My USB memory stick not working?

Question

Can someone I help me with my memory stick, I accident deleted the file that tells windows what it is and now windows has no reactions to it and cant even detected it at all is there any way that I can fix it myself

memory stick 1
Manufacturer=Lexar
Model=Jump Drive Fire Fly (1 GB)

memory stick 2 (i have 2 memory sticks with the same problem)
Manufacturer=PQI (i think)
Model=intelligent stick (256 MB)
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/meritline/122-034-b2.jpg (picture)

i just got to jumpdrive firefly last week and the intelligent stick last year and did not use it often

Answer 1

it depends on what u deleted .. try going to device manager and scanning for hardware changes .. see if it finds it ..

Answer 2

Try formatting the USB stick. I had the same problem once and this fixed it. Also try plugging it in a different USB port since it could be drawing to much power from the current port. Also check how it was formatted. If it was formatted on a Mac then it won't be recognisable on a PC and so you will have to reformat it on a PC. If switching USB ports doesn't work then I strongly recommend formatting the Memory Stick.

Answer 3

You only need to download a USB driver from the manufacturer's web site if you're using Win9x. XP has built-in support for it.
If you're using XP:
When you plug in the USB stick, does a little icon appear in your System Tray (bottom-right area beside the clock)?
Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop and you should see an icon for the USB stick. Right click the icon and click AutoPlay, then just set the USB stick to pop up Windows Explorer to view the files whenever you plug in the USB stick.
If you plug in the USB stick into a different USB port, Windows will think that it is a different device. In that case, you'll have to do the previously mentioned steps over again if Windows doesn't do anything when you plug in the device.

Answer 4

I have read all of the posts done by the USB pundits and I am alarmed that they have not sent you to China to a remote village in the jungle for a specific tree bark. They are pretty good.

Now, USB is a plug and play device you do not need to install drivers. Your computer should already have the essential platform to recognize and enable USB peripherals in your device manager. You should have what is called a usb host controller which allow for the identification and synchronization of these devices.
Providing that you have no usb conflict in your device manager you could pretty much rule of the usb drivers as the problem. See, you didnt go to china for this one.

Additionally, usb flash drives have a limited life span. THEY DONT LAST FOREVER. Everytime you add data and remove data your are deminishing the drive capacity because of the electromagnetic charge of the drive and lost of that charge, as well. You have a certain number of erase cycles before the drive fails.
Eventually, you will plug your drive up and it will not be recognized because it has completely use all of the erase cycles available.
This could be the cause of your drive failure. You, my good friend, have run out of erase cycles.

Enjoy your computer.

Answer 5

"- With Windows Plug & Play feature, Windows is supposed to recognize any device plugged into a USB port -- the problem is after it recognizes something once, Plug & Play will never again try to install that device. You need to erase all memory of the device (printer etc) from the computer.
- Right-click on My Computer, cl Properties, click Hardware, click Device Manager.
- Click on the plus sign next to “Universal Serial Bus.” Look for the problem device’s name and right-click. Now Remove. Restart and reinstall."
Source: Article by James Coates, Chicago Tribune.

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Theoretically, I thought we could plug and unplug USB devices, but this proved not to be true on my computer. When I removed a USB device without going through the "safely remove" procedure, the port would not recognize another device. I had to reinsert the flashdrive, "safely remove" it, then I could plug in another device.

Answer 6

Go to the website of the company that makes the memory stick, and see if they have the drivers available for download. Follow those instructions, I can't really help you any further without knowing what model memory stick you have.

Answer 7

Find out who the maker of your device is, go to they're website and just download the drivers for your specific model.