Guys 'n' Gals,
A month or so ago I tried to plug my into my Notebook (XP SP2) to download some photos. The PEN said it was being charged but the Notebook seems to have no inkling that it's connected. I can't force it to pick it up when it can't see anything there at all. I've not been able to connect it to the Notebook since.
Can anyone suggest what might (not) be happening?

Thanks,all
--
chris

Dani AI

Generated

Several replies already raised two plausible directions: host-side USB/driver oddities (, ) and the possibility the device is a battery-backed/MP3-style unit that only shows a charging indicator when its storage/controller is dead (, ). The immediate goal is to collect simple, objective evidence so the fault can be isolated before trying fixes that could destroy photos.

Try these focused diagnostic steps in order.

  1. Verify behaviour on a second host and on multiple ports (and, if the device uses a detachable cable, with a different cable). If it ever enumerates on another machine, the problem is the notebook. If it never enumerates anywhere but still "charges", that strongly points at the device controller or broken D+/D- data lines.

  2. On the notebook, check whether Windows sees any new disk at all: run diskmgmt.msc (Computer Management -> Disk Management). If the device appears without a drive letter, assign one. If it appears as "No Media", "Unknown", or "RAW", do not format if you need the photos — that destroys recovery chances.

  3. Boot a Linux live USB and watch kernel messages after plugging the device (dmesg output). Linux often reports whether a USB device enumerated (vendor/product IDs, usb-storage driver attached) or whether only VBUS power arrived with no enumeration. That is the cleanest way to tell "power only" vs "data working."

  4. If the device is a U3-style Sandisk product it can present a virtual CD-ROM plus storage; an issue with the U3 layer can hide the storage volume. If you confirm this and you do not need U3 software, using the official U3 removal/repair tool from the manufacturer is the usual next step (this will change the device layout).

If none of the above yields access, the device likely has a failed controller or damaged data pins. At that point, avoid reformatting, contact the maker for warranty/RMA if applicable, or consult a data-recovery specialist if the pictures are critical.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

The problem might be wit the USB drivers .. either update ur drivers for USB or put new ones ...

does your pen drive really have a built in battery to charge if not, is your pen drive really a pin drive or is it a usb mp3 player with built-in battery, for if so your batteries is defective, it shorts-out the 5-volts usb power so you cant read your pin drive or is it an mp3 player

What junt said might be a probable reason.... but most of the times the sandisk drives give problem in detection as compared to transcend or kingston....

Yeah ,My USB PEN has a built in battery,you said that the fault of the battery caused the connecting problem?

does your pen drive really have a built in battery to charge if not, is your pen drive really a pin drive or is it a usb mp3 player with built-in battery, for if so your batteries is defective.....
======================
bechem

asciisil

If you used that pen before on that notebook the problem was the driver of the 2.0 usb, its not reading because it's busy try to plug lower than 2.0 anything like usb mouse or a flash disk, storage device if that will work maybe your USB PEN or the driver of the SPK2 of your notebook.

First connect ur device to the comp and then check in device manager>USB controllers... if there is an unknown device appearin it means the pen drive u connected is not gettin detected coz of improper drivers....

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.