Summary
I had difficulties in installing USB flash card readers with Vista.
I had tried products by both Kingston and Belkin :
- Belkin F5U271
- Kingston FCR-HS215/1
Each time Windows tried to get a driver online and asked for a CD with a driver. But there was no success.
Eventually I found a solution. To skip to the solution see “Detailed Solution Steps” below.
Problem Research
I sent an email to Kingston and telephoned them in the UK. Amazingly there was prompt help via both routes. However they gave slightly different solutions.
Their most detailed response was…
Thank you for contacting Kingston Technical Support.
Note that Windows Vista does not require any drivers for the DataTraveler.
1. Insert drive and wait for about 20 seconds to see if the driver installation is slow.
2. During device driver search, point to a location Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and enable “Include subfolders” in the Browse window.
If this fails, point to one of the subfolders within FileRepository:
FileRepository\usbstor.inf_…
FileRepository\disk.inf_…
FileRepository\volume.inf_…
FileRepository\wpdfs.inf_…
3. If FileRepository location(s) doesn’t work, point to location Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers and enable “Include subfolders” in the Browse window.
4. Check Device Manager for incorrectly installed drivers for the DataTraveler; uninstall them and reinsert the drive.
I tried all this and still no success. Each time Vista reported “The system cannot find the file specified”.
After searching the web for a couple of frustrating hours I cam across this entry by WickedMX…
I’ve been experiencing the same problem with usb storage devices for the last few weeks and have visited numerous forums discussing it. After having no joy I decided to take a look around my system folders and have now got these devices working again. While looking around I discovered 2 points of interest:
- In C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository I had two folders named “usbstor.inf” but each one had a different set of numbers attached to the end of the folder name. - could this be where part of the problem lies?
- When I looked in my C:\Windows\inf folder I discovered the usbstor.inf and usb stor.pnf files were missing - this definitely had to be an issue.
Once I discovered these anomalies, I proceeded to copy the pnf and inf files from the most recently updated usbstor.inf folder to C:\Windows\inf. I then went back to the update driver wizard, pointed to the inf folder and what do you know but they all started working again.
So with some scepticism I tried this approach and it worked.
Detailed Solution Steps
1. Go to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
Find files named usbstore…
2. Choose the most recent usbstor folder
Open the folder
You’ll see a number of files…
3. Select and copy usbstor.inf
4. Now go to C:\Windows\Inf
Paste the usbstor.inf file into this folder (On my system there was no usbstor.inf file already in this folder).
5. Now try again to install the reader
When Vista reports it cannot find a driver direct it to C:\Windows\Inf
If all goes well you will see the following information from Vista
Footnote
I don’t know whether this approach works with other types of USB device on Vista or other card readers but it certainly worked for me.
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks,
You save my life. It doesn’t only solve my Ipod problem but all. Now if any USB in Vista, just point to :
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
Thanks
Thanks a LOT. I dont have words to express my thankness to you. It really worked for me… You are awesome!!!
Thanks.
I searched forever trying to figure out this problem with my ipod. This solution works great.
Thanks so much.
I have a HP laptop with Vista. The file is there but it still don’t work!!!
Hey i have a hp laptop with windows vista and there is no inf file. Only a pnf. What should I do? Thanks
BLESS YOU! BLESS YOU! BLESS YOU!
I had stared at my BRAND NEW Ipod Video for 2 days and couldn’t ever get it to connect to my MBP running Vista. Only worked on my XP Desktop. Finally I came across your fix and instantly it detected my Ipod!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Hello Anthony,
A few questions and a possible approach…
1. Are you trying to install a USB device?
2. If you are, then try to find usbstor.inf on your C drive – it may be simplest just to search the whole drive for this file.
3. If you can find it, then copy it and paste it in c:\windows\inf.
4. Try again to instal it.
My understanding is that the pnf file gets generated when an inf file is used – so there may be an inf file somewhere on your system.
Hope this helps…
Bloody genius mate! Thank saved me much frustration and sleepless nights
thanks a lot for the solution.
i have a nameless usb all in 1 card reader and i couldn’t find any driver for vista so you save me.
thank you
OH…MY…GOSH
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Fixed all my issues.
Great!!!
In my experience, it is the best solution to solve the problem when every USB related hardware settings and drivers are perfectly works but cannot find the reason why USB storage doesn’t work.
To me, it also works well.
Thank you!
You are Gawd!
I have spent months intermittently and desperately looking for answers.
Have a vista business and was really thinking of returning this new machine and was fighting with IBM for such a crappy system (Vista is slow).
But now, thanks to a good soul like you, I have started my re-trust relationship again with Vista.
None of my USB drives had worked with exact same problem. Followed your instructions step by step and it worked like a charm.
thanks a lot
Phal
[...] Devices Not working FOUND THE SOLUTION. Worked for me like a charm. Follow this blog/link below: Vista Driver Problems installing a USB Media Reader – A solution! « Teknobabble’s Weblog cheers [...]
works, THANKS!
IT works, great, tnsk alot. (HP compaq 6710b Vista64bits)
amazing. i’ve been so sad because all of my music is backed on up on an iomega external hdd that was being a real pos (actually, just incompatible with vista before now). ive got two vista computers and nothing else at this point, so ive been panicking for a while until i found this post (by chance).
thank you sooo much!
This worked for my 1GB SanDisk Cruzer Mirco! YAY TYTYTYTYTY
Hi teknobabble-
I’m having the same problem Anthony was having. i also have an hp laptop and I’ve tried the 5R’s that apple suggests as its catch-all for everything, I’ve also tried what you have written here, but i get the message “your device is already installed. the driver software for your device is up to date.” Yet it still says it’s an “unknown device,” when clearly it isn’t unknown. it’s an ipod and it’s sitting right in front of me. duh.. how can it be so stupid?
it’s odd because my computer recognizes the connection when i plug it in… it tries to start charging the ipod.. but then it isn’t listed as a disk or anything when i go to “my computer” or try to “safely remove hardware.” yet it still gives me the message that its an unknown device when it is first plugged in. also, i’ve never had a problem with my flash drives or my external harddrive. just the ipod. wonder what could be the problem…
This problem has haunted me for a month and you’ve offered the first solution that has worked.
I can’t express how grateful I am. Thank you.
I’m spreading this link around to many other people I know with this same problem.
Sei un grande!!!!!!!!!! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!!!
I tried all the above, the USB device was then saved in the F: drive as a CD drive. Evertyime i want to use it, the pc asks me to insert a disc in order to perform this operation…neone know wat i can do????
Thanks a lot. my backup drive working again.
Wow!!!
I’ve been looking for a solution for this issue for so long, nothing really worked until I read your post…
Thank you so much!!
I’ve been looking for a solution for this problem for a long time…
You are a genius, thanks a lot…
My USB is working now. Thanks you…
Grazie sei stato molto utile
Can you swear on here? Because I just want to say FUCK YEAH!
This worked and I am happy. Microcenter wanted to completely reinstall windows or have me swap out the computer I just bought for a new one. Though who wants to go through all the hassle of setting up a new computer.
I wonder if Windows Easy Transfer screwed it up in the first place???? It seemed to transfer over a lot of stuff that didn’t need to be transfered in the first place. It would be interesting to see how many of these people had this problems after using Windows Easy Transfer.
Let’s call it Windows Pain-in-the-ass Transfer instead.
Now if someone could help me with my display drivers. It keeps crashing and recovering. Annoying!!!!
For usb flash disk
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
Find files named usbstore…
done above procedure but no result, its giving message found driver but encountering problem check for manufacturer update
From teknobabble….
Have you tried the web site for the manufacturer of your USB flash disk? I have also found that Vista does not support all USB devices – even with the fix in this blog post.
Thank you very much.
After I tried a lot of different solutions, this seems the only one to work
It really worked – better than Bill!
Thanks.
wtf. this finilly solved all my problems with usb devices. thanks
Thnks thnks thnks
Thank You…
I put the file in c\windows\inf\…
Search for changed app…
Vista direct sees the file and install…
thanks a lot to the KING
You are the Man (or Woman, whichever
!! I’ve been working on this blasted Vista bug for weeks, and this is the ONLY solution that works. Even MSoft’s tech support’s supposed “hotfix” did nothing.
Great work and Thanks…
-Mal
Thanks.
After days of looking for a solution, I finally try what you described above and guess what … it worked !
THANKS THANKS A thousand Thanks!!!!
It actually worked….thank you so much…
Keep up the good work…
Alex!!
This worked a treat! Finally Thankyou Thankyou.
I had to trawl through 20 plus sites before someone linked this fix.
Get the word out!
I installed the Windows 2000 driver and works fine with Windows Vista.
You are a prince among men Tech!!!!
I have spent hours! nay! Days on this… Microsoft wanted to charge me 80 bucks to talk to someone and ASUS, the manufacturer told me it was the store i bought it from’s issue.
All this buck passing was driving me postal..
I was about to pack it in, when i found this post.
god bless u
I am for ever in your debt.
I tried this for a HP Pocket Media Drive that would not work with a HP Media Center PC, and this worked perfectly. You are da man (or da girl). HP support couldn’t figure this out, I emailed them your link. Great work!
This fixed all of my Vista problems. I reached a point about a month and a half ago where I couldn’t plug any usb items that were not previously installed with the computer searching for and not finding the drivers for what I was trying to install. This was for everything new. DVD Burners, large format printers, cameras, wireless keyboard and mouse, wacom tablet, and the list keeps on going. These are all things that had their own drivers, but also used a few windows drivers to join them via the usb ports.
Is there a way to direct the driver search mechanism to check the C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository by itself rather than having me direct it there all the time?
What do I have to do to make the plug and play work again. Somewhere along the line something that pointed windows at the File Repository was lost. There must be a limit to the search feature because pointing at the c:\ drive and subdirectories never worked, yet pointing here did C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository.
So again, can anyone tell me what I need to do to have windows vista just check C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository this drive instead of me having to point it there myself?
Thanks all, like I said, this thread fixed all my problems. Now I’m just being picky
Paul Loehlein
Airborne Photography LLC
Hi,
This has not fixed my problem. (Vista Business)
When i insert a Kingston Traveller 1GB flask disk, vista does not recognise it.
Im Device Manager its a “Other Device > Unknown device”
I have tried your method twice – and tried to update the driver and point it to the new file
C:\Windows\Inf
but i get the message:
Windows encuntered a problem installing the driver software for your device…there was an error trying to install it
USB Mass Storage Devce – Driver is not inteneded for this platform
There is nothing on Kingstons site re a new driver…
HELP
ahhhhhhhhh
From teknobabble…
It sounds like Vista has found the driver but there is a problem with it when used with your Kingston drive.
I would try a different manufacturer USB. If the probelm arises with that USB device too, then sadly there is a more fundamantal problem with USB drivers on your PC.
Sorry cannot help any more than this !!
hi
“more fundamantal problem with USB drivers on your PC.” I agree..
The funny thing is its a brand new HP DC7700….
It would have been nice if the USB drive had of worked…
For anyone else (they did not work for me) but have a look here
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1254561&SiteID=17
cheers
What a great thing you’ve offered – lucid, easy-to-follow steps for dealing with yet another hugely frustrating Vista annoyance!! Bravo!! Bravo!! Without people like you, miserable Vista users would be leaving PCs in droves.
Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I spent so much time on this problem – now I finally got my USB thumb drive to work properly.
Your a star, usb sorted
cheers
Thanks so much for your fix! I was finally able to hook up my Ipod and external had drive.
You are obviously familiar with the windows file system so I wonder if you know how to also get my sd card working? I get the same error and I have a feeling that the same problem exists, except that I will have to get the .inf file from another folder besides usbstor.inf.
By the way…just to clarify. I have a built in slot for an SD card so that’s why I believe that the usb problem will be a separate but similar issue from the usb problem.