Windows 7: USB Flash Drive Install Errors

When I plug in a flash drive, Windows always reports that it could not install the driver for it. First, I tried a SanDisk 2Gb Micro Cruzer with U3 Smartdrive. The Smartdrive installed OK, but the other partition did not show up. I then tried a Kingston 4Gb DataTraveler. This one does not have the U3 drive on it. I got the same error message that it could not install the drive. Both drives work fine on computers with XP. I am running Windows 7 Build 7100 on a HP Compaq Presario V5207NR laptop.

Welcome to the sevenforums! first off. XP will see ready access to the factory Fat volumes generally seen on flash drives and external hard drives due to that version's backward compatibility. With Vista and 7 the first move with any seeing that is to simply go into the Disk Management while the drive is plugged in and right click on the partition to select the reformat option

What that will do is reformat the existing partition to NTFS 5.0 which is native to Vista and 7. You should have ready access to it following that. With data already on however you may be able to see that converted to the NT file system using the method outlined at How to convert a FAT16 volume or a FAT32 volume to an NTFS file system in Windows XP

That can be touch and go at times where the best is to backup anything presently on the two and proceed with a normal reformat. With external drives as well as a larger Kingston 16gb model I boot from a live GParted cd and simply delete one to see another brand new created and formatted simply another way to insure integrity.

I also tried an external hard drive that is formatted NTFS. Same thing -- said I needed to contact the mfg. for a driver. This is going to be a major downfall of this OS, plus the fact that it is not going to support FAT. Even an Apple can at least read FAT! Think of how many millions of flash drives and external HDs this OS is not going to support. Why not just forget about this weird Vista-Windows 7 thing and put all this energy into something that MS got right for a change --XP!!!

Windows Seven works fine, I've been using it for a while, and never have had any problems with any flash drives I've bought in the past 5 (or so) years. Ranging from 128 kb - 64 GB, U3, Bootable, etc.

I just got finished dumping XP off of one drive for the 32bit RC with Vista on the latest Virtual PC beta there. The reformat to ntfs would normally make any external hard drive or usb flash drive noticed right off once Windows XP, Vista, or 7 detected it. You may want to look in the device manager under disk drives as well as looking in the Disk Management tool to see what drives appear there.

Instead of trying to boot up with one those already plugged in shutdown, unplug either of the flash drives, and then wait until 7 is up at the desktop to plug it in there. That should immediately see a popup indicating the drive is then detected.

Hi there, I also have the same problem with all my flash drives. Windows 7 is able to detect a new hardware has been plugged in, however it just DO NOT have the driver to install, not even after searched in Windows Update. Having said that, it is not shown any where in Disk Management as a Drive or Partition. I'm stunt as flash drive drivers are suppose to be the most common thing in any OS where even the manufacturers need not publish the drivers for download.

I wouldn't blame Windows 7 to be the culprit because apparently not all users have the same problem. I have friends who can use their flash drive with no problems same like Copyright above!

Warcat, did you try to format and re-install the Win 7? Or searching the drivers in Win Vista CD? I may want to try these later....

i have the same 2gig cruzr. delete the U3 stuff off it (back it up somewhere), then it should work. did for me anyway.

I made up a GParted lve usb key with a SanDisk 2gb and will likely grab a 4gb for use as a 7 installer. Recently I made the mistake of grabbing a larger PNY 16gb when already having the same Kingston model.

The SanDisk was readily usable on a low powered usb hub while the PNY sadly wouldn't. Plus the PNY after a good reformat to clean off all of the factory goop offered less space then the Kingston when compared.

Out of the three however the main thing was not seeing as much need for power with the SanDIsk brand as seen with the others which can help avoid problems from the start.