USB device not recognized - Toshiba Laptop/iPod Problems...

Hi Folks,

I'm desperately hoping that someone can help me:

I have a Toshiba Satellite A135-S2386 laptop, running Vista, that has been working great (slow, but great). It's really only primarily used for web surfing, and with iTunes (it's my daughter's). Here's what's happening:

Last Friday night, I was shocked to find out that this laptop only came with 512 MB RAM. I popped out the RAM, saw that it was only 512MB, and decided to buy some new. This seems to be when the troubles started, but could be a coincidence? I put the RAM back in.

Either later that night, or the next morning, my daughter told me that her iPod wasn't being recognized when she plugged it in. The error says "USB device is not recognized". When I go to the computer management and look at the USB devices, they all report "unknown device".

Whenever I plug in the iPod, now, I get the same error message. I do get the "sound" that I've plugged in the iPod, but my taskbar pops up a window saying: "USB device not recognized..." (sorry, I don't have the complete message in front of me).

I tried another iPod in this laptop - same problem. I tried both iPods on my new desktop - both worked perfect. I tried a usb flash drive in the laptop, it WORKS! I tried the iPods again, same problem.

After google searching, I found some people suggested that this problem can be fixed (possibly) with a motherboard firmware update, or by deleting the USB devices and reinstalling the drivers. Toshiba doesn't have anything on their support website like that, though. When I deleted the USB devices in Computer Management, Vista immediately sees that they're "new hardware" and re-adds them, right while I'm sitting there watching. I even went into Safe Mode, and deleted them, rebooted to normal mode, Vista reinstalled the drivers, but no help.

Finally, in desperation, I reinstalled the OS, iTunes. Same problem. Last resort: I called Toshiba this morning. Their suggestion was to make sure I have the latest BIOS (I do, I just sent it into them for a known problem that this BIOS upgrade was to fix, a couple of months ago) - oh, and they suggested downloading their latest dvd-rom firmware upgrade.

I have a devastated 14 year old who would bake a dozen cookies for whoever can help me.

Thanks so much in advance. I'm hoping I've provided enough information. I'm not sure what forum I should post this on, so sorry if it's the wrong one.

Thanks!
Steve

Hi Dwellman, thanks for the response! Yeah, I plugged the same ipod(s) into my desktop, and they worked great. I do wonder what would happen if I uninstalled iTunes, and then plugged it in. Would it recognize it as a flash drive? I kind of doubt it...

modfather, did u try dwellman's last solution.
please somebody help.
cause i am also having the same strange problem.
other usb devices like usb mouse and usb bluetooth adapter is working.
but, usb flash drive or usb portable hard disk (i.e. usb mass storage device) is not working !

restart the ipod by holding the centre button and menu at the same time and it should come up maybe not first time so keep trying

Well...the problem is definetly with IPOD-Itunes. For example this computer's mouse stalls, jumps ahead or will just shut off whenever Itunes is in the USB port and associated tasks operating. A quick fix for my computer work (when my sixteen year old is at school) is merely to delete hs IPOD-Itunes tasks form Windows Task Manager. Then the mouse works and I may continue. On the other hand removing the USB driver while IPOD remains in the USB port; followed by removing Itunes from the system entirely, then reinstalling Itunes (as the previous reply stated) may actually fix the problem. However the problem remains a partially incompatible Itunes software issue and MUST be eventually fixed by IPOD-Itunes. Hope this provides some insight and help. Please note this is a prevalent problem as seen by the many complaints concerning IPOD-Itunes on the net.

SAME HERE. ACCORDING TO ASUS, I NEED TO BACK UP MY COMPUTER AND DO A FULL SYSTEM RECOVERY, SOMETHING ABOUT MICROSOFT UPDATE, BUT I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK-UP ALL MY DATA BEFOREHAND BECAUSE I'M TIGHT ON CASH RIGHT NOW. THANKS. (YEAH, USB MOUSE, USB TRACKBALL MOUSE, USB FLASH DRIVE, USB MP3 PLAYER, USB ANYTHING DOESN'T WORK) If reinstallation of Vista doesn't work, I don't think I'll try to do a full recovery. I'm hoping Microsoft releases a fix for this, then.

They told me not to not set updates to automatic so that would mean the updates themselves tend to mess up your system. I've had like ... 4 updates? (different sessions) since Wednesday, and since then, my USB ports are dead.

Hello , Steve


I have the same problem as you and the same laptop as you so, i wasted almost 3 months on this problem and even decided to go fo the help with techinician he also gave up. Than i think that i can get help from you.


Please can you mail me at wilsonengine@yahoo.com for the solution please...........

I used the recovery disk to wipe my hard drive and reinstall the OS. Then, I reinstalled the drivers using the disc that came with my laptop; now, everything works fine.

Thank You!
I was having the same problem with my wifes i pod. which i know very little about, i did not have the manual.
you have my life easier & my wife will be happy
Joe