USB drives don't work

[aimeeandbeatles]

Okay, there is a funny problem with my computer. Whenever I insert a USB drive, nothing happens. I know two things for sure.

1. It's not the drive. I tried several different ones. (Two Flash drives and a portable hard drive.)
2. It's not the port. Other USB devices (mouses and webcams) work in it, and I tried all of the ports.

Anybody know what it is? I'm really stuck. I think it may be my computer doesn't like new removable drives, but I dont know. And I tried the Windows Troubleshooter, and google doesnt get anything useful.

 

[Cutlass]

There's more than 1 USB standard. Have you checked the drivers?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The drivers are up-to-date. I know my portable HD takes USB 2.0, don't know about the others.

 

[Cutlass]

Can you say anything more? Don't have enough to go on.

 

[toda]

Do the USB ports come from a controller card or straight off the motherboard? There's nothing like USB hub at play, right?

 

[Turner]

Possible you have a drive conflict. Start -> Right Click on My Computer and select Manage. Find the Drive Management plug in, and see if your USB drives are listed there, but not assigned a drive letter. If so, you can reassign them to a drive letter that is not in use (of course, you couldn't assign them one that *is* in use...) and it should be visible.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

There are two USB ports in the front, and 3-4 in the back. I'm not sure exactly because I can't get into the back without pulling it out, and it's heavy. (Some of them are in use.)
here's a screenshot from my Device Manager

Spoiler :

and Computer Management

Spoiler :

Another note: USB Drives did work before. I don't remember the point where they stopped.

 

[Speedo]

Do the drives actually not work or is autoplay just disabled for them?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I opened My Computer, and there was nothing there when I plugged them in. I waited about 15 minutes and gave up.
Other USB devices work.

 

[Turner]

Did you try going to the disk management plug in and seeing if they showed up there?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Nothing shows up. I tried all USB ports.

 

[LucyDuke]

What operating system?

 

[Turner]

Some flavor of Windows....

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Windows XP home.

 

[GoodGame]

This isn't one of your antique computers is it? The first thing is to be sure that the version of USB standard matches (2.0, 1.1, 1.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus ). And if the particular USB slot is old (like a decade) it still might not see the USB device even if the device supports multiple USB standards.

Otherwise I think it is something to do with drivers, and the USB drivers are in XP and generic. Does it work sometimes if you log-off/login with the USB device plugged in? Sometimes that does the trick to getting XP to see the device.
Other driver possibility is that the device has some special security/properties that it needs a proprietary driver be loaded before the device.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It's my new one, although the USB does work in the old one.
I'll try rebooting with it in, but I have to wait till the flooring is put in cos I can't get to the tower... LOL! The room is a mess.