View Full Version : None of my USB drives work on vista? WTF?
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 12:05 PM
I just got a deal on a new acer computer, however, it was probably a display unit and there are no boxes/manuals/cds that come with it just the machine. It has vista home premium preloaded.
When I try to attach a usb flash drive or a usb external hard drive it tells me I need to install drivers blah blah so I let it sort it out automatically, go to windows update etc and it comes up with nothing. It says it can't find any drivers.
Is this a common problem? I have a built-in card reader and it works perfectly fine. I really want to use my HD and flash drive to transfer my old files back over. Any help would be great.
Ojam
Mar 4th, 2007, 12:44 PM
Is it saying device driver not installed properly? I've had that happen a few times and just say it did, and it works fine.
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:11 PM
Is it saying device driver not installed properly? I've had that happen a few times and just say it did, and it works fine.
Not exactly, this is what happens:
Found new hardware -> Locate and Install Driver software -> Insert Disc (I don't have one) -> Check for solution -> Unable to install "Mass Storage Device"...Windows could not find driver software for your device.
I can't see it when I look in My Computer there's no drive and on the device manager it says it is not installed correctly. Ugh.
TigerEROS
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:13 PM
It's because Vista SUCKS!
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:36 PM
It's because Vista SUCKS!
Thanks for the help you rock!
Looking for useful opinions please. Vista was preloaded onto my machine if I had the choice I would be on good old XP pro.
Ojam
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:39 PM
Are they Verbatim?
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:51 PM
Are they Verbatim?
Well my external HD is a WD 60gb in a Kingwin case (works perfectly on a XP machine) and the flash drive is a 256mb lexar jump drive
700mb80min
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:55 PM
try the manufacturers website for vista related issues ......
Ojam
Mar 4th, 2007, 01:56 PM
Did you check their websites for a driver?
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 02:06 PM
Lexar and Kingwin have nothing for me.
This is so ********. I thought USB drives would be the least of my worries since they're PnP. If I didn't get such a good deal on my computer I would definitely go the DIY method.
On a side note, I found images of the Windows Vista Home Premium DVDs on my hard drive and burned them to DVDs. If I decide to reformat, and reinstall, will I notice any adverse effects? I've heard horror stories with dell machines and since this is my first prebuilt machine (Acer e380) I don't want to screw things up.
TigerEROS
Mar 4th, 2007, 02:26 PM
Just reformat your drive and use XP Pro!
Satyr
Mar 4th, 2007, 02:32 PM
Lexar and Kingwin have nothing for me.
This is so ********. I thought USB drives would be the least of my worries since they're PnP. If I didn't get such a good deal on my computer I would definitely go the DIY method.
On a side note, I found images of the Windows Vista Home Premium DVDs on my hard drive and burned them to DVDs. If I decide to reformat, and reinstall, will I notice any adverse effects? I've heard horror stories with dell machines and since this is my first prebuilt machine (Acer e380) I don't want to screw things up.
I am running Vista 32 ultimate and have absolutely no problems at all. I have an external USB WD drive, and also a eSata external drive. Both were detected in seconds.
As long as the dvd you made of vista opens when you insert it into your dvd drive, and you have the serial # available from the machine you bought, then I would reformat and reinstall.
CameraBill
Mar 4th, 2007, 03:00 PM
Thanks for the help you rock!
Looking for useful opinions please.
Your avatar gives me the heebee geebees
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 03:04 PM
Your avatar gives me the heebee geebees
lol the bk king is the man!
but in all seriousness my main concern is just any kinks I might have since I don't have all the original discs just an image called "Acer Upgrade" lol. When I slide it in it is a Vista install disc. I guess I'll just find the drivers on acer site.
squall458
Mar 4th, 2007, 03:59 PM
you dont need any drivers for any usb drive for xp after sp1 and vista either. if you are having usb related problems for a variety of usb drives, its your vista installation thats the prob. it should always work with generic usb drivers. i have about 5 or more usb devices and they all work on vista with no drivers needed to download.
SoNgMaN
Mar 4th, 2007, 04:37 PM
USB Hosts installed properly? and exclamation points under device manager?
bmaz
Mar 4th, 2007, 05:53 PM
Not exactly, this is what happens:
Found new hardware -> Locate and Install Driver software -> Insert Disc (I don't have one) -> Check for solution -> Unable to install "Mass Storage Device"...Windows could not find driver software for your device....
Try selecting Have Disk and point it to C:\Windows
sPiKyAZN
Mar 4th, 2007, 05:54 PM
USB Hosts installed properly? and exclamation points under device manager?
I can't remember if it is exclamation points or question mark. It detects the lexar as jumpdrive sport but that's as far as it goes lol.
I'm running this erecovery feature...it's pretty neat I get to revert back to the default factory image with a few clicks! If I'm lucky it might be a XP image lol
EDIT: Will this seems to have done the trick. Reverted back to original vista image and everything is shiny and new. Thanks to all for the input.