Memory stick in USB port freezes XP

I have a Toshiba Satellite A105-S4024 with 4 USB ports. I have bought 3 different brands of memory sticks. All freeze the compter when plugged into aa port while the computer is runnign. If it is booted with the sticks in everything works fine until they are removed and then it freezes my computer.

I have tried deleting the USB software and re-installing. Does not fix. I have check by right clicking on the driver, everything checks out as no problems. I can plug in and take out my Scanner, mouse, and printer with no problem. I can plug these sticks into other people's USB ports with no problem.
I have tried a hot USB port attchment. IT makes no difference, still freezes.

If I go to unix Ubuntu, that I have on my computer, the USB port works fine. Put it in and take it out no problem.

I have no idea, it must be a Microsoft software driver problem somewhere. But I do not know what file would be malfunctioning.

Do you have any suggestions.

 

Hi,
Have you looked in event viewer?
Start/control panel/Admin. tools/event viewer/system
look in their there might be a clue.
Have you tried re-formatting the thumb drive?

Good Luck

 

Error properties:
Source: System Error
Category (102) Event 1003 user N/A
Error code 000000c2, parameter 1 0000009a, 2 00000002, 00000044, 4 48736353
=========================
I do not understand the reformat the Thumb comment.

thanks for the help

Jerry Mooers

 

Hi

Try going to Device Manager and under the heading Universal Serial Bus Controllers, highlight and uninstall any listing with the term "Controller ". They will be automatically reinstalled when you reboot. Check there is a controller with the description "Enhanced ". If there isn't or there is no improvement, find the driver downloads for your model at Toshiba. Get the (Intel) INF Update, this contains updates for the USB Controller drivers.

Matt

 

Still doesn't work.

I upgraded the INF file from Intel as Toshiba did not have an update.
Then I tried the change to the Registry file.
Described in the MS website.
Made the power to the USB ports always on.

I do not know which did it but for a while the computer stayed on.
When I went to the Windows Explorer and looked at the files in the
memory stick, it crashed, shortly there after.

I wish that my computer was less than a year old, I would return it.
But in all fairness, since it works with Ubuntu, I do not believe it is the hardware or USB port.

 

At least you can be confident in your USB and drive controllers now.

If you have not done so, while it is working on the computer, remove/backup all the files on the drive. In My Computer or Windows Explorer right-click on the drive and select Format. Try formatting as Fat32, but you could also try FAT (thumb, flash and micro are just what different manufacturers call their memory sticks).

It might be a clash between Windows and Ubuntu. Ubuntu is happy to work with Windows partitioning/formatting/file system, Windows has problems with Linux partitions.

A scanner, mouse, printer and memory stick is getting to be quite a load on the USB power system. Actually, I think you will find that Toshiba recommends that you use a self-powered USB hub when running more than one USB device.

Matt

 

Actually, the same thing happens to me about ~10% of the time. And I know it's not a software problem simply because it happens on multiple, well-maintained PCs.

The symptom is that as soon as I insert the USB drive, the computer instantly locks up hard. The problem, in my case, is electro-static discharge. I can significantly cut down on the number of lock-ups by touching the metal end of the USB drive to exposed metal on the PC. I touch it to the "release ends" of the 5.25" bay rails.

I'd be curious to know if you would have any success by somehow discharging the USB drive before insertion...or more accurately, get it at the same "potential" as your laptop. Your problem may be exacerbated because you have a laptop and it may not be grounded as well as a plugged-in desktop.

See if you can somehow touch the usb drive to exposed metal (if you can find it) on the laptop before inserting the drive and see what happens - it can't hurt.

Many of your symptoms match mine to a tee. The fact that it works fine in Ubuntu does shoot some holes in my theory but I thought I would post this anyway.

 

I have to do the same when going from the laptop to the desktop but not the other way around. I thnk it's the power differntial between the two PSU's is the cause in this case.

One day I thought I blew the desktop's PSU - big boom and it took about 30 minutes to get the desktop's system back up. I've been very carefull to ground the flash drive's ever since.

 

Now that winter is here and the air is drier, I cannot use my front USB ports for inserting USB drives. It always locks up now. I have to use the back ports - which are apparently grounded better.

What's also disturbing is that now when I insert my camera's CF card into the same reader with the USB port, it locks up now as well. Supa!