HELP!! My USB drives don't appear to be working.

Ok I went to Pompeii today and have hundreds of pics on my Motorola Droid that I want to transfer to my computer. When I normally plug my phone in it asks me to mount the SD card and well it doesn't even do that. I even plugged in my iPhone and it won't read that and it also won't read my camera when I plug that in. I tried a couple cords of my bf's and it didn't read those either. I have two USB ports and neither will read a thing. The ports worked fine yesterday when I downloaded 400 pics off of my phone. I just figured out how to download pics and video off of my phone without it downloading everything on the card...now it wont do anything!!! I need these pics! They are amazing and I want to share with everyone but I can't get the damn USB ports to read anything. I have updated my system and turned everything on and off and it still won't read a thing..


Any ideas? Oh keep in mind I am NOT computer literate I am a at a level one when it comes to PC's so be nice

reply to post by mblahnikluver


You have made your feelings towards PC's known many many times.

I think that it's taking revenge on you now...

Really sorry but I don't have any idea how to solve your problem, but am glad that you are enjoying your trip and can't wait to see your pics.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


Are you using Windows or MAC?...and what version (i.e Vista/XP)

Originally posted by arrus75
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

Are you using Windows or MAC?...and what version (i.e Vista/XP)

I am on an Acer Aspire 5517 running Windows 7


I have been googling to find out and well that is confusing too.


I don't get it. They worked fine yesterday.

what you will want to do is see if plugging your phone into a diff comp works, if it does your comp is the issue, just reinstall the usb driver or reformat your comp pretty simple

reply to post by mblahnikluver


FIRST you need to open the 'Device Manager'

1 Click on the Start button and then choose Control Panel.

2 Click on the 'System and Security' link.
(If you don't see this link, then just click 'Device Manager' and skip step 3)

3 In the System and Security window, click on the Device Manager link located under the System heading.

Let me know if you see any yellow Exclamation marks

May sound silly, but the first step in troubleshooting a PC issue is to reboot the machine....

I am assuming that you have already done this, right?!?

reply to post by arrus75


No exclamations.

I have rebooted it.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


Ummm......you don't want my advice....I am STILL posting via my ps3.I"ll give you advice but it does involve ablunt object and abit of a swing.

reply to post by mblahnikluver



Ok...in Device Manager, click on the plus sign next to 'USB Serial Bus Controllers'

it should show a list of a bunch of USB stuff

now, you need to Disable and Re-enable each item;
one by one, right click on each item and click 'Disable', then do it again and click 'Enable'

When it's all re-enabled, shut down the PC, unplug it, wait a few seconds, plug back in and start up

reply to post by arrus75


Damn we have tried that already and it didn't work.

What if I do a restore to a couple days ago?? Could that help? Also if I do, will I lose pictures I added yesterday?

I appreciate the help btw


Drums, lmao I KNEW you were gonna suggest that...believe me thoughts like that are crossing my mind...Mt. Vesuvius looks nice right about now!

Click Start-> Run and type Devmgmt.msc, and this will open up the Device Management. Click to select your computer as the location for the scan. Right click on the computer and click Scan for hardware changes, you can also do this from the actions menu.
Most probably Windows will be able to detect the problem and recognize your USB drive.
If not....

Click Start-> Run, type Devmgmt.msc, opening the Device Management. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and right click on the USB drive which is showing error or not recognized issue.
Select properties from the right click menu and select the Power Management tab. Click to clear the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” check box, and then click OK. Now from the the Action menu, click Scan for hardware changes

If you are still not able to solve the problem, power off the machine, disconnect the USB, pull the battery), and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Restart your PC and it should be able to detect the USB. In this case you are actually restarting the mother board by removing the power and this should solve the issue in most of the cases.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


A Restore might work actually, and you wont lose your photos

Pompeii is a very interesting place.

Was there 30 years ago.

I have no idea why your USB is not working though.

Try a restore point when your system did work.

Also use "my computer" and verify that your usb is not working.

There is a good possibility that when you insert your sd card it just is not telling you.

Originally posted by memnoch25
Click Start-> Run and type Devmgmt.msc, and this will open up the Device Management. Click to select your computer as the location for the scan. Right click on the computer and click Scan for hardware changes, you can also do this from the actions menu.
Most probably Windows will be able to detect the problem and recognize your USB drive.
If not....

Click Start-> Run, type Devmgmt.msc, opening the Device Management. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and right click on the USB drive which is showing error or not recognized issue.
Select properties from the right click menu and select the Power Management tab. Click to clear the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” check box, and then click OK. Now from the the Action menu, click Scan for hardware changes

If you are still not able to solve the problem, power off the machine, disconnect the USB, pull the battery), and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Restart your PC and it should be able to detect the USB. In this case you are actually restarting the mother board by removing the power and this should solve the issue in most of the cases.

Ok I did everything but the last part and so far nadda lol So I am going to disconnect and let it sit.

Thanks again!!!

reply to post by mblahnikluver


The only other thing I can think of is to go back to Device Manager, to that USB listing...and actually delete your USB Controllers and reboot...it will force the system to reinstall the USB controller drivers...my only worry is if for some reason it can't find the drivers to reinstall, but that probably won't happen.

Good luck

reply to post by arrus75


Well I did this and it still isn't working lol

I will try a restore, after that then I have no clue....go figure when I have real pics to load it won't work.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

Sorry I couldn't be more help!

Hope you get it working, I would love to see those pics

Good Luck!!!

reply to post by mblahnikluver


Hi

Firstly
Go back into device manager and right click on each USB Host Controller and uninstall - until there are no USB devices left, each controller removed will also remove a USB hub.

Secondly update the BIOS on the laptop - download, extract and run the latest version from this website
Acer 5517 BIOS Update

Then reboot the laptop - when you go back into windows the O/S should automatically detect and install all the USB Devices again. Once this is done connect your USB Device again and all should be working.

The same thing happened to me a few days before xmas- I plugged my Iphone in and USB drives just stopped working, I tried all you did, system restore etc, but it wasnt until I uninstalled all USB devices and then updated my BIOS that it all started playing ball again.

Hope that also works for you - we dont have the same laptops but I suspect this will do the trick...

Let me know....