Reliable USB flash drive needed - advice please

[lechem]

I recently bought an Integral USB flash drive (in the UK) - Windows xp on desktop and Windows 2000 on laptop both refused to acknowledge it. Windows XP - I got a ping sound when I plugged it in but a conflict message in USB device manager re software needed. Integral sent driver files - which I already had - no difference.

Windows 2000 similar software error messages.

I am going to America next month and want to buy a 128mb USB 2 flash drive there but don't want to get home and find the same problems.

Any recommendations please?

[Jarhed7276]

I've been using a PNY 128 and 256k flash drive for about 6 months or so now without any problems. WInXP and Win2k both read them with no problems. You should be able to find one for about $30-60 USD.

[Kimbo]

This might be way off base, but I had a similar problem with a new USB digital camera in WinXP. Loaded all drivers and got the ping sound when the camera was plugged in, but there was a conflict in device manager like yours. Did some research on the net and found this is a common USB problem with motherboards using the VIA chipset.

If you're using a VIA board, there's a Microsoft USB patch to fix the problem. Go to Microsoft's site at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/ and enter "KB822603" in the search box to find the patch.

After downloading and installing the patch and restarting the computer, the camera was correctly identified and the conflict disappeared.

Worth a try anyway if yours is a VIA chipset based motherboard.

By the way, I use Transcend JetFLash drives - all 3 of mine work great!

Kimbo

[lechem]

Thanks for the information on USB flash drives.

I am not sure which motherboard I have but think it is AO4 - that's what it says on the label anyway. I followed your links Kimbo and am now wondering if I should get rid of XP and go back to 2000. What seems like such a simple job - plug in my new USB gadget - is now turning into a major project.

The joys of our lovely computers.

Thanks again folks.

[pelicanman]

I had the same problem with the onboard flash drives on my ZD 7000 notebook, when I also had an outboard flash reader attached, and I was hooked to the network. The problem is that the system is attempting to auto assign drive letters in sequence, and between the drive letters assigned to the network drives and the drive letters assigned to the outboard reader it has no place to put the letters for the onboard drive when a chip is inserted.

Here's the solution

http://www.zd7000forums.com/viewtopi...739&highlight=