USB Flash Drive problem

Cardew

I wonder if the 'Boffins' can help on this problem please.


My wife has a new laptop(AppleMac Air) and I am transferring her photos/music/document files from her old Windows PC running Vista using a new Phillips 32GB Flash drive USB 3.0


The intent is only to transfer some of the files to the new PC and the rest will be kept on the Flash drive for easy access as and when needed(all her files are backed up separately on the 'Family' 1TB external hard disk Drive using eSATA)


The first tranche of 12GB files(photos) downloaded to the Flash drive without a problem, albeit it took(as expected) a longish time.


I ejected the flash drive correctly(clicked safely eject etc). Later I inserted the same Flash drive, still with its 12GB contents, with the intent of adding some more files; and then the problem started!


The normal window appeared with the usual options(view, download, import etc). However the flash drive continued to 'operate' with the light on the flash drive flashing and the laptop operating(flashing cursor) and unable to use the computer for approx. 15 minutes, or safely eject Flash drive(device is in use displayed) I tried a couple more times with the same results. So the unsatisfactory position is that when inserting the flash drive there is a 15 min wait where no action can take place.


The problem is not the USB flash drive as it works perfectly well in my PC running Win 7. Also trying another Flash drive(2.0) in the Vista laptop produces the same 'Fault' symptoms - i.e. it takes a considerable time before the PC is ready.


So the problem indicates the culprit is either Vista or the PC itself. It appears that, when inserted, the flash drive is opening all of the files it contains.


Any ideas please?

poppellerant

Sounds like AutoPlay is scanning the drive.

From the Start menu click on Control Panel. Click on the big green Hardware and Sound then choose the big and green AutoPlay. Right at the very top there is an option, Use AutoPlay for all media and devices - untick this, then click the Save button on the bottom right of the window.

Let us know if this works.

Cardew

Thanks for this.


On Vista there is a separate Autoplay icon(but no Hardware and Sound)


Anyway I did as you suggested and bingo! it worked; so thanks very much.


The down side is that accessing the flash drive via My Computer doesn't display the usual various options - which has rather thrown my wife.


Anyway thanks again.

System

Did you put the docs etc straight on to the drive so that a large number were in the root of the drive? If so then try putting everything into a folder on the USB drive. That way you can have Autoplay back on as it only looks at the root of the USB drive and not into folders.

Cardew

!!!!!! wrote: »

Did you put the docs etc straight on to the drive so that a large number were in the root of the drive? If so then try putting everything into a folder on the USB drive. That way you can have Autoplay back on as it only looks at the root of the USB drive and not into folders.

Not sure what you mean by 'root of the drive?'

Most of the 12GB of files were organised into folders e.g. 'Greece Holiday' containing xx photos.


Anyway it now works adequately to just remove the files and then my intent is to try and do a complete re-install and replace Vista with Win 7 and give the laptop to my son.

Laz123

I had problems with a 32gb flashdrive with my Vista. It would freeze up the system when connected. The file type was FAT32 so I simply formatted it in NTFS and now it works wonders.

securityguy

Anyway, don't Apple have a migration assistant type thing for Windows?

Even if they don't, wouldn't it be easier to share the photos off the Windows machine, mount the
share onto the Mac, and copy the stuff over the network? Sneakernet with Flash Drives seems
rather hard work.