USB FLASH Drive crashes windows 10 on plug in

[MitC]

I updated my Compaq Mini 110 laptop from window XP to Windows 10.  Everything nworks okay, except foir when I put in a USB FLASH drive - i tried 3 different sizes fron 2, 4, and 16G.  This will crash windows 10.  It doesn't give me an error code.  A USB DVD drive and a USB hard drive work fine.  I think I need a driver update.  I've tried the following:

1) Had USB drive automatically update itself - it indicated I had the latest driver.

2) Un-install all USB drivers, then re-started.

3) Updated the Realtek card reader driver.

4) Check the HP website for driver updates - none for USB.

5) Haven't had any luck finding anything on the web - seems no one else had this problem whe the updated this laptop to windows 10.

Can anyone help?

[The_Fossette]

@MitC,

Welcome to the HP Forums!

Thank you for posting your query on this forum, it's a great place to find answers.

I reviewed your post and I understand that Windows crashes once you connect a USB flash drive to the computer.

Don’t worry, I assure you I will try my best to get this sorted.

In order that I may provide you with an accurate solution, I will need a few more details.

• When was the last time the computer was working fine?
• Have you made any software or hardware changes?

Meanwhile, I recommend you follow the below steps and check if it helps.

1. Click Start button on your PC and right-click Computer, and then select Properties in the context menu.
2. Click Advanced system settings link given the left column.
3. In the System Properties window, click Environment Variables.
4. Click New and you will see the New User Variable dialog box.
5. Type in “Devmgr_show_details” in the Variable name field and “1” in the Variable value field.
6. Click OK to save.\
7. Open Device Manager
(Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System > Device Manager)
8. Once in Device Manager, click View and choose Show hidden devices.
9. Uninstall all the malfunctioning USB drives.
(Right-click > Uninstall)
Note: Do not uninstall a driver other than the ones that were hidden.
10. Restart your PC and it will fix all the problems with the USB ports drivers.

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

If the solution provided helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Your feedback counts!

Take care.

Cheers!

[MitC]

Answers to your questions:

1. Last time is was working  => Before I updated to windows 10

2. Any harware or software changes. => No HW changes. I did major SW update.  I updates the OS from windows XP to Windows 10.  This OS required a clean install of windows 10.  I installed windows 10 OS, then all my SW (MS Office, Roxie, Adobe ElementS, and more.)  When I finished setting up the SW as I wanted, then it was time to make a full backup.  I started with a windows 10 recovery drive.  The windows 10 recovery drive only uses the USB Flash drive.  This is when the issue showed up.  Note: the Compaq mini 110 doesn't have a CD/DVD drive built in to it, so for the OS and SW installs I used a USB CD/DVD drive with no issues.   Like I mentioned, to make sure I didn't have a bad USB flash drive I tried 2 different ones.  All 3 of these usb flash drive function properly in my windows 10 desktop.  I then tried a USB hard drive, and it worked properly. USB Flash drives continue to be a issue.

I tried the steps you posted in your reply where I displayed the hidden USB functions.  There was only 1, USB mass storage.  I unstalled the driver, and re-started the laptop.  THIS DID NOT HELP, THE LAPTOP CRASH WITH THE WINDOWS 10 BLUE FORCESTOP SCREEN WHEN I PLUGGED IN A USB FLASH DRIVE.

[MitC]

Update:

   Decided I would use my norton ghost SW to create a backup. Used the USB dvd drive I installed all the SW with to create a DVD backup.  When the DVD drive begin to write, the laptop crashd like with the FLASH drive. Started thinking maybe a power issue.  Decided to let the battery fully charge,  When fully chagre, tried FLASH drive with battery only and Full battery with AC, but both ways crashed.

Found a powered USB hub, and plugged in FLASH drive.  This time FLASH drive initialized about 10-15 seconds longer before laptoop crashed.

Got I my old powered DVD drive, and laptop crash 10-15 seconds after installing a blank DVD,

The force stop (crash screen) writes out data before re-starting.  Need to figure out how to look at this data,

Also concerning to restore my laptop to XP to see if the issue goes away!

[The_Fossette]

@MitC,

Thank you for information.

I recommend you revert to the original operating system and test.

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

If the solution provided helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Your feedback counts!

Take care.

[MitC · Accepted solution]

Going back to Windows XP was the last option I wanted to try, that's why I tried the Support Forum.  Since you have no idea what the issue with windows 10 too, I guess I have no choice.

Decided to try Window 7 instead, since I know this model of the laptop was available in both Windows XP and 7.  Windows 7 would resolve all the users issue I was having with XP.  

There were no issues with the USB ports when using Windows 7 OS.  Looks like the laptop HW is too old for Windows 10.  I'm going to stay with Windows 7 for now.  I gues I own an extra Windows 10 license.

[The_Fossette]

@MitC,

Perfect, I am really glad to hear that the computer is working fine with Windows 7. As you have mentioned, yes your computer doesn't support Windows 10.

If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back to me.

If the solution provided helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Your feedback counts!

Good day! Take care 🙂

Cheers!