Windows 7: Lost USB recognition - Help

Hello,
I have been using an Sansa MP3 player for quite a while now. Yesterday, don't know exactly what happened, but when I plugged it in I saw an unrecognized device message on the task bar tray. The Sansa software failed to run automatically also. I checked the Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar and it failed to show the Sansa player, it always did before. In Windows Explorer the device is shown. How can I correct this issue? Thanks for any assistance.
Glenn

1st While the device is plugged in go to device manager find the sansa mp3 within device manager, and then right click it and press uninstall. After that unplug the device from the computer and plug it back in. It should install the drivers. Tell me how this goes.

Hello Skylais,
Thanks for the help! No luck. I took out and reinstalled everything from Sansa. Another weird additional issue, in my user account, the Sansa updater comes up and displays on the desktop when the player is plugged in, it will not do this as the Administrator!!!??? The Device manger shows it, the explorer shows it, but the device eject icon does not show it. Lost in cyberspace....
Glenn

glen,
try:

USB DEVICE IS UNKNOWN
Go into Device Manager.
A code of 43 indicates hardware problems.
A code of 28 indicates software problems.

Code of 43 causes:
1. device broken
2. cable broken
3. usb port “broken”
4. device has internal error or hung. Try unplugging, powering off, reconnect, power on
5. insufficient power: usb port supplies 100 mA whereas a hub provides 500 mA

Code of 28 causes:
1.upstream hub has failed or is hung. try power-cycling hub or replacing hub
2.windows unable to locate driver and no device descriptor string present. Contact manufacturer for driver.

Don' think this will solve your problem, but:
Diagnose and fix Windows USB problems automatically

More links:
My Drive does not appear in Windows Explorer view

Why is my USB device not detected or comes up as "Unknown Device"? - Microsoft Windows USB Core Team Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

What to Try When Your USB Device is an "Unknown Device" - Microsoft Windows USB Core Team Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Howdy karlsnooks,
The device functions, so there is at least that. The USB tried to fix it and failed..... Oh well! Now I have a ton of USB ports listed in the Device manager. How do I know which one it is, sorry for the lack of knowledge. The couple I stumbled through and one did mention the Sansdisk said it they were functioning properly. I will follow the links and see if I can decipher the information. Thanks kind Sir!
Glenn

I know what I would do first (after learning the hard way), try a known, good cable.

Hi

I am having a similar if not the same issue.
Is there anyway around the complete shutdown process as this is what works for me atm?
I have to completely shut down my machine, after the device works for 20 odd minutes, for it to work correctly.

The other concern is that both my internal USB hubs are doing the exact same thing... going down at the same time.
One is connected to the front USB ports and the other is a multi card reader. I have checked drivers, cables and the device. Apart from the above could there be something else that could be causing them to perform in this odd manner?

Vees

It seems that in my case its the cables... since the card reader is generic with a usb adapter finding a cable to replace will be difficult and the front usb cables come stock with the case so another pain... thanks karlsnooks :thumbup: