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hotswapping usb



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 24th 06, 02:47 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
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Default hotswapping usb

I've lost my ability to hot swap usb2 devices after using them
successfully for several years.
If they are connected on power up they work fine and there is the
disconnect icon for when I want to disconnect them. This works ok. I can
disconnect and carry on normally. However I can't plug in a usb device
while the pc is up and running - it freezes up.

There are no problems reported in my Devices, Properties menu.

I suspect some software I tried to install has screwed it up. Since the
last successful use of the usb I tried to install Acronis Drive Image
(It did not complete), Serif Movie Maker 4 (it aborted because my
processor lacked sse support), Ulead Movie Factory (it did not complete).

I've uninstalled these. Subsequent to finding the usb problem I've also
used Fix-it utilities to remove 'left-overs' of the above three
programs from the registry. Acronis was the most prolific in leaving
entries.

I don't know if it also related to the fact I can't restore. The restore
goes through the motions, restarts and then says it can't restore
because there is not enough disk space (200mb) although I have 12Gb free.

Can anyone suggest which system files might be missing or corrupt for my
usb problem? A search of the Internet has not been fruitful. None of the
MS help pages covers the problem because they all assume you get some
kind of error message.
  #2  
Old April 24th 06, 03:07 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
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Default hotswapping usb

Just a wild guess and based solely on the number of aborted installs you
appear to have suffered. Check your windows\inf folder (a hidden system
folder and you will have to enable the viewing of such files and folders
in Explorer (Tools | Folder Options | View and check "Show hidden files
and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files") and look
for large numbers of oem*.inf files that are all 0 bytes in size. If
you've got thousands of such files this could be the cause of your
problem. Delete ONLY the 0 byte oem*.inf files.

System Resto
What is the version of the file smgr.dll in the windows\system folder?
You can check this by locating this file in Windows Explorer, selecting,
right clicking and choosing Properties and then clicking the Version tab.
If not 4.90.0.3003 then that could be the cause of the problem and you
need to download and install the 290700 patch for system restore. The
easiest way to do this is from the link in the associated KB article
(KB290700 - "Checkpoints that you create after September 8, 2001 do not
restore your computer" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=290700).

It is also possible that at one stage you did install this patch but have
subsequently reinstalled Win Me over itself using the Win Me CD. Doing
this causes the original, broken, version of smgr.dll to be reinstalled.
If this problem is a result of your having reinstalled Win Me over itself
may I recommend you to download and use the Belarc Advisor
(http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html) which will help you in
identify which other patches also need to be reinstalled.
--
Mike Maltby



cut this out" ""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net
""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net" wrote:

I've lost my ability to hot swap usb2 devices after using them
successfully for several years.
If they are connected on power up they work fine and there is the
disconnect icon for when I want to disconnect them. This works ok. I
can disconnect and carry on normally. However I can't plug in a usb
device while the pc is up and running - it freezes up.

There are no problems reported in my Devices, Properties menu.

I suspect some software I tried to install has screwed it up. Since
the last successful use of the usb I tried to install Acronis Drive
Image (It did not complete), Serif Movie Maker 4 (it aborted because
my processor lacked sse support), Ulead Movie Factory (it did not
complete).
I've uninstalled these. Subsequent to finding the usb problem I've
also used Fix-it utilities to remove 'left-overs' of the above three
programs from the registry. Acronis was the most prolific in leaving
entries.

I don't know if it also related to the fact I can't restore. The
restore goes through the motions, restarts and then says it can't
restore because there is not enough disk space (200mb) although I
have 12Gb free.
Can anyone suggest which system files might be missing or corrupt for
my usb problem? A search of the Internet has not been fruitful. None
of the MS help pages covers the problem because they all assume you
get some kind of error message.


  #3  
Old April 24th 06, 03:16 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

"cut this out" wrote :-

I don't know if it also related to the fact I can't restore.


Do you mean System Restore?

If so, and you only recently installed Acronis, etc., you *might* be able to
get back using scanreg /restore. But that will only offer you the last 5
days worth of registries - let's hope it's in that time frame.

Boot with your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk already inserted in the A:
drive, and choose option 4) Minimal Boot.

At the A:\ prompt, type "scanreg /restore" (no quotes and note the space
between the g and /) then press Enter.

Follow the screen prompts and when asked, select the LAST 'good' date BEFORE
THE PROBLEM, continuing with the instructions.

Don't forget to remove the floppy disk BEFORE you tell the machine to
reboot.

Good luck

Mart



"cut this out" ""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net" wrote in
message ...
I've lost my ability to hot swap usb2 devices after using them
successfully for several years.
If they are connected on power up they work fine and there is the
disconnect icon for when I want to disconnect them. This works ok. I can
disconnect and carry on normally. However I can't plug in a usb device
while the pc is up and running - it freezes up.

There are no problems reported in my Devices, Properties menu.

I suspect some software I tried to install has screwed it up. Since the
last successful use of the usb I tried to install Acronis Drive Image (It
did not complete), Serif Movie Maker 4 (it aborted because my processor
lacked sse support), Ulead Movie Factory (it did not complete).

I've uninstalled these. Subsequent to finding the usb problem I've also
used Fix-it utilities to remove 'left-overs' of the above three programs
from the registry. Acronis was the most prolific in leaving entries.

I don't know if it also related to the fact I can't restore. The restore
goes through the motions, restarts and then says it can't restore because
there is not enough disk space (200mb) although I have 12Gb free.

Can anyone suggest which system files might be missing or corrupt for my
usb problem? A search of the Internet has not been fruitful. None of the
MS help pages covers the problem because they all assume you get some kind
of error message.



  #4  
Old April 24th 06, 03:54 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes long.
My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use safe
mode or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself
very well (bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks
back and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that far.

My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the one
that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a usb device in

Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update
all MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it. As
I said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the
instal programs walked all over existing settings/files.



  #5  
Old April 24th 06, 04:42 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

System Restore.
Reset and test as follows:
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and check "Disable
System Restore", Apply and IMMEDIATELY reboot. This will flush you
restore folder and erase all checkpoints, then,
System | Performance | File System | Troubleshooting and uncheck "Disable
System Restore", Apply and again IMMEDIATELY reboot. This should now
automatically create a new checkpoint immediately following the restart.
Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder,
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore
slider to your preferred setting. A figure of 2-300MB is normally more
than adequate for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to
be available although increasing this to perhaps 400-500MB for a few days
during periods of large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.

Finally carry out the following quick test to check if all is now in
order.
a) Create a shortcut on your desktop to a file.
b) Create a manual checkpoint
Could you create a checkpoint?
c) Delete the shortcut
d) Restore your PC to the checkpoint you created.
Was the shortcut restored? Did you see any error messages?
e) Reboot your PC
Was the checkpoint retained?
--
Mike Maltby



cut this out" ""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net
""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net" wrote:

Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes
long. My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use
safe
mode or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself
very well (bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks
back and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that
far.
My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the
one that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a
usb device in
Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update
all MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it.
As I said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the
instal programs walked all over existing settings/files.


  #6  
Old April 24th 06, 10:45 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

... files that relate to usb usage I could
recopy them. For example, the one that
detects and throws up the disconnect
icon when you plug a usb device in.


Probably not the answer. That icon is contained in systray.exe and is used
for other devices than just USB, e.g. PCMCIA Cards, Zip Disks, etc., as well
as other system tray utilities.

I suppose you could also try a scanreg /fix but I suspect that the problem
is somewhat more complicated, as Noel and Mike have suggested.

Mart



"cut this out" ""lionelcarter\"@(cut this out)lineone.net" wrote in
message ...
Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes long.
My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use safe mode
or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself very well
(bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks back
and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that far.

My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the one
that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a usb device
in

Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update all
MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it. As I
said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the instal
programs walked all over existing settings/files.





  #7  
Old April 24th 06, 10:48 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

Hey Noel - You're 24 hours fast g Who scored the goal?

Mart


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
Duh?
only 4 INF files??
If that's true then you have some severe problems!!
Check Mike's instructions about enabling viewing of Hidden and System
Files again, and make sure that you are looking in the right place!!
There should be hundreds of files in the WINDOWS\INF folder - mostly file
sizes of 1KB

Noel

"cut this out" " wrote in message
...
Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes long.
My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use safe
mode or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself
very well (bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks back
and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that far.

My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the one
that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a usb device
in

Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update
all MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it. As
I said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the instal
programs walked all over existing settings/files.






  #8  
Old April 24th 06, 11:01 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

OK - so how's this??

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mart" wrote in message
...
Hey Noel - You're 24 hours fast g Who scored the goal?

Mart


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
Duh?
only 4 INF files??
If that's true then you have some severe problems!!
Check Mike's instructions about enabling viewing of Hidden and System
Files again, and make sure that you are looking in the right place!!
There should be hundreds of files in the WINDOWS\INF folder - mostly
file sizes of 1KB

Noel

"cut this out" " wrote in message
...
Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes long.
My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use safe
mode or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself
very well (bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks
back and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that
far.

My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the one
that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a usb
device in

Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update
all MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it. As
I said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the
instal programs walked all over existing settings/files.







  #9  
Old April 25th 06, 12:03 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

Better!

Mart


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
OK - so how's this??

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Mart" wrote in message
...
Hey Noel - You're 24 hours fast g Who scored the goal?

Mart


"Noel Paton" wrote in message
...
Duh?
only 4 INF files??
If that's true then you have some severe problems!!
Check Mike's instructions about enabling viewing of Hidden and System
Files again, and make sure that you are looking in the right place!!
There should be hundreds of files in the WINDOWS\INF folder - mostly
file sizes of 1KB

Noel

"cut this out" " wrote in message
...
Thanks for the advice but to no avail, unfortunately.

There are no 0 byte oem files in INF folder, Just 4, 5 to 7 bytes long.
My smgr.dll version is 4.90.0.3003. So far I've never had to use safe
mode or the ME cab disk, or System Restore. The pc has behaved itself
very well (bought in 2006).

I did mean system restore. Unfortunately this happened about 2 weeks
back and I've had to carry on using pc so scanreg won't go back that
far.

My simplistic mind was thinking if I could identify the 4 or 5 system
files that relate to usb usage I could recopy them. For example, the
one that detects and throws up the disconnect icon when you plug a usb
device in

Thanks for pointing out Belarc Advisor. I must admit I've don't update
all MS patches for ME on the basis of if it's not broke don't fix it.
As I said usb and everything else was working fine. I feel one of the
instal programs walked all over existing settings/files.









  #10  
Old April 25th 06, 12:44 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.general
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default hotswapping usb

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your help. I've tried to be a bit more explicit below, but
don't want to write a book!
I would be grateful for any further suggestions.
I feel reinstalling ME would be a 'cop out' as I would still not know
what went wrong.


System Restore

I faithfully followed your instructions Mike and it worked OK.
There was one hairy moment when Spybot popped up and said it detected a
change, should I accept or refuse.
But it bombed on while I was reading it so I had not responded.
Also I found 4000mb had been allocated to restore! I've brought it down
to 637mb.
So thanks; my system restore is now operative.

INF files

We are a bit at cross-purposes here.
I have 587 files in my INF folder. None are 0 byte.
I looked for oem*.inf files and found:
OEMCPL.INF 08/06/2000
OEM0.INF 24/08/2001
oem1.inf 23/10/2003
oem2.inf 05/02/2003
oem3.inf 04/03/2005
oem4.inf 04/03/2005

These all predate the problem by at least a year

There are only two files for 2006 (excluding AVG updates) in the INF
folder. They are around the time of the problem arising.
They are stmanim.inf and mswmp.inf both dated 30/03/2006 and having the
same time.
They seem to be related to MS Media Player. I've not knowingly altered
my MS Media Player. It still works OK.
I can only think it decided to link to the Internet of its own accord to
update itself or find a codec etc.

A bit more on the symptons:
If I plug in, say, my external USB hard drive 'hot' and then try to
access any folder/shortcut I get a constant hourglass.
Using CtrlAltDel I get 'Msgsrv32 not responding'.
If I have external drive connected up before I power up the pc then it
is recognised and I have the disconnect icon. If I disconnect the
external hard drive everything still carries on OK. I can access folders
etc as normal.
Similarly if I have two external USB devices connected before power up
then they are both recognised and work

Belarc Advisor
Works fine and recognises everything, including external hard drive and
USB ports. No problems reported and all 18 MS hot fixes ticked as OK.

 




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