Vista - USB Flash drives not recognized

TMi wrote:

>> Any interesting messages in
>> C:\windows\inf\setupapi.app.log or setupapi.dev.log?

> Here somme examples
>
> 1)
> dvi: Enumerating INFs from path list 'C:\Windows\INF'
> !!! inf: Error searching published INFs - likely system corruption!

Well, that doesn't sound very good. Have you tried chkdisk on your
C: drive?

> 2)
> !!! sto: Inf file does not contain CatalogFile directive
> for the specified processor architecture. Inf = e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf
> inf: Opened INF: 'e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf' ([strings]

Why is Vista looking on the E: drive for Vista drivers? Did you ever
tell it to look there?

Are there any references to e:\ in your Registry?

> Well, that doesn't sound very good. Have you tried chkdisk on your
> C: drive?
A. Yes, it's ok

> Why is Vista looking on the E: drive for Vista drivers? Did you ever
> tell it to look there?
A. I don't know, E: is my 2nd HD with Windows XP

My USB are still working fine ... if i wait 1-10mn ! my old good
floppy drive is quicker ;-)

Other thing, sometimes it takes 5 min to finish to close Vista, just at the
final step when the screen is yet black. This occur 1 time upon 5-10.
Other thing : if i boot with my USB yet in, it's ok, if i retsart a session
it's also ok.

"Don" <don195702@hotmail.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:O3EG8pZbHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> TMi wrote:
>
>>> Any interesting messages in
>>> C:\windows\inf\setupapi.app.log or setupapi.dev.log?
>
>> Here somme examples
>>
>> 1)
>> dvi: Enumerating INFs from path list 'C:\Windows\INF'
>> !!! inf: Error searching published INFs - likely system corruption!
>
> Well, that doesn't sound very good. Have you tried chkdisk on your
> C: drive?
>
>> 2)
>> !!! sto: Inf file does not contain CatalogFile directive
>> for the specified processor architecture. Inf =
>> e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf
>> inf: Opened INF: 'e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf' ([strings]
>
> Why is Vista looking on the E: drive for Vista drivers? Did you ever
> tell it to look there?
>
> Are there any references to e:\ in your Registry?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Solution ?
The remote control software of my TV card was slowering the shutdown of
Vista. I've supress it automatic load from the registry. Now Vista close
without problem (not tested more than 4-6 time).
It seems, that now my USB keys are quikly recognised and that there is no
more pb !?

So a solution can be to check carefully all other hardware/software devices.
There is a lot which are not fully compatible (even if announced to be
compatible). For example my TV Terratec Cinergy T2, Speefan (not ok on one
of my PC, making it crashing sometimes).
What is tricky is the fact that there not a clear strong problem, it's just
a quite irreproducable instability.

Hope this can help or give some idea.


"TMi" <egosum@wanadoo.fr> a écrit dans le message de
news6C5D651-6CF3-43F6-9515-5356396D651B@microsoft.com...
>> Well, that doesn't sound very good. Have you tried chkdisk on your
>> C: drive?
> A. Yes, it's ok
>
>> Why is Vista looking on the E: drive for Vista drivers? Did you ever
>> tell it to look there?
> A. I don't know, E: is my 2nd HD with Windows XP
>
> My USB are still working fine ... if i wait 1-10mn ! my old good
> floppy drive is quicker ;-)
>
> Other thing, sometimes it takes 5 min to finish to close Vista, just at
> the final step when the screen is yet black. This occur 1 time upon 5-10.
> Other thing : if i boot with my USB yet in, it's ok, if i retsart a
> session it's also ok.
>
> "Don" <don195702@hotmail.com> a écrit dans le message de
> news:O3EG8pZbHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> TMi wrote:
>>
>>>> Any interesting messages in
>>>> C:\windows\inf\setupapi.app.log or setupapi.dev.log?
>>
>>> Here somme examples
>>>
>>> 1)
>>> dvi: Enumerating INFs from path list 'C:\Windows\INF'
>>> !!! inf: Error searching published INFs - likely system
>>> corruption!
>>
>> Well, that doesn't sound very good. Have you tried chkdisk on your
>> C: drive?
>>
>>> 2)
>>> !!! sto: Inf file does not contain CatalogFile directive
>>> for the specified processor architecture. Inf =
>>> e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf
>>> inf: Opened INF: 'e:\windows\inf\usbstor.inf' ([strings]
>>
>> Why is Vista looking on the E: drive for Vista drivers? Did you ever
>> tell it to look there?
>>
>> Are there any references to e:\ in your Registry?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

I have tracked the problem down to the order in which USB devices are
connected. I have a 256 Gig Simpletech USB backup disk. If it is connected
first, Vista Ultimate will not recognize ANY subsequent insertion of USB
flash drives (tried several brands and sizes). If I disconnect the
Simpletech, i can insert USB flash drives and they will be recognised.
Furthermore if I connect the USB flash drive first and then the Simpletech
drive, both will work.

FYI I am running a Dell Inspiron 9200 with 1 gig memory and all Vista
updates have been applied.

"Don" wrote:

> ke3pup wrote:
> > i have the same problem with my Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4GB . i use Vista
> > Ultimate on both my Laptop and Desktop. on my laptop as soon as i insert the
> > USB card Vista detects it and assigns it as a Driver. but on my Desktop it
> > prompts for drivers?...
>
> Quite a few people are having the same problem with USB sticks, which
> appears to be a Vista bug in need of a fix. I'd like to track it down,
> but I can't reproduce the problem. If either of you feel geeky enough
> to do some debugging, I have some ideas to try -- but a basic knowledge
> of the Registry would be helpful, otherwise it might be too confusing
> for a beginner.
>

Dave T wrote:
> ...I have a 256 Gig Simpletech USB backup disk. If it is connected
> first, Vista Ultimate will not recognize ANY subsequent insertion of USB
> flash drives (tried several brands and sizes). If I disconnect the
> Simpletech, i can insert USB flash drives and they will be recognised.
> Furthermore if I connect the USB flash drive first and then the Simpletech
> drive, both will work.

Certainly sounds to me like a bug in Vista which needs fixing. The only
other thing I can think of would be a BIOS problem in need of an update,
but that's pure speculation on my part. Might be interesting to see if
your computer's BIOS recognizes these various devices (or not) depending
on which of them is plugged in at boot time.

I am running the latest DELL BIOS release, but that does not say Dell does
not have a problem. I am not sure how to check if BIOS recognises USB
devices, as requested. The BIOS setup does not list drives.

If I boot with the 256 USB drive and a flash connected, Vista displays
message that it is looking for a driver cannot find one. It then does no
recognise flash stick. The 256 works fine

The USB flash memory worked under XP on the same computer and hardware
configuration. The upgrade to Vista was a clean install with partitions
droped and a single new partition created. To me this points to Vista issue,
potentially linked to loading large USB memory device.





"Don" wrote:

> Dave T wrote:
> > ...I have a 256 Gig Simpletech USB backup disk. If it is connected
> > first, Vista Ultimate will not recognize ANY subsequent insertion of USB
> > flash drives (tried several brands and sizes). If I disconnect the
> > Simpletech, i can insert USB flash drives and they will be recognised.
> > Furthermore if I connect the USB flash drive first and then the Simpletech
> > drive, both will work.
>
> Certainly sounds to me like a bug in Vista which needs fixing. The only
> other thing I can think of would be a BIOS problem in need of an update,
> but that's pure speculation on my part. Might be interesting to see if
> your computer's BIOS recognizes these various devices (or not) depending
> on which of them is plugged in at boot time.
>
>

Dave T wrote:
> I am running the latest DELL BIOS release, but that does not say Dell does
> not have a problem. I am not sure how to check if BIOS recognises USB
> devices, as requested. The BIOS setup does not list drives.
>
> If I boot with the 256 USB drive and a flash connected, Vista displays
> message that it is looking for a driver cannot find one...

Ah, new evidence. Try this workaround for a known Vista bug:

Delete the file C:\windows\inf\INFCACHE.1 which may well be corrupted.
(You will first need to edit its file permissions to grant Full Control
to the Users group.)

Even if it doesn't help, it won't hurt anything either.

No change after delete. Same behavior. Will not recognize USB flash memory
stick

"Don" wrote:

> Dave T wrote:
> > I am running the latest DELL BIOS release, but that does not say Dell does
> > not have a problem. I am not sure how to check if BIOS recognises USB
> > devices, as requested. The BIOS setup does not list drives.
> >
> > If I boot with the 256 USB drive and a flash connected, Vista displays
> > message that it is looking for a driver cannot find one...
>
> Ah, new evidence. Try this workaround for a known Vista bug:
>
> Delete the file C:\windows\inf\INFCACHE.1 which may well be corrupted.
> (You will first need to edit its file permissions to grant Full Control
> to the Users group.)
>
> Even if it doesn't help, it won't hurt anything either.
>
>

Dave T wrote:
> No change after delete. Same behavior. Will not recognize USB flash memory
> stick

Hmpf! Well, returning to the BIOS question, my own BIOS (several years
old) will let me change the order of available bootable devices. I
don't have multiple USB boot devices to test, but I figured you might
be able to glean some information about which USB boot devices your
BIOS recognizes by booting multiple times and seeing what devices your
BIOS will let you pick from while trying different combinations.
(I've never tried this myself...)

>
> "Don" wrote:
>
>> Dave T wrote:
>>> I am running the latest DELL BIOS release, but that does not say Dell does
>>> not have a problem. I am not sure how to check if BIOS recognises USB
>>> devices, as requested. The BIOS setup does not list drives.
>>>
>>> If I boot with the 256 USB drive and a flash connected, Vista displays
>>> message that it is looking for a driver cannot find one...
>> Ah, new evidence. Try this workaround for a known Vista bug:
>>
>> Delete the file C:\windows\inf\INFCACHE.1 which may well be corrupted.
>> (You will first need to edit its file permissions to grant Full Control
>> to the Users group.)
>>
>> Even if it doesn't help, it won't hurt anything either.
>>
>>

On Apr 17, 9:16 pm, Don <don195...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Dave T wrote:
> > ...I have a 256 Gig SimpletechUSBbackup disk. If it is connected
> > first, Vista Ultimate willnotrecognize ANY subsequent insertion ofUSB
> > flash drives (tried several brands and sizes). If I disconnect the
> > Simpletech, i can insertUSBflash drives and they will be recognised.
> > Furthermore if I connect theUSBflash drive first and then the Simpletech
> > drive, both will work.
>
> Certainly sounds to me like a bug in Vista which needs fixing. The only
> other thing I can think of would be a BIOS problem in need of an update,
> but that's pure speculation on my part. Might be interesting to see if
> your computer's BIOS recognizes these various devices (ornot) depending
> on which of them is plugged in at boot time.

Has anyone tried this yet? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925528