Windows XP to Windows Vista USB question

[Dave H]

I have a memory stick that contains some software for work on it. The format is for XP, and when I plug it into my PC running Vista it not seen at all, unsurprisingly. Is there some way to look at the software, even though its not for Vista, on my PC?

 

[Rob]

Run xp as a virtual machine?

 

[Dave H]

Run xp as a virtual machine?

How? I'm not techy. I've only just learnt how to link YouTube videos to CS !

 

[Addicted]

Uh, there's no such thing as a drive format for XP (as far as I'm aware), unless the drive has some custom partition type that was accessible via software on the XP machine?

Generally it'd be FAT16/FAT32, or possibly NTFS (but usually one of the former).

If it's not showing up in vista, try going to device manager and refresh device list, or try a different usb port.

Is it a licensed usb dongle that acts as anti-piracy? Or literally just a USB drive that has software on it?

 

[DrR]

Try a different USB stick?

 

[Dave H]

Just a USB stick with the software on it.

 

[Addicted]

I don't see any reason for it to not work then tbh, try a different USB port, or go to the XP machine, and copy the software across to a different USB drive.

 

[Dave H]

I plug it in. My PC 'bleeps', but nothing shows anywhere.

 

[Addicted]

What if you go to "My Computer" do you get a Removable Drive you can browse to? It may just be auto-play isn't starting .

 

[FariiD]

Do you see something special when you go to: start - right click My Computer - Properties - device manager
( like yellow or red icons?)

 

[Dave H]

There are no red or yellow icons in Device Manager.

I have 5 'Removable Devices' in My Computer. None of them show the USB plugged in.

 

[Addicted]

Have you rebooted the Vista machine since initially plugging the device in? Sometimes it'll require a reboot for driver installs to finish, so may help!

 

[Dave H]

No driver updates were required.

 

[Addicted]

No driver updates were required.

No, but it will install drivers for the USB drive when you plug it in

I'd restart it if you haven't already, otherwise there's something else funky that's going on.

 

[FariiD]

And do you see the usb when you go to: start - right click my computer - manage - disk management ?

 

[Dave H]

So, leave the USB plugged in whilst the PC starts up ?

 

[Dave H]

And do you see the usb when you go to: start - right click my computer - manage - disk management ?

Nothing at all.

 

[Addicted]

I'd unplug it, reboot, plug it back in, see where you are then with all the above tests (disk management, device manager etc) if nothing happens when you plug it in again.

 

[FariiD]

And what happends when you plug the usb back in the XP computer? Does the computer recognize it?



Edit:

Does other usb sticks work with the Vista computer? Is they don't, you should check the BIOS settings

 

[Dave H]

I plugged it into the back. It told me that it was then installing a driver update, but still nothing appears anywhere.

 

[Addicted]

Did you restart it yet?

 

[Dave H]

Thanks for the efforts. I'm off to bed, and i'll check for any new ideas tomorrow.

Cheers

 

[Dave H]

Did you restart it yet?

Yes, it was restarted, but nothing changed.

 

[Rob]

I thought you meant the programme wasn't showing, not the USB itself!

 

[GiT]

Plug it in, Right click on "My Computer", Manage, Disk Management... then see if it shows up as a known drive.

If not, go to Device Manager and look in Disk Drives with it connected - If you spot it - click "Uninstall" and let it reinstall. Might then show up.

You'll have a conflict issue.

 

[Dave H]

This is what I see with the USB plugged in. Which should I uninstall?

 

[iain187]

This is what I see with the USB plugged in. Which should I uninstall?

Take your USB thing out and one should disappear

Put your USB stick back in and when it appears uninstall that one which will force it to reinstall


If nothing changes right click on DJH-PC and click 'scan for hardware changes'


If still no changes maybe try unplugging your keyboard and put your USB in that socket to see if that's the fault?!

 

[@Spoonie]

This is what I see with the USB plugged in. Which should I uninstall?

What's listed under disk management?

 

[Dave H]

Take your USB thing out and one should disappear

Put your USB stick back in and when it appears uninstall that one which will force it to reinstall


If nothing changes right click on DJH-PC and click 'scan for hardware changes'


If still no changes maybe try unplugging your keyboard and put your USB in that socket to see if that's the fault?!

Nothing changed when taken out or after scanning for hardware changes. After plugging it into the keyboard socket I was told it was installing device driver, but nothing actually showed up anywhere.

Disk's 1-4 say 'no media'.


Stumped ! The USB works on the crappy XP PC at work.