Computer doesn't recognize flash drive in USB port.
Running WinXP Pro SP2; have multiple (6) USB ports; no problem with portable device Kingston 512mb 2.0 Flash Drive (recognized in wife's WinXP Home computer); no problem with power managment on multiple USB ports; front side USB ports are 500ma and device requires 200ma; device manager indicates all USB devices working properly (except stick, which shows exclamation point for device conflict); all troubleshooter messages indicate that this device needs no driver, but installer gives me "code 28" (driver not installed); updating driver yields "none better found"; uninstalling driver has no effect; no driver(s) included with device purchase package; no support available from Kingston website; problem occurs in all USB ports, front and REAR - device not recognized when plugged in. I succeeded in updating Intell drivers for USB ports, but this hasn't helped. I have two USB ports utilized: digital camera and a Lexmark printer.
I recall a past problem with WinXP Pro not allowing two printers to be plugged in (recognized/open) at once. Could this be a similar/same problem?
Scratching my head! :-?Try uninstalling the drivers and then plugging the drive back in so new drivers are installed.Have you tried it with all other USB devices unplugged ? ?

patio.   8-)have you tryed checking your device manager whie it is plugged in and even seeing if the computer reconises it at all, even as an unreconized device.Thanks for previous replies, mcf747, patio and calum.
I have unistalled drivers through Device Manager and rebooted with memory stick inserted while x2 other USB devices unplugged. Same drivers/controller auto reinstalled. No change.
Device Manager recognizes memory stick with exclamation mark superimposed over question mark. (As I understand, this indicates a problem with device and drivers.) Device Manager auto refreshes and sees this device when unplugged and replugged.
Additional info: Root hub driver is signed MS Windows Publisher 7/1/2001 (5.1.2600.2180) and Intel 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller-24DD is signed MS Publisher 6/11/2002 (5.1.2600.0). I understand my USBs are 2.0 but if I'm mistaken and there only 1.0, wouldn't the Enhanced Host Controller compensate? Besides, I don't believe this would prevent drive letter assignment and RECOGNITION, only data transfer performance.
I did a search regarding drivers. Came up with two possibilities: 1) Reload drivers/controllers on motherboard and 2) apply possible MS Hotfix (MS article 892050). Neither of which appeals to me. Lots of work and worry for someone at my level of expertise.
Other suggestions? :-?Right click My Computer...select Manage then Disk Management...doesa it show up there ? ?
If so use the tools there to format it then power down and re-boot and see if it picks it up.

patio.   8-)Patio,
No, none of the 3 USB devices show up there (printer, digital camera cable and memory stick). x2 hard drives (C and backup f), CD & DVD drives show up.Go to Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager....scroll to the bottom where the USD Hubs a nd roots are listed. Right click on each one and select "remove"

You will get an error message ...Ignore it.

Power down. Plug in the USB stick and power up....what happens now ? ?

patio.  8-)Thanks for your reply, patio.
I tried your suggestions without improvement.
I decided to utilize MS and Kingston Tech Support as much as possible on this issue and I was able to get MS support for free because I had installed a Hotfix. After NUMEROUS hours on the phone, trying various things with current XP SP2, including uninstall and reinstall SP2, it was suggested that the next LOGICAL step would be to uninstall SP2 and do XP reinstall. I did uninstall SP2, but ran an XP repair, instead.
That apparently has done the trick! As the second Kingston Tech Rep stated, I didn't have the Win drivers installed (actually, what I think he meant was, the Kingston drivers supplied to MS, and included in SP2, were either missing or corrupted).
I would never have succeeded in figuring out which driver(s) were involved and obtaining. Kingston Techs were not forthcoming with drivers, nor was MS (of course). However, I do have to say that the techs were pleasant, as helpful and patient as anyone could hope.
Thanks again. Happy ending, for now.
sbneanderthalSo are you now able to re-install SP2 ? ?

Glad you are sorted ...Thanks for asking, patio.
Yes, everything up to speed and, so far, working well.
sbneanderthal  what fixed it?mcf747,
The best answer I can give is: running a repair of WinXP which required an uninstall of SP2 prior. (This was in lieu of doing a full reinstall of XP.)
sbneanderthal  Travel to the NLite site for complete instructions on slipstreaming SP2 and all current hotfixes into an XP CD so you won't have to do it the hard way next time...

patio.  8-)