USB Malfunction

[ZellaM]

Computer runs windows XP; is a hp laptop
The storage device is a western digital 160gb passport; model WD1600XMS-00

I have a passport which has been working perfectly on my computer for almost a year now. I've had a few slight drops (each time it was in a soft case) but the passport continued to work perfectly (the last time was over 4 months ago).
I tried to connect it to my computer today to listen to some music, and I got the dreaded error message of "one of the usb devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned" and "please click here to have windows help." Of course, clicking never happens so I turned to forums. I've already tried restarting my computer (did that first) with no change. I tried uninstalling all USB drivers (both with the passport plugged and and not plugged in). I also found the "phantom" drivers that can only be seen when you tell it so show hidden items. (All of this was done on the device manager page), and restarting the computer after each time.
The device used to show up under one name or another on my computer; now I can't even find it. I tried finding a driver for the passport, but apparently there are none on the Western Digital website that I could find. In fact, I couldn't even find my exact model on there!
So far nothing has changed. The drive hasn't made any funky noises, and the blue light still turns on like normal. I haven't tried it on another computer yet (will once my roomie wakes up, but I don't have much hope for her laptop - it's very slow and vista). I've also tried both (yes, I have only two) USB ports on my laptop, and it doesn't make a difference.
Are there any other suggestions for getting this thing to work? I really don't want to pay the hundred or so dollars to pull everything off...
Thanks!

On Oct 31, 7:13*am, ZellaM <ZellaM.3i4...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote:
> Computer runs windows XP; is a hp laptop
> The storage device is a western digital 160gb passport; model
> WD1600XMS-00
>
> I have a passport which has been working perfectly on my computer for
> almost a year now. I've had a few slight drops (each time it was in a
> soft case) but the passport continued to work perfectly (the last time
> was over 4 months ago).
> I tried to connect it to my computer today to listen to some music, and
> I got the dreaded error message of "one of the usb devices attached to
> this computer has malfunctioned" and "please click here to have windows
> help." Of course, clicking never happens so I turned to forums. I've
> already tried restarting my computer (did that first) with no change. I
> tried uninstalling all USB drivers (both with the passport plugged and
> and not plugged in). I also found the "phantom" drivers that can only be
> seen when you tell it so show hidden items. (All of this was done on the
> device manager page), and restarting the computer after each time.
> The device used to show up under one name or another on my computer;
> now I can't even find it. I tried finding a driver for the passport, but
> apparently there are none on the Western Digital website that I could
> find. In fact, I couldn't even find my exact model on there!
> So far nothing has changed. The drive hasn't made any funky noises, and
> the blue light still turns on like normal. I haven't tried it on another
> computer yet (will once my roomie wakes up, but I don't have much hope
> for her laptop - it's very slow and vista). I've also tried both (yes, I
> have only two) USB ports on my laptop, and it doesn't make a
> difference.
> Are there any other suggestions for getting this thing to work? I
> really don't want to pay the hundred or so dollars to pull everything
> off...
> Thanks!
>
> --
> ZellaM
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ZellaM's Profile:http://forums.techarena.in/members/zellam.htm
> View this thread:USB Malfunction
>
> http://forums.techarena.in

In my experience, this message may indicate that the USB root hub (aka
ports on the computer) has encountered an electronic problem. I got
this on my older P4 PC and the USB port no longer was ever working.
You must try this drive on a different PC since the USB drivers are
automatically included with Windows as well as the USB drive drivers.

[ZellaM]

I've since tried the passport on my roommates computer with a vista, and my dads XP computer. My last thing I'm going to try is go to a friend with the exact same passport as me, and try mine on her computer. If that doesn't work, and I don't hear any other replies, I think my last option is take it in and pull out all of my stuff.

"superchivas_2000" wrote:

ZellaM,

I had the same problem that you describe below, my passport was from one day
to the other stopped working. I knew that my drive could not be bad because
as I researched none of the common malfunctions were displayed. My drive was
making the exact same sound as when it was working. I decided to take it to
a friend who know about computers and he told me that as it sound the drive
was in good condition. If you go to the Western Digital website under the
tab "Support" go to "Data Recovery". Once there click on the icon titled
"The Americas" click on the icon for "Drive Savers", follow the instruction
(go to the bottom of the page and click continue). Once in the "Drive
Savers" page click on "Recovery Tips" or click on the following link:
http://www.drivesavers.com/solutions/recovery-tips.html, on the right side
there are 5 sample sounds different common noises a bad drive makes, if your
drive is not making any of them I would say you are in the same boat I was.
Anyway when my friend checked it said that it looked like it was the "USB
Controller" (the USB controller is located in your portable hard drive). The
test to show me that the controller was bad, he opened the case (if you don't
have any more warranty, even better because then you don't have to be
extremely carefull to open the case and not cause it any damage). Once he
opened it (he used a nikkel to open it, saying a coin would do the least
damage, go figure) he removed a silver tape like covering. He pull of the
USB controller from the Hard Drive and plug it to the USB cable and into my
computer, it gave him the same error I have being getting when I plugged my
Hard Drive. His recommedation was to find either another USB controller to
get my Data out of the the Hard Drive (he said they usually ran for about
$8.00 or so) or to go to a store like Best Buy, Comp USA or any other similar
and buy a casing for a SATA drive (casings have the USB controller in them
already). I went to the store and looked at casings (price range between
$50.00 - $90.00) but I went for a docking unit because it was made for 2.5"
and 3.5" Hard Drives, the price was about $50.00. I was able to get all the
data out of the old drive and into a new one, but if you don't have warranty
left on yours then you can use it to play your Hard Drive from it. That is
the story of my ordeal recovering the data from my Hard Drive. One more
thing if your Hard Drive is making any of the weird noises from the data
recovery place, be aware that most will charge about $500+ for recovering
your data. One final thought, I hope this helps you and any other users that
might have problems with their Hard Drives.

"ZellaM" wrote:

>
> Computer runs windows XP; is a hp laptop
> The storage device is a western digital 160gb passport; model
> WD1600XMS-00
>
> I have a passport which has been working perfectly on my computer for
> almost a year now. I've had a few slight drops (each time it was in a
> soft case) but the passport continued to work perfectly (the last time
> was over 4 months ago).
> I tried to connect it to my computer today to listen to some music, and
> I got the dreaded error message of "one of the usb devices attached to
> this computer has malfunctioned" and "please click here to have windows
> help." Of course, clicking never happens so I turned to forums. I've
> already tried restarting my computer (did that first) with no change. I
> tried uninstalling all USB drivers (both with the passport plugged and
> and not plugged in). I also found the "phantom" drivers that can only be
> seen when you tell it so show hidden items. (All of this was done on the
> device manager page), and restarting the computer after each time.
> The device used to show up under one name or another on my computer;
> now I can't even find it. I tried finding a driver for the passport, but
> apparently there are none on the Western Digital website that I could
> find. In fact, I couldn't even find my exact model on there!
> So far nothing has changed. The drive hasn't made any funky noises, and
> the blue light still turns on like normal. I haven't tried it on another
> computer yet (will once my roomie wakes up, but I don't have much hope
> for her laptop - it's very slow and vista). I've also tried both (yes, I
> have only two) USB ports on my laptop, and it doesn't make a
> difference.
> Are there any other suggestions for getting this thing to work? I
> really don't want to pay the hundred or so dollars to pull everything
> off...
> Thanks!
>
>
> --
> ZellaM
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ZellaM's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/zellam.htm
> View this thread: USB Malfunction
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>
>