External hard drive USB problem

Hi Rockster2U

Thanks for the tip. In Computer Management Services, Ad-Aware Service is indeed listed.
However on clicking its Properties (Ad-Aware 2007) it reports:

Service Status: Stopped

On clicking the START button I get the error message

"Could not start Ad-Aware 2007
Error 1053: Service did not respond to start or control request in a timely fashion. "

This seems to tie up with the report below instigated when I try to turn on my external hard drive.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7009
Date: 29/07/2008
Time: 17:26:15
User: N/A
Computer: METROVIC-3BAUZ2
Description:
Timeout (30000 milliseconds) waiting for the Ad-Aware 2007 Service service to connect.

What do you suggest might be the next step to take, because my attempts to resurrect Ad-Aware 2007 seem to have failed.



phaseangle

 

Download RegSeeker, and install it (create a folder under program files and extract it to that folder). If you want, make a shortcut to the executable and drag it to your desktop.

Then navigate back to Services as before by going into Computer Management and Applications and Services. Locate aawservice and right click it and shut it down. Now, fire up RegSeeker and do a search for AdAware. Remove everything found. Repeat the process. Now, search for Lavasoft and remove everything found. Close RegSeeker.

Open up Windows Explorer (make sure your folder options are set to show hidden files and fle extensions) and find AdAware and remove (yes, right click and delete) everything you find in that folder and then remove the folder. Now do a search of your computer for AdAware and remove anything else. Same procedure for anything lavasoft.

Now you can reboot and AdAware will be gone. Just make sure you pulled out all the registry entries using RegSeeker before you started deleting stuff. Anything less could put you in another fix and we don't need that happening.

Now go back and check on that service. I'm not going to say this is goign to fix your external problem but it should get you beyond the current corrupt AdAware installation.

 

The Great Ad-Aware Hunt!

Hi Rockster2U

Thanks for the info. I'll report back to you after I've carried out your instructions regarding uninstalling, Ad-adware, Lavasoft and all its works!



phaseangle

 

Thanks for your excellent instructions. Using using RegSeeker etc I was able to eliminate all traces of Ad-Aware/LavaSoft from my computer, including Services. There were a heck of a lot of entries!

The problem with my external hard drive is still present however. It appears in Computer Management as USB Mass Storage Device/This Device is working normally. Location 0 (USB to IDE) But when I click on Properties it says Properties Not responding.

It does however work fine when switching on the hard drive when in Safe Mode. It appears in My Computer as External Hard Drive and performs normally.

I then had a cunning plan! In Safe Mode I went into Task Manager and made a note of the 12 Processes that were running and permitting normal disc operation. I then tried rebooting in Normal Mode and in Task Manager manually closing all files except those which I knew were allowing correct operation in Safe Mode. But it made no difference to my problem, especially as some processes re-opened themselves, or else did not allow me to close them.

Have you any suggestions what to try next?

Thanks



phaseangle

 

I don't have any first-hand experience with this specific issue as I don't use externals much, however, a friend had approached on this same thing a couple of months ago and he eventually found a fix that worked for him. It was related to how the drive was mounted and dismounted. As I recall there was a way to differentiate between safe removal and fast removal which may also relate to your problem. Let me do a little homework and I'll get back to you if and when I have something meaningful to add.

Sorry, but I'm a big believer in removable drives as opposed to externals because they are neater, easier and safer to move around and are considerably faster. As a consequence, I don't play with externals any more than I have to and my knowledge there is limited.

 

There you go phaseangle - PeteC to the rescue. I'd suggest you follow Pete's instruction when the drive is plugged in and working and set it to safe removal.

 

Hi RocksterU & Pete C

With the drive in question working normally, I went into the Policies tab and proceeded as suggested. I clicked on the Safely Remove Hardware in the task bar (USB mass store device at Location 0)

That's right - it didn't work! I just got the error message

The Device Generic Volume cannot be be stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

That's not very helpful is it?

I'm sure Him Up There is trying to stop my external drive from working properly!

Strangely, when I tried changing the ext drive letter from H to J (just to see what happens)
it worked fine when I turned it on with the computer already booted. I thought I'd cracked the problem, but it reverted back to its bad old ways again when I tried it again!



phaseangle

 

Hi PeteC

When correctly working with the ext. disc on an already booted machine and clicking on the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon it says "try again later ". But when connecting my ext. drive to my already booted machine, to bring on my "freeze" fault, the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon does not respond, as it remains frozen.

I guess to resolve this whole issue I just will have to remember to turn on my ext. drive before booting up my computer. At least then all does run normally!

Perhaps there are USB updates that I don't know about.

Thanks for your help.



phaseangle

 

Just other things for you to think about (stalking it from the shadows ).

If you received and installed software that came with the drive, uninstall and reinstall it. If you don't use the manufacturer's software, just uninstall it.

Is there any other "external drive" drive software installed? Like those for a micro/flash drive. Try uninstalling those.

Matt

 

The Great External Disc Saga

Hi Mattman

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes it does seem that something is poking its nose in because the ext drive works fine in Safe Mode, with the USB plug 'n play facility operating just like it's supposed to do. You would therefore think the drivers are doing their job(?)

There are no custom drivers for the disc enclosure and I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the XP drivers but without success. Likewise the USB drivers.

The annoying thing is that the ext drive initially worked fine in normal mode for about a year or so, but I can't think of anything I did to corrupt its working since then.

Is it likely one of the regular Microsoft updates could have affected it? I can't check directly because my System Restore won't let me go back more than 6 weeks or so.

Well, so long as I have the ext disc running when I boot up I can still use it fine, so I guess it could be a thousand times worse eh?



phaseangle

 

A lot of problems are unexplainable, but if you have a problem after making a change you immediately have a reference to what could have gone wrong. Windows updates, quite possibly, but what is often required is to update your drivers so that they work with the Windows Updates. The Windows Updates website offers driver updates as well, don't get those, go to the hardware manufacturer's website and get them there. I urge you to get the VIA chipset driver updates that Pete mentioned, they will contain USB and IDE Controller driver updates.

If you do a System Restore, you will just be making the system back-dated, not updated.

Here is the download page for your m/b:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=775VM800&s=775
Pete mentioned that they are dated from 2005, but that is after Win XP SP2, so your system may be running on SP2 (2004) drivers. I would get any of the other updates available there as well, LAN, Audio, VGA (if you are using the on-board graphics), AMR (which seems to be some sort of system device).

Here is the specs page:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=775VM800&s=775
I keep mine in my favourites.

Updating the drivers to the m/b manufacturer's level is the least you should do. After that, look at software that could be malfunctioning, like those I mentioned. It should be simple to uninstall and reinstall them without a problem.

Matt

 

Mattman

Thanks for the link to the Asus m/b.

I downloaded all the VIA chipset driver updates that Pete mentioned, that will contain USB and IDE Controller driver updates. I also installed every other update from the same manufacturer’s website.

But, naturally, after spending all afternoon doing so it still made no difference to the ext disc problem!

It seems the only drivers for the ext. drive are those listed as mass storage in Device Manager as provided by XP. No conflict is shown but the Update wizard just hangs if I try to update the drivers.

Thanks very much for your and PeteC’s help.

It’s no great hardship to remember to turn on the ext drive before booting!

Once more I appreciate your efforts on my behalf.

phaseangle

 

That's OK phaseangle.

BUT, handing out instant fixes is not really why I am here. I get most gratification when a questioner takes our suggestions, investigates themselves and solves it for themselves. The investigation has the most positive effect for improving the questioners experience and being able to solve other problems using similar techniques, BECAUSE the perfect computer and operating system has not been built yet

Reformatting and reinstalling everything, then finding the problem is still there, that's time-consuming , but I know that any other bugs that may be present will be "ironed out ". Having updated drivers may avoid any other possible problems and should be carried out if the system is not working "perfectly ", otherwise you may find others appearing.

You have a good mind-set towards the problem. Don't bang your head on it, you will only hurt your head

It is up to the questioner how far they wish to go following possible solutions. The information here though, may possibly help someone else in a similar situation.

Keep investigating when you can. Don't forget what I said about software programs related to [USB] drives.

Matt

 

Possible solution for freezing windows xp on hd usb plug in

Hello everyone,
I found a solution that works for my computer without restoring windows installation.
I had the same problem of phaseangle, when plugged an external hard disk usb and windows was already booted, my system freezed!
Now no more. I tried everything I read over the net but some day ago I had the lucky strike!
The procedure is so simple that trying takes just some minute.
- Go on start menu;
- click Run;
- write services.msc and than press enter;
- in the list you will see, find the "Logical Disk Manager" service[*];
You should see the "Startup type" property set as "Manual ".[**]
If you want just to try if the problem is here, just right click over the name of this service and than press "Run "[*]. Once it starts try to plug in some usb hd. It should work!!!
If so, to make the service working forever just right click over the name of the service and press "Property ". In this new window change the "Startup Type" from "Manual" to "Automatic ".[***]
The trick is done!

[*] I just transleted from my system language to English, I hope it fits!
[**]If not, the trouble could be elsewhere.
[***] The manual startup type should not be "by hand ", it should mean the service starts when it's needed. For some reason I don't understand, this don't happen! Makig it "Automatic" just means it will be loaded at system startup. This takes a little bit of ram, but it's better than brutal shuting down windows.

I'm sorry for my bad English, I hope this could be of help... I was going mad becouse of this.

 

You are welcome I'm happy to be helpful!

Good to know!

Ehehhe lol I'm trying to improve my skills

Bye bye,
Figotto.

PS: if somebody will have problem with my explanation and the post is nomore active, I could help him/her by private message. Even if it's so easy that I don't think there will be troubles