Flash Drive won’t work

Thank you xnav!



I did install the Windows drivers off the Leopard Disc.



BTW, do you know the file extension of a USB driver? Is it DLL?





I may have caused the problem by following some of the suggestions from this link:



http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=192199

How-to: Quickly Reduce Windows Installation Size



I was concerned that my new Windows partition (9 GB) would be too small very soon.



I didn't follow all the tips but, two that may have lost my USB drivers were:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Precompiled Setup Files (30 MB). These files are cached versions of all Windows .exes plus every single .exe you have run since you installed Windows. I don't use half the .exes in there, so I don't need the cache around; and if I do run the program, it will create it on first instance, so no problem.




C:\Windows\INF\*.PNF







dllcache (400 MB). This folder contains backups for all the system files installed on your machine. The folder allows the system to quickly restore files that are overwritten either by accident, bug, or virus/trojan. However, if you do not keep these files on your machine, then Windows will prompt you a Windows XP setup disc if some system file is being overwritten that it is monitoring. So I delete this huge folder and let my Windows CD house the backups.

This is a nice feature, especially if you are worried about security, so delete at last resort. I only mention it because it's a hefty 400MB or more and could really help out some people. It is hidden, so go to the below folder directly from the "Address Bar" in Windows Explorer:




C:\Windows\System32\Dllcache

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



I had copied those folders onto the huge Mac side of my partition where space is abundant “just in case.”



I put the PNF folder back into the Windows side & tried the USB flash drive again & same exact problem. I get a “triple beep sound” Nothing new located in “My Computer.” I tried the USB flash drive once again in a different Windows computer & it immediately worked by a single beep & an appearance in “My Computer.” So, I know the drive works.



Next I attempted to put the DLLcache folder back to see if that was the problem. I am unable to do it! For some reason (unknown to me) the DLL cache folder (now empty) on the Windows side of the partition is LOCKED! I have spent quite a bit of time trying various ways to put my saved content back. I tired to copy all the files & paste them in the empty folder-no luck. I tried deleting the empty folder so I could simply move the complete DLL CACHE folder back from the Mac side to the Windows side & cannot do that either. I keep getting messages that the dllcache folder is locked & it even has a tiny lock on it.



I would like to unlock this folder!



I wonder if there is some way to force Windows to recognize the USB drive as new hardware & ask for a driver. Then I could direct Windows to look online perhaps?



Any further suggestions would be welcome.

I think drivers have “SYS” as the file extension. I did look in Device manager. And looked at Generic USB Hub & Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller & USB Composite Device & finally USB Root Hub. All devices were said to be working properly. The drivers all were there :

Usbhub.sys

Usbhci.sys

Usbccgp.sys

Usbhub.sys





System32 also has a driver folder that is full of drivers & I even have WIndows/Driver Cache/i386 full of drivers as well as Windows/system32/reinstall backups/”13 different numbered files”/driverfiles/i386 and each of these 13 folders are full of drivers.



I assume the Leopard drivers were so the Optical drive, iCamera, keyboard & mouse all work. And they do work.



I don't want to reinstall Windows. I think the 'Repair existing Windows' route thru the install” that you mention is NOT a reinstallation of Widows but, I’ve never done that. I may try in a few days. If I just boot to Windows & insert the XPSP2 disc again I assume that 'Repair existing Windows' will be one of my choices, right?



Why do you think that the problem is related to the Leopard drivers? XP comes with many generic USB drivers so that installing drivers for USB devices should not be necessary.



I still would like to unlock that dllcache folder (which I discovered is locked from the MAC side) just to verify that it was not the problem. If I restore the contents & the USB drive still does not work.



If possible, could you please tell me exactly what 'Repair existing Windows' does?





Thanks again.

I see that IS a complete reinstallation of XP. I will consider that as a last resort. Much trouble.