WinXP SP3 – Win Explore can’t see usb devices

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Greetings from New Jersey.(not far from Asbury Park)
Thinkpad T42 – WinXP SP3
I noticed recently that I am unable to view data on a Corsair thumb drive, Droid phone and Kindle 2 device through USB ports.
I also obtained a PCMCIA card with usb ports to see if this was a hardware issue.
Conditions did not change –
I am still able to use usb hub to share keyboard, mouse and external monitor.
Also – at least with the Corsair – I’m able to map the drive through Disk Manager and then see it on the command line and acces files through DOS commands.
Any ideas?
These devices work on a Dell XPS vintage 2005 machine that also runs Win XP SP3.

Thanks

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1) unplug all USB devices except for mouse and keyboard
2) delete the file windowsinfINFCACHE.1
3) restart Windows

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Thanks.
I tried this and the devices still fail to show on Windows explorer.
Can’t figure this one out.

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Have you used TweakUI from Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP to check hidden disk drives?

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks again – I tried TweakUI as well with no luck – all the drives were checked.
I’m contemplating a Windows XP reinstall.
The only thing I can think of as a cause of this problem is an HP Simple Save device that I installed and then uninstalled.
I’m going to re-install that device and see what effect it has on the situation.
I think it must be a Windows Explorer issue – once I assigned a drive letter to Corsair thumb drive through Disk Manager – I was able to access it through Word2007 as well as through DOS command line.

Assuming I get this fixed – I’ll report back with method and results.

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Hello,

I haven’t made much progress with this problem. I’ve been too busy with snow removal and actual gainful employment.
On Sunday I tried running a backup with an HP SimpleSave device plugged into a usb port – guess what? – no problem. I was hoping that this would also fix my usb problem – thinking that maybe the install process for the Simpl Save device might have caused the problem to start with – wishful thinking.

At this point, I’m ready to do some level of Windows XP re-install. I’ll think I’ll try the non-destructive variety referred to in other sections of this forum.
I can’tthink of any other solution.

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