getlin
Level 1 (4 points)
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Q: USB device not found

Hello!

 

So I have a problem with my USB devices. My MacBook Pro Retina 13 (late 2013) doesn't recognise my USB flash drives. The same drives have been working for years but a few weeks ago one stopped working. I didn't make a big deal of it at first, but yesterday when I wanted to install Windows to my mac, I noticed that it doesn't read any of my USB flash drives. The USB ports work, I can use USB mouse, USB headphones and everything, but both of the USB ports cant read my flash drives. So I'm kinda stuck over here wanting to install windows.

 

I've tried a lot of things, even Disk Utility won't show the flash drives.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 23, 2016 6:26 AM

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getlin

Q: USB device not found

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  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Aug 23, 2016 6:47 AM in response to getlin
    Level 7 (24,038 points)
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    Aug 23, 2016 6:47 AM in response to getlin

    If both USB ports work with mice, keyboards, etc then I’d suspect the flash drive(s). Two suggestions. First, reset the SMC Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support - Even though the ports are working maybe there’s something wonky affecting drives but nothing else. Second, see if the drives work on another computer. If so, if you can do so without losing data (copy it to another drive) format it and see if that has any effect.

  • by getlin,

    getlin getlin Aug 23, 2016 6:59 AM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 23, 2016 6:59 AM in response to dwb

    Reseting SMC didn't work and the flash drives do work on another computer. I could try to format, but I highly doubt it's going to do anything.

  • by getlin,

    getlin getlin Aug 24, 2016 2:30 AM in response to getlin
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 24, 2016 2:30 AM in response to getlin

    So I formatted my USB stick, even a brand new one and it didn't work. The problem is so weird, I can't understand how my computer reads all the devices except hard drives.

  • by dwb,

    dwb dwb Aug 24, 2016 12:28 PM in response to getlin
    Level 7 (24,038 points)
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    Aug 24, 2016 12:28 PM in response to getlin

    That is beyond weird. I've never come across this And I've worked in customer service for years. obviously it is either hardware or software   but which? (Sorta like gambling at the races is easy - just pick the right horse.) So the choice is 1) download and reinstall the OS (and maybe you've installed something that is interfering so maybe a clean install.) or 2) take it to an Apple service location.

     

    Personally, I'd back up the computer then download and install the OS and then see if the computer could read the drive. If so  then it's a gamble. Would I migrate everything or just the data and install my applications one by one.  If the install didn't work then I'd go to Apple but that's just me.

  • by getlin,

    getlin getlin Aug 24, 2016 12:32 PM in response to dwb
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 24, 2016 12:32 PM in response to dwb

    Actually I installed the OS last week and before that I wanted to put my files into an USB stick. It didn't read my USB drive back then also, but it didn't notice it that day.