USB plugged in but not connected AT ALL

Hi,

I'm using a 4GB SanDisk Cruzer Titanium USB drive with U3 installed and i purchased it in August, 2008.

It was always working in a good condition until suddenly yesterday when it was plugged and connected to the computer and I was working, when I wanted to save, i realized the light on my USB has gone off.

I thought it was probably because I moved it when i was changing my sitting position so i just try to put it in the right place. It wasn't connected. So i took it out and tried to plug it in again, and it's still not connected. Then I plugged it on my friend's computer and other computers around and even went to any other PCs to plug it in the USB port and it was NEVER connected since then..

I have IMPORTANT projects and proposals that I must take out.. because it was just updated at the day it didn't work i have no backup at all..

I can't recover any files because it's not even CONNECTED..

I'm in serious trouble, please help me!
any other questions please ask I'll tell you about my problems I really need to get my files out!

Evelyn

 

Hi,

I'd say you were out of luck I'm afraid, there's not a lot you can do about repairing memory sticks without spending a horrendous amount of money.

You've already tried the options I would do except perhaps check the USB connection on the stick make sure the contacts are clean of dust etc and if you can, clean them with a pencil eraser rubbing down the contacts not across, You will need to dismantle it to do this and to be honest it's a last ditch attempt.

Just remember in future to keep backups of all important data.

 

Presumably XP and probably kaput, but……………..

I am (still) compiling a list of possible solutions in the fight against USB (Unreliable Serial Bus) problems. Make sure your computer is free from malware before trying them. These cover a variety of devices and some may not be relevant to your problem and some you may have already attempted. I have removed from the list items that definitely won’t help you. Even so, the list is long but don’t be intimidated by it as many of them may not apply to your error. Read through and/or print the list and try any that seem significant. In no particular sequence, they are:

2. Access Device Manager by going to Start > Run, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to see if the drive appears under "˜Disk drives‘. If it does, right-click it > Properties > Policies Tab and check if you have a "˜Quick Removable’ check box. A USB external "˜drive’ should have a check in this box. Restart the computer if you change anything.
4. If it’s a storage device, right-click My Computer > Manage > Disk Management. Right-click the disk’s graphic icon and change the drive letter to one nearer the end of the alphabet. If it doesn’t have a letter, assign one to it.
7. If you have one, or can get hold of one, try booting a "˜Live’ Linux CD to determine whether the problems are hardware or operating system related, i.e. if your USB ports work in Linux, then it isn't a hardware problem. Test the ports by plugging in a mouse or, in Ubuntu, look in Places > Computer for a disk drive. A common hardware problem is a bad connection caused by repeated off-angle insertions and removals. Where possible plug the device into an extension lead rather than mess around on the floor trying to plug it in.
9. I‘ve been told that certain files should be in the hidden folder C:\WINDOWS\inf. I have 8 names each with an extension of .INF and .PNF, i.e. 16 files altogether: irstusb, usb, usbport, usbprint, usbstor, usbvideo, wceusbsh and wdma_usb.
10. Also, these driver files are present in Windows\system32\drivers\. They have an extension of SYS and there are 13 of them: usb8023, usbcamd, usbcamd2, usbccgp, usbd, usbehci, usbhub, usbintel, usbport, usbprint, usbscan usbstor and usbuhci. If any are missing or corrupt, look in the ServicePack or i386 folders for copies. If more than one exists, use the one with the latest date. Alternatively, copy them from a computer running the same operating system and service pack, e.g. XP Home SP3. (This also applies to the INF and PNF files above).
11. Remove static electricity by turning the computer off and remove the mains lead (also remove the battery if it’s a laptop). Press and hold the on/off button on the computer for ten seconds. Whilst the computer is turned off, discharge the static from the actual USB ports by touching them whilst touching something metallic. Plug in the lead (and laptop battery) and start the computer as normal. You may have to reset the system date/time on a laptop. Also, it can be useful to clean the USB ports and the individual device connectors using a lint-free cloth.
17. The device may be identified as "˜Unknown’, so go to Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices. Expand the USB section and right-click each Unknown Device and choose Uninstall. Restart the computer. Plug the device in and the drivers should be installed.
19. Here is another registry change, so you may want to create a system restore point before making the change. Go to Start > Run, type regedit, press Enter and navigate to registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ In the left pane, click hidusb and look in the right pane for a key named Start which should have a value of 3. If it’s not, right-click it > Modify and make it 3. A value of 4 indicates that it is "˜Disabled’.
Scroll down in the left pane for other keys beginning with USB (probably 8+ occurrences), click them all in turn and check that Start has a value of 3. If you change any, restart the computer and then plug in a USB device.
21. Go to Start > Run, type services.msc and press Enter. Scroll down to the Plug and Play service and make sure it is set to Automatic and that it is running.
24. Here are two websites to look at; Everything USB forum here http://www.everythingusb.com/forums/ and troubleshooting tips here http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#write_protected
27. If the device doesn’t initialise at startup or Windows stops responding at Startup or Shutdown, have a look here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830957
28. Try an "˜Autoplay’ repair here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...-a171-1b389cfacdad&displaylang=en&Hash=LJ6SCR
31. Windows does not detect your new USB device. Another registry key change http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314634/en-us