USB Stick acting like a disc drive

[Lumpy44]

Hello Everyone,

My 16GB Maxell started to act like a disc drive on me recently. When I click on it it asks me to insert a disc into the F: drive. There is some info on it I would like to get. Tried to format it, but it said there is no disc in F: to format. Pretty much stumped on this one. Gone into the admin tools and can't seem to get it figure out. Would appreciate anyones help.  Thanks in advance.

[Lumpy44]

Sorry. Forgot to add this.


Computer:
      Operating System                                  Microsoft Windows Vista Home Edition
      OS Service Pack                                   -
      DirectX                                           4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
      Computer Name                                     SCOTT-PC
      User Name                                         Scott

    Motherboard:
      CPU Type                                          Unknown, 2000 MHz
      Motherboard Name                                  Unknown
      Motherboard Chipset                               Unknown
      System Memory                                     4096 MB
      BIOS Type                                         Unknown

    Display:
      Video Adapter                                     NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
      Video Adapter                                     NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
      Monitor                                           Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]

    Multimedia:
      Audio Adapter                                     High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

    Storage:
      IDE Controller                                    Intel(R) ICH8M SATA AHCI Controller - 2829
      IDE Controller                                    Intel(R) ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2850
      IDE Controller                                    Ricoh Memory Stick Controller
      IDE Controller                                    Ricoh SD/MMC Host Controller
      IDE Controller                                    Ricoh xD-Picture Card Controller
      SCSI/RAID Controller                              AGGUH12H IDE Controller
      SCSI/RAID Controller                              Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
      Disk Drive                                        WDC WD2500BEVS-60UST0 ATA Device
      Disk Drive                                        XXXXXXXX U167CONTROLLER USB Device    <------- This is the device... I think
      Optical Drive                                     TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L632N ATA Device
      SMART Hard Disks Status                           Unknown

    Partitions:
      C: (NTFS)                                         225184 MB (110664 MB free)
      D: (NTFS)                                         13288 MB (2755 MB free)
      Total Size                                        232.9 GB (110.8 GB free)

    Input:
      Keyboard                                          HID Keyboard Device
      Keyboard                                          Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard with HP QLB
      Mouse                                             HID-compliant mouse
      Mouse                                             Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

    Network:
      Network Adapter                                   Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN  (192.168.0.11)
      Network Adapter                                   Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
      Modem                                             Motorola SM56 Speakerphone Modem

    Peripherals:
      Printer                                           HP Deskjet F4200 series (Copy 1)
      Printer                                           HP Deskjet F4200 series
      Printer                                           Lexmark Z2300 Series
      Printer                                           Microsoft XPS Document Writer
      Printer                                           Send To OneNote 2010
      USB1 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2830 [NoDB]
      USB1 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2831 [NoDB]
      USB1 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2832 [NoDB]
      USB1 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2834 [NoDB]
      USB1 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2835 [NoDB]
      USB2 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 2836 [NoDB]
      USB2 Controller                                   Intel(R) ICH8 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 283A [NoDB]
      USB Device                                        HP Webcam
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Human Interface Device
      USB Device                                        USB Human Interface Device
      USB Device                                        USB Mass Storage Device
      Battery                                           Microsoft AC Adapter
      Battery                                           Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

[jason2074]

Can you right- click the drive and choose Properties and check for errors under Tools tab? Do you see any information under General tab?

[Lumpy44]

I click on error checking and get a disk could not be checked because windows cannot access it message. The General tab say 0 free space and 0 used space. Type is removable disk and file system is unknown

[jason2074]

How about on another working system? Does it make the same behavior? Can you change the path or drive letter in disk management?

[Lumpy44]

Does the same thing on three different computers with three different OS's. I wont let me do anything with it in disk management

[Lisa_maree]

Hi Lumpy44,

When a pen drive does this it's the memory chip in the pen drive that has failed. The computer still detects the pen drive and the interface chip in the pen drive reports the usb device, but as the chip with the data is faulty it asks that you insert a disk ie a memory card, when you access the pen drive. So really the pen drive should be returned under warranty or thrown away.

Sorry

Lisa
 

[Transfusion]

Check to see if your BIOS is emulating your USB drive as a DVD-ROM drive:

[Lumpy44]

Checked up on all your suggestions and now I believe its not the USB stick. I plugged my phone in today and the same thing happens. It comes up as a drive that I cannot access.

[patio]

Re-install your MBoard chipset drivers and re-boot...
Report back with the results.

[jason2074]

You could also try checking from services startup type :
Plug and play is on Automatic (default)
Virtual Disk (Vista, Win 7) or Logical Disk Manager (XP) is Manual (default)
SSDP Discovery from Manual to Disable(Optional) Make sure to hit Apply.
Right-click My Computer/Manage/Services and Application/Services.

[Lumpy44]

You could also try checking from services startup type :
Plug and play is on Automatic (default)
Virtual Disk (Vista, Win 7) or Logical Disk Manager (XP) is Manual (default)
SSDP Discovery from Manual to Disable(Optional) Make sure to hit Apply.
Right-click My Computer/Manage/Services and Application/Services.

Where do I find these?
Not even sure if its the computer anymore. Does the same thing on another machine.

[Lumpy44]

found this link with a similar story. Cant really see any positive outcomes but it might help.
Nothing I tried in it works
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/community/windows-7/61/10342636/usb-pendrive-problem.aspx

[jason2074]

http://www.nsharp.org/15/how-to-fix-a-dead-flash-drive-or-usb-key/
Worth a try.

[Lumpy44]

tried that out jason but im getting the same error as when i format it the preinstalled way. "Please insert disk into drive F:"