USB card reader problem.

I got a USB multicard reader (X4) and fitted it into the 'B' drive space, hooked it up to a USB port and it worked without a problem for a year.

I needed to use the USB port for something else and when I reconnected it, it resumed working but now halts my computer at boot with a popup 'No disc found in Drive J Continue or Cancel'' and another popup each for 'K' 'L' & 'M' drives.

I like to start the computer early to get through all its auto jobs before I want to use it and now its just sitting there stalled with a silly OK box.

It needed no drivers to install and I use XP Pro

Can anyone tell how I get it back to how it was before?

Thanks

 

Yes. You are right! 4 disc drives shown but they are all checked "Optimise for quick removal ".

I don't understand why unplugging and replugging could trigger such a fundamental clange in behaviour. The irritating part is that it is an internal connection and so hard to get at.

I wish I hadn't

 

Is this before windows starts to load? (It does not sound like this but mentioning it just in case) if so, then it is because you have boot to USB enabled as an option in your bios.

If it is occuring while XP is booting, basically XP has "indexed" the drives and included their index as part of the master file table on your primary hard drive . Thus as it loads, it finds them missing and wants to know if you want to continue without them.
This is part of NTFS, it will index the files on other drives and integrate them with the main drive. This is why you have to "safely remove hardware" with usb devices before you shut down and disconnect them.

 

Brilliant! Spot on! That had escaped my logic burst.

I checked in BIOS and "Check other devices" was indeed checked.
I unchecked it and re-booted -- End of Problem.

Thanks muchly!

Gizmo