USB 2.0 Flash drive cannot be read by my computer

I have a Windows XP VGN-FE690P Sony Vaio laptop that I got a few months ago. However, it doesn't appear to recognize my USB 2.0 flash drive. It works fine with USB 1.1, but when I put in 2.0, it says it has detected new hardware, but cannot find the right drivers. I tried getting the drivers off the manufacturer website, but they only have W98 drivers .

I'm not sure what to do and the situation is pretty weird since I would think a laptop that is only a few months old should easily support USB 2.0

 

I doubt it is a driver issue.

As to whether your laptop supports USB 2.0:

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Expand the USB controller section near the bottom.

What do you see listed as the controller names?
There should be an “Enhanced" USB host controller present.

The "high speed" part of USB 2.0 host controllers uses the EHCI programming model, while the normal speeds from USB 1.x are run on UHCI or OHCI controllers.

So if your Device Manager isn't listing an "Enhanced Host Controller" in the USB section, then you don't have USB 2.0. In the View, "Devices by Connection" view, you'll also see what peripherals run on what controllers.

The way it works is this:

Immediately when plugging a USB device in, the controller senses whether it's a Low, Full, or High Speed device. (High is faster than Full. Don't ask.)

Now, if a USB device is connecting to a USB 2.0 port, the device type is sensed. If it is a High Speed device, this particular port is handed over to the one EHCI controller in the system for High Speed USB 2.0 operation. Else, the port remains on the UHCI or OHCI controller that "owns" this port for Low or Full speed USB 1.1 operation.

 

I do see an enhanced USB Host controller and when I go to Devices by Connections, it shows "USB 2.0 FD" under that controller when I put the flash drive in. However, it doesn't appear under My Computer. I should mention that I am using a USB mouse for my laptop, but I tried unplugging it and that doesn't change the situation at all.

The full name of the enhanced host controller is "Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC "

I have 5 other USB Universal Host Controllers numbered 27DF, 27C8, 27C9, 27CA, and 27CB.

EDIT: I just checked and the mouse is using one of the Universal Host Controllers, so that further confirms that is not causing any issues. Furthermore, the drive can be read just fine by my dad's computer, so it must be something with my computer.

 

I would not think the mouse had anything to do with it. I was asking you to determine and to re-assure you that you had a real USB 2.0 port above.

Remove the Upper and Lower filters: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196
Be sure to reboot.

 

Thank you. Just to be safe, I want to clarify something before I go ahead and delete the keys.

I was told the keys were under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E980-E325 11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

My question is do I delete those two folders in regedit or are the keys somewhere inside those folders. It's just that I can't find anything inside saying UpperFilters and LowerFilters.

 

There is guided help available for this chore. Download: http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=aw;en-us;314060&eula=1

The discussion is in relation to issues with CD Drives, but the registry entry issue is identical to the USB pen drive case.

 

I ran the guided help and it deleted the registry keys (Running it a second time says they don't exist) and restarted my computer, but the USB drive still does not work. Is there anything else I could do to fix the problem?

EDIT: I went back to regedit afterwards and saw an UpperFilter in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\{4D36E980-E325 11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} that I deleted. When I restart my computer, the USB still doesn't work, but I see 4 new Local Disks. One has a lot of Sony stuff like drivers and the other two are not formatted. I'm not sure if the unformatted ones have anything to do with the Ubuntu Linux installation I have.

Could anybody tell me why these new drives popped up and if it is a good or bad sign?

 

You removed the Class filter from floppy disks.

Please do not randomly start deleting filters. You can easily find yourself with an unstartable machine.

If you have System Restore enabled, use a restore point to replace the filter you removed.

This does mean afterwards redoing Guided setup.

When your filters are restored or removed as the case may be, could you tell use the manufactuer and model of this pen drive?

Unplug the pen drive.

Then download the Nirsoft utility USBDeview
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

Use this to remove any entry for old devices, including the problematic pen drive.

Reboot.
Insert the pen drive and try again.

 

Oops! Luckily, I had a system restore point only yesterday, which made it pretty easy. I uninstalled all the old devices using USBDeview, but that didn't help. Now, my USB mouse is recognized, but the driver for it cannot be found, so the mouse doesn't work. I think I have a CD with the mouse driver though.

The manufacturer for the pen drive is Attache and it is the USB 2.0 2GB model.

EDIT: I got the mouse drivers from the Kensington site and the mouse works fine again.

 

For you mouse, use Device Management.
Find the mouse entry.
Right click and uninstall.
Reboot. XP will find the drivers and reinstall it.

For the pen drive issue:
Use Device Management and remove the Root Hub entries under USB Controllers.

Insert the pen drive.

Reboot.

This will force a running of the New Hardware Wizard.

When it completes, right click My Computer, Properties, Manage, and open Disk Management.

Click Action, Scan hardware.

Does the drive now appear near the bottom of the listing?

Question: have you every run TweakUI, the Microsoft Powertoy, and disabled unused drive letters? If so, run TweakUi again and re-enable the drive letters.

 

The mouse was working again before I removed all the Root Hub entries. After the restart, I let the hardware wizard run (it didn't find any drivers). Installing Kensington MouseWorks (which made the mouse run before) has no effect now.

When I was following the instructions to do Scan Hardware, I right clicked My Computer and clicked Properties, but I didn't see it say Manage anywhere.

 

My bad: right click My Computer, Manage, and open Disk Management.

 

no USB 2

You may need to install motherboard drivers.
You may have a disc that came with the computer.
Or go the manufacturer's website.
As well you need Windows SP ( at least SP1) for the drivers in those disks to work.
As well is the drive formatted for windows ?
Anything above Windows 98 SE should be caught automatically.
Takes a moment to install.
Just out of interest for those with Windows 98 SE.
Often the drives do not list Windows 98 as supported.
Most of the time there is a driver for the product line on the website that will work ( it was meant for older smaller versions of the usb drives).
However I had one deal - a 32 MB gateway brand usb stick.
No matter what there were no drivers for Windows 98 for it.

 

Maybe ignorance is bliss, but I would have thought that you would have tried another USB 2.0 flash drive (one by a different manufacturer) in your USB port to be sure that your flash drive is not defective before putting the blame on your laptop. Have you tried that? or have you tried your flash drive in another computer to see that it is recognized as USB 2.0?

 

The drive does not appear near the bottom of the listing when I do Scan Hardware. By the way, I never used the TweakUI that you mentioned.

ackerberg, I have tried both of those and it seems that the problem is with my computer.

visionof, I have a drive with Windows XP and sp2, but it could be the motherboard.

I might try contacting Sony and see if they can help me.