Laptop freezes when I insert a memory stick

[Traveler-data]

The moment I insert a memory stick (Kingston DataTraveler 100G3 / 32GB) into the USB port (either one of the two), the laptop freezes.  I cannot do soft boot, and have to hold down the on/off button for a few seconds to shut it down and reboot it.

When I inserted the stick, the laptop did respond by making a sound...indicating a new hardware is installed/detected.

The same memory stick works well with a Dell laptop.

FYI, both the memory stick and the HP laptop are new.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Traveler-data 

Welcome !

Here are few steps to try:

• From another PC, try formatting the affected USB drive and leave it completely formatted/empty. Here is how to do it >> https://www.windowscentral.com/how-format-usb-flash-drive-windows-10#format_usb_drive_fileexplorer_W...
• On the affected HP PC:  Download usbdeview software from NirSoft >> https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
• Run usbdeview with admin rights by right clicking it
• Find the affected Kingston drive in the list
• Right click the Kingston drive and choose to Uninstall it
• Close usbdeview

• Reinstall the USB drivers and check if it helps.

  Click on the Start button, type and search for Device Manager
  Open Device Manager.
  In the list, find and then expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section by clicking on the plus button.
  Uninstall each of the devices under the USB Controller section by right-clicking on each one, and then clicking Uninstall.
  Close the Device Manager and restart your computer - here is how to do it >> https://www.isunshare.com/windows-10/4-ways-to-restart-and-shut-down-on-windows-10.html
  
  

  Eventually, Windows will automatically re-install the USB controllers in your computer, without you having to do anything further. Your computer will now run USB devices properly.

• Try again . Let me know how it goes

[Traveler-data]

Thank you; it works fine.  But the laptop freezes once I pull out the memory stick.  I had to hold down the on/off switch to turn off the laptop.

After starting the laptop, I used usbdeview to uninstall the Kingston drive again (did not uninstall the USB controller this time).  The laptop can read and write to the Kingston stick again.

FYI, I inserted another memory stick earlier, there is no such problem at all.

[Traveler-data]

Additional information:

I ejected the drive and pulled out the Kingston memory stick.  The laptop does not freeze BUT I could not run file explorer.  The left-hand panel is ok, but the panel that supposes to show the list of files was blank.

I tried to restart the laptop, though I could choose the restart key, but it does not restart (it does not switch off; the screen turns blue with the restarting sign running and running).  I had to cold boot it.

To ensure the laptop runs smoothly, I opened usbdeview and uninstall Kingston.  The laptop (including the file explorer) runs smoothly.

[IT_WinSec]

Thank you for your update.

If you still face difficulties, and since this is a new computer, it would be great if you can reinstall Windows completely to give the machine fresh clean start. There may be something which is not acting as it should.

... and since this is a new PC, I think there is no much data or program to loose if you reinstall now.

• Make sure you copy/back up your most important data now before you decide to reinstall. Copy/back up on external drive or to online Cloud storage service (Dropbox, OneDrive, GDrive,etc)
• Follow the steps in the PDF file below and reinstall Windows

Let me know how it goes. Provide your update