The computer isn't connecting to USB storage devices.
The computer isn't connecting to USB storage devices.
Hey there! Welcome from Australia! I'm dealing with a curious problem where my PC only sees a USB flash drive for the first time after a restart. Once connected, it shows up as "Unknown USB Device (Invalid Device Descriptor)" in Device Manager, and it's missing from File Explorer or Disk Management. I've tried the steps from the video—like updating drivers, turning off fast startup, and clearing static electricity—but nothing seems to work. Anyone have a clue?
Would you like me to display a screenshot of the Device Manager? For example, your current view shows something like this: Spoiler Do you have any other USB devices plugged into USB 3 (blue, often) sockets, and if so, do they currently work?
Here’s a revised version of your message:
I’ve shared a snapshot of my device manager. Mostly, several devices are connected via USB 3. I have my keyboard, mouse, webcam, and a charger for my BT headphones plugged in. The front of my case still shows USB 2.1, which I’ve worked on many times before. I also tried using a spare USB 3.0 on the rear I/O, but the problem persists. I suspect there’s an issue with my PC because the drive seems fine on my laptop. Also, I’ve tested various drives, and only a Lexar 32GB Windows installer consistently works.
Consider running an experiment using a different machine to set up a standard live Linux distribution on a memory card—such as Mint or Ubuntu. Start the computer from the card so it runs the OS directly from it. Then test other cards by connecting them. If the live system works smoothly, it suggests the issue is likely with Windows software, not hardware. In that scenario, it’s best to back up your data and perform a full wipe before reinstalling Windows.