What I meant was to look in DevMgr--If the thumb drive is plugged in, you
will see it there, depended from the USB controller. As far as the System
Restore, what you'd be doing there is using a version of your registry that
is older than the one you're currently using. Sounds like you have
something on your computer that's doing this.

Joe
"benkmann" <benkmann.20evmp@pcbanter.net> wrote in message
news:benkmann.20evmp@pcbanter.net...
>
> How do I look at that, the USB controller? How does it change when
> there's something plugged in?
>
> Here's the strange thing. I'll do a System Restore, and then all of a
> sudden the USB drive works fine. Then about 3-5 days later it STOPS
> recognizing again, and gives me that error again.
>
> What all does System Restore do/change? And what might keep coming
> BACK onto my system that's knocking the USB out of commission?
> Thanks!
>
> jt3 Wrote:
> > What about the USB controller--do you see nothing connected to it in
> > DevMgr
> > (while the flash is plugged in)? I've seen the controller reinstall
> > when I
> > inadvertently deleted it, and after a reboot it found the flash drive
> > when I
> > plugged it in. Of course I have to have about the flakiest XP system
> > around, so this may be no guide.
> >
> >
> > "benkmann" benkmann.203jaf@pcbanter.net wrote in message
> > news:benkmann.203jaf@pcbanter.net...
> >
> > Yeah, removed the "Unknown Device" driver in Device Manager (which is
> > what it installed for it). Then when I re-inserted the drive, it
> > just
> > re-installs the "Unknown Device" driver =\
> >
> > -Curt
> >
> > jt3 Wrote:
> > Did you try removing it in DevMgr? Then, if you re-insert it, does
> > it
> > reinstall it?
> > Joe
> > "benkmann" benkmann.201j2c@pcbanter.net wrote in message
> > news:benkmann.201j2c@pcbanter.net...
> >
> > Hey all,
> >
> > I recently bought a 512 MB PNY Flash Drive (USB 2.0), brought it
> > home,
> > and it worked great for about a week. Then all of sudden yesterday,
> > it
> > refused to be recognized. I run Windows XP home, so it SHOULD have
> > the
> > driver for the device. Here's what happens:
> >
> > I plug it in, and it says "Found new device." Then it says "There
> > was
> > an error installing the device. You should re-plug the device or
> > replace the device." Ha, false on count 2. The device is still
> > good
> > because it is recognized on other computers. I tried uninstalling
> > the
> > driver, but then as soon as I plug the drive back in it just repeats
> > itself.
> >
> > So I checked in Device Manager. It's listed as "Unknown Device"
> > under
> > the USB category, but there is no exclamation point to it. I click
> > on
> > it, and it says there's no driver for it!
> >
> > And yet Windows HAS the driver...hm...
> >
> > Any help is appreciated, thank you!
> >
> > -Curt
> >
> >
> > --
> > benkmann
> >
> >
> > --
> > benkmann
>
>
> --
> benkmann