacturer for any unknown issues.

Hope this will help !

Anurag

what OS ?
did u load the driver for the device ?
check if ur USB port is working ? by connecting some other USB device
all these errors happen due to the IRQs clashing with the resources...
ensure that all devices in device manager dont have IRQ clash...check each item in device manager and check properties and check if there is any clash...for IRQs

hmm, no problem plugging in either side, just be sure to do the power cable first. What's doing the beep, beep?

Found a guy who had similar prob, here was his solution:
Go to Control Panel. Click on Device Manager.
Check to see if FreeAgent is shown as a disk drive.
If not, check the device list for any Free Agent device, double click and check driver. No driver installed? Update does not work? On the driver tab….click uninstall device.
Shut down computer. Unplug Free agent USB and power at the drive.
Reboot computer. As it is rebooting, plug in the power cord. Wait a minute or two….then plug in USB cord.

Windows will “found new device” ….. Just let the computer complete the reboot.
Then go to the device manager. Chances are you will find Free Agent in the drives….and in the USB list of devices. Open windows explorer….and you should see you Free Agent as a drive.
Windows will ask you to install manufacturer disk. You have no disk…non needed. Windows has installed the device. Just click on close. I you keep getting windows wants to install device…..ignore it. You can click on “don’t ask again”. (That is if your Free Agent drive is showing in the device manager as a disk…and in windows explorer….along with your other drive or drives.)
If at some later time….your Free Agent drive does not appear….repeat the steps as listed above.
(You may think it is not working….or that it has gone bad. Try this before you try to return.)
Seagate Tools…the new version….does not recognize to diagnose the Free Agent….
I have not tried Seagate Tools after getting the computer to recognize the drive.
I am surprised Seagate does not provide a Tool to recognize their own drives…and install and/or test Free Agent.

This does work for me with Vista. Thought I had lost the drive…. Seagate should provide a patch or a drive that Windows will recognize when you get the “found new hardware” and Windows asks you to insert manufacturer’s installation disk. I do not understand why that is not already there….a driver file for Free Agent...that Windows would install.

I did not buy Pro….because I did not need the backup software. I wonder if those who bought Pro are having these problems.

hi.
Vista doesnt recognize all pen drives. only few like Sandisk, Transcend etc get recognized. Even brands like kingston don't get recognized. so to make them work install the driver for the pendrive. If you specify the brand of your pen drive ..i will try to help out with a driver .
regards
bzoy