I have a Gateway 710X running Windows XP Home Edition which has been
patched up-to-date. Connected to this is a Western Digital 80Gb
external hard drive (Model Nr WD800B005-RNN).
The drive had been connected to the USB port for a long time without
any problems in access. Tonight, however, it seemed to have been
discovered as disconnected, and we reconnected the USB cable.
Upon reconnection, we get pop-up windows in the lower right corner
which state:
(1) Found New Hardwa USB Device
then switches to
(2) Found New Hardwa Unknown Device
then appears
(3) Found New Hardwa Your new hardware is installed and ready to
use
then appears
(4) USB Device Not Recognized: One of the USB devices attached to this
computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. For
assistance in solving this problem, click this message.
Sure enough, when I check "My Computer", the "K" Drive (which is what
the drive was normally associated with) does not appear.
I check the "Device Manager" under "Universal Serial Bus Controllers"
and note an "Unknown Device" listed.
I have attempted the following actions thus far:
(1) Uninstall (Result: Successful)
(2) Scan for Hardware Changes (Result: Above 4 Pop-up Windows)
(3) Update Driver (Result: Cannot Continue the Hardare Update Wizard -
The wizard could not find a better match for your hardware than the
software you currently have installed)
(4) Visit Microsoft site to check for XP compatibility with WD drive
model (Result: Compatible)
(5) Visit Western Digital site to check for specific driver for this
drive (Result: Downloaded - even though the comment stated that it was
not necessary if running Windows XP)
(6) Updated Registry (regedt32)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Enum
USB
I then compared the "Unknown Device Properties" from with "Device
Manager" and derived "USB\VID_0000&PID_0000\5" which enabled me to
locate "Vid_0000&Pid_0000" within the USB directory of the Registry.
I then looked within the directories (below) and found that this, in
fact, equated to "Unknown Device". I then right-clicked on
"Vid_0000&Pid_0000" and changed permissions to allow "Full Control"
then deleted that directory in its entirety. I rebooted the computer,
then allowed a recognition of the hard drive. Again, the four (4)
pop-up windows appeared as above. I refreshed the Registry, and saw
that "Vid_0000&Pid_0000" reappeared (as expected).
The following specifics appear within that hierarchy:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Enum
USB
Vid_0000&Pid_0000
5
Control
Device Parameters
LogConf
And within each of these a
Vid_0000&Pid_0000
=====
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
5
=====
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
Capabilities REG_DWORD 0x00000014(20)
Class REG_SZ USB
ClassGUID REG_SZ {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}
CompatibleIDs REG_MULTI_SZ USB\UNKNOWN
ConfigFlags REG_DWORD 0x00000000(0)
DeviceDesc REG_SZ Unknown Device
Driver REG_SZ {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}\0029
HardwareID REG_MULTI_SZ USB\UNKNOWN
LocationInformation REG_SZ USB Device
Mfg REG_SZ (Standard USB Host Controller)
UINumber REG_DWORD 0x00000000(0)
Control
=====
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
Device Parameters
=====
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
ExtPropDescSemaphore REG_DWORD 0x00000001(1)
LogConf
=====
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
Is there anything that the above data/info can point to with regards to
what is happening and/or how to resolve? My main concern is being able
to access the data on this external hard drive and that it is not lost
forever.
I will take the hard drive and plug it into a different computer
tomorrow with my fingers crossed for better results. If I am able to
access the data, then that will calm down my heart rate greatly, and
I'll have no issue with rebuilding the Gateway from scratch
(reinstalling Windows XP). But I was just hoping that someone could
save me some time and maybe point me in the right direction before I
need to do that.
Many thanks.
Unfortunately, I do not have access to Google Groups at work. They set
Google Groups off-limits (via SmartFilter) which I think is totally
STUPID, but, don't get me started on THAT topic. Anyway, if you wish
to respond to me via e-mail, that would be great.
And, I'll be sure to submit a follow-up to this thread on any items
that are received and seem to fix the problem.
Thanks again.
Richard