Solved USB Flash Drive not picked up

[Lance378]

Hello, all.

Alright, so, here's the deal.

I bought this new USB key (Transcend, 8Gb, JetFlash 300) a few days ago. When I plugged it into my computer, the "ding" sound indicated that the computer picked it up in the USB port. When I go to My Computer, however, nothing is in there.

I tried plugging it in every other USB port on my laptop, nothing different. I tried going into the Disk/Device Manager to assign a different drive letter to it, but it did not show up in there, either.

It's completely invisible. The computer feels it in, but it doesn't show up anywhere.

The best part, however, is that when I came back to the shop to get a refund, the clerk plugged it in into his own computer (running Window XP), and there it ran just fine. So, no refund.

What the heck, guys?

Running Windows Vista Home Basics 32bit

 

[Lottiemansion]

OK,

What updates have you installed on this PC?

Are you fully Windows updated (Vista SP2)?

Compatability test for Windows 7 shows the following :-

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Transcend%20Information%20JetFlash%20300%208GB%20USB%20Flash%20Drive&v=Transcend%20Information&uid=&l=en-US&pf=0&pi=26&c=Storage%20Devices&sc=Flash%2FUSB&os=32-bit

 

[Lance378]

OK,

What updates have you installed on this PC?

Are you fully Windows updated (Vista SP2)?

Compatability test for Windows 7 shows the following :-

Windows 7 Compatibility for Transcend Information Jetflash 300 8GB USB Flash Drive: Transcend Information. Drivers, Updates, Downloads

Yeah, fully updated to SP2.

As for the updates recently installed on this computer, I gotta say it's only what Windows Update has told me to get over the last year, both in "optional" and "important" updates (latest one being KB928439, today).

 

[Lottiemansion]

Ok,

Right click on my computer & manage, continue at the access request.

Then go to disk management, if there is a usb device without a device letter attached to it, allocate one & see what happens. If that isn't the case post a picture of what you see.

 

[Lance378]

So, this is what I see. I'm running a French version of the OS, yeah, but I know my way around with the English terms. The blank "disk" I have selected is there whether or not the USB key is in the port. All it says when I right-click on it is "Help". And D: and F: are in fact one and the same.

 

[Lottiemansion]

OK,

Now go to device manager & post the USB devices picture. (orange triangles)?

 

[Lance378]

No orange triangles. But the one I have highlighted is the thing associated to where I plug the USB key in.

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

I would go & update your drivers. What PC do you have? Manufacturer, model, spec etc.

Have installed any of the USB driver sets from the microsoft update website?

Do you have a link to the manufacturers website so you can download the driver updates from there?

 

[Lance378]

I tried updating my drivers, including the RealTek one, but it does nothing. At best, the H: drive flicker back into My Computer during the update, then disappears right afterward. And then, when I go check the properties of the driver associated to where the USB key is plugged in, it always shows up as the previous version of the driver (something back from December 2008); i.e., not the one I just installed/updated (which is from June 2010).

As for the Microsoft Update website, it hasn't been very helpful. I couldn't find any set of USB drivers there. If you happen to have a direct link, though, that would be incredibly helpful.

As for the USB key manufacturer, they don't have any kind of driver to give with their key. At best, they have an Online Recovery tool, but since my computer can't even pick up the key itself to begin with, it's useless.

System and specs:

Dell Inspiron 1545
RAM: 3 Gb
OS: Vista Home Basics 32bits
Service Pak 2
CPU: Intel Pentium Dual CPU T3400 (2.16 Ghz)

I'm really at a loss.

 

[Lorien]

I'm slightly confused. Why are you plugging a normal USB Flash Drive into a USB Card Reader and not directly into an ordinary USB Port? Why do you think the flash drive is associated at all with the Realtek USB Card Reader?

The question about the Microsoft update driver was more to make sure you had not done it than to provide a driver. As far as I know, a USB Flash Drive is plug-and-play and doesn't require a special driver installation (which is probably why they don't have one for downloading).

Please download the manual for the USB device at: Welcome to Transcend Website and thoroughly read the installation instructions and troubleshooting guidelines (I'd have given a more specific link, but I didn't know the specific details of your device). Maybe you will find a hint there about your troubles or some step you are missing.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

 

[Lance378]

Alright, I think I finally solved the problem. I have no idea if it will work for a long time, but for the time being, it is satisfactory.

I plugged the key into another computer, which ran Windows XP. By what I could see, the key came with a built-in management software from Transcend, which--as I have read in similar threads relating to similar issues--are problematic with Vista. So I formatted the USB key in Windows XP, ran the Online Recovery tool from Transcend,

and now, when I plug it into my laptop, it is finally picked up and functions properly.

Hopefully, this will last.

Thanks to everyone who spent some of their time trying to help me out on this.