Compaq Presario 1800 Problem

[Pauln1]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can help me overcome my present frustration ... please.

Keen to back-up all my docs and data files from the above notebook I just last week purchased a 160GB plug-n-play external USB hard drive (Western Digital WD1600E1MS-00). Sadly, no joy.

When I plug the HDD into any of the 3 USB ports it immediately powers up (indicator lights and I feel the motor humming). However, as Windows identifies "New Hardware", instead of simply recognising and activating it I get a "Found New Hardware Wizard" pop-up. After completing the required steps here Windows does an extended search but fails to install showing the results as "There was a problem installing this external HDD hardware. An error occurred during the installation of this device, the data is invalid".

I have tried the new HDD in a friends PC to find that it installs without any hitch or the need to process the "Found New Hardware Wizard".

I have searched WD's site for possible drivers without luck.

I have spoken with the retailer who can only suggest that the problem lies with my notebook (d'oh) and to return the HDD. Not particularly helpful.

I have other peripheral hardware (flashdrives, camera, printer, mouse, keyboard, etc) that operate quite OK on the same USB ports, so why not this? BTW, I also recently experienced a similar problem with the software that came with my current Samsung mobile phone, the phone is not recognised by the Compaq when plugged into the USB, but I gave up on that as it wasn't so important.

Any ideas please?

Thanks,

Paul

[Sylvander]

This is a 2.5 inch USB 2.0 HDD right?

Which Windows version [and service pack] are you running?
And does Windows include USB 2.0 drivers for this, or are they supplied on a disk that comes with the drive?
Is this a drive sold in non-English markets, with driver files not in English?

How do things look in Device Manager if you view devices "By Connection" and expand the tree?
Any "Unknown Devices" with a special mark indicating a problem?

Error Message: Cannot Install Hardware. An Error Occurred During the Installation of the Device (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810882)

[Pauln1]

Thanks for the quick response Sylvander.

This is a 2.5 inch USB 2.0 HDD right?
Right.

Which Windows version [and service pack] are you running?
XP with SP2 incl auto updates.

And does Windows include USB 2.0 drivers for this, or are they supplied on a disk that comes with the drive?
How do I tell if Windows includes USB 2.0 drivers? No disk (or installation documentation) came with the HDD.

Is this a drive sold in non-English markets, with driver files not in English?
I don't know if it is sold in non-English markets, I can only assume it is as the accompanying WD warranty document (flyer) is printed in multiple languages.

How do things look in Device Manager if you view devices "By Connection" and expand the tree? Any "Unknown Devices" with a special mark indicating a problem?
An external HDD is listed under "Other Devices" with a ? next to it. A look at its details shows the note "This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1) To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver". When I do this it simply goes through the "Found New Hardware Wizard" sequence again without success.

Thanks,

Paul

[Sylvander]

1. Found this...
ERROR MESSAGE: "...The data is invalid"
This problem is occurs because the registry will not allow writes to the driver information keys. (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/info/tech_help.php#109)
How are you in the registry?
OK doing this?
Does your XP user account have [Admin] permission to install devices?

2. "How do I tell if Windows includes USB 2.0 drivers?"
Info out on the web says XP SP2 includes updated version of the USB 2.0 driver, so you AUGHT to be OK .

3. "it is as the accompanying WD warranty document"
So it seems to be OK.
It's just odd that when I used [B]WD1600E1MS-00 as a Google search term I only got [a very few] non-English website results. :confused:

4. "When I do this it simply goes through the "Found New Hardware Wizard" sequence again without success"
I wonder if the fix in 1 above will do the trick? :)
You could also try using Unknown Device Identifier (http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html) to positively confirm the identity of the problem device. [Identity needed when doing 1 above]

[Paul Komski]

The drive works OK on another PC so it would appear to be either Compaq or Windows related.

No special drivers should be needed for a USB drive under WinXP SP2 and if USB2 is enabled then one of the USB host controllers in device manager show include the word enhanced.

If you can boot to a Live CD (BartPE or Knoppix) and see or not see the drive then that should help locate the problem.

I wonder (despite its "humming") if the laptop is providing enough power for the device thus leading so some sort of mal-recognition. Is there any way to augment the drive's power? If not directly then a powered hub could be a possibility especially if you could just borrow one.

PS
This seems to be your model (http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=329). (* An optional cable is available for the few computers that limit power from the USB port. )

[Pauln1]

Paul,

Yes, this is the ext HDD that I have.

Yes, the word "enhanced" does appear.

I have just today tried using a powered USB hub to no effect so I don't think lack of power is the issue.

I don't know what you mean by "boot to a live CD"??

Sylvander,

How are you in the registry? Apparently not so hot. I did the F10 thing on boot-up but unable to find my way around to try any changes. Might be a good thing.

I ran the Unknown Device Identifier to find this result.
Vender: Western Digital Technologies
PnpID: VID_1058&PID_1010
Device: USB Device

See Paul Komski's post for a link that displays the actual HDD in question.

I have rechecked the model notebook I have to find that my earlier description is a bit short of detail. It is a Compaq Presario B1801TU. How do I check that the 3 onboard USB ports are either 1.1 or 2.0? Could this matter anyway?

Thanks,

Paul

[Paul Komski]

It looks as if your system has a problem recognising the USB enclosure - for whatever reason. No special drivers should be needed for WinXP. USB1.1 ports should normally be OK but slow. Timing the transfer of a file of known size would be a good way to test which type of USB is enabled - but first the device must be accessible of course. WinXP normally warns one if one has USB2 capability in the software (as shown by your having enhanced controller) but with 1.1 ports - but then we know your device is not properly recognised in the first place.

Live CDs (http://www.paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1813#LiveCDs). There is also a link to using Knoppix to backup in my sig.

You could try removing not only the problem device but also everything under USB in Device Manager and then rebooting without the drive attached and then attach the drive.

You could try a USB2 PCMCIA card (http://www.usb-ware.com/usb-2-pcmcia-card-2-port-ub502.htm) not only to ensure USB2 support but also to remove the possibility that your own ports are faulty in some other way.

You could try a clean (or a second parallel) install of WinXP if you have enough spare space on your hard drive (20 gig total if I read the correct specs).

Would burning your data to a CD or transfer via a network cable be possible ways of getting your data safely backed-up as an interim measure. The only other relatively easy way would be to remove the HDD and access it from another PC while swapped into your current enclosure. You could even swap in the 2.5" drive and install winxp anew. Then see if the new installation could detect your own drive in the enclosure. That should sort out definitively what is working and what is not.

[Sylvander]

1. "I did the F10 thing on boot-up but unable to find my way around to try any changes."
Huh!
Why do the F10 thing?
The instructions on the linked web page tell you how to get into the registry [from within Windows], and then where to go once in, and what to do when you get there. :)

2.
Vender: Western Digital Technologies
PnpID: VID_1058&PID_1010
Device: USB Device
Is this the device that is marked as an "Unknown Device" [because it has no driver installed (hence the yellow question mark)]?
It possibly has no driver installed because the registry is marked to block any changes in the settings and those are necessary for it to be installed.
"This problem occurs because the registry will not allow writes to the driver information keys."
Hence the linked web page with its solution.

[Paul Komski]

By all means try Sylvander's suggestion of editing the registry but make sure you have backed up the registry and set a restore point first especially since your system is functional (in other respects bar this drive) and backup is important to you. Directly editing the registry, especially in an area where the correct key is not going to be obvious, can be risky.

I note (that in the suggested link) that the suggested hack is in response to BSODs which haven't actually been specifically reported here as far as I can tell - even though the wording looks the same.

Problem: Blue Screen When Trying To Install Hardware And/Or Drivers - error message is "There was a problem installing this hardware :Hardware Name. An error occurred during the installation of this device. The data is invalid." This problem is occurs because the registry will not allow writes to the driver information keys.

I still suspect the hardware - especially since the Samsung also had problems on this (7 or 8 yr old) PC.

[Pauln1]

Hi,

Paul, that BSOD message you posted in your last message is exactly what I get after running the "Found New Hardware Wizard", but no blue screen, thankfully.

I followed the instructions from that web link and searched right through the registry to find no reference to the WD ext HDD. I did find something about a USB mass storage device and changed it to give "permission to everyone" but to no effect.

Sorry Sylvander, I'm by no means computer savvy so I misunderstood what you meant, that's why I did the F10 thing. As the saying goes ... a little knowledge is dangerous.

Something else I now have ... since loading and running the Driver Detective and updating suggested drivers I have the "Found New Hardware Wizard" for a Philips Monitor popping up every time I boot-up. Yes, I have a Philips monitor and it's working just fine. Would be nice to know how to get rid of this now. Someone pass the mallet please :eek: .

Paul

[Fuel Doctor]

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SO I WHENT TO THE NEAREST PC WORLD AND a man SHOWED ME WHAT TO DO.

>. GO TO GOOGLE AND SEARCH FOR Weston Digital click on search and a page of sites show up the top site FOR Weston Digital has sub links click on Downloads sub link, that will take you to Weston Digital click on
Other External Storage.
>. the moddel WD Essential USB 2.0 and there you are!! down load the Driver.
Mike
:confused:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=408&lang=en

[Paul Komski]

Fuel Doctor. You should only need drivers for a Win98se system and not for WinXP.

http://www.wdc.com/en/library/usb/2079-001050.pdf?wdc_lang=en

Windows 98SE
1.Go to support.wdc.com, click Downloads, locate your product name, and download the device driver installer onto your computer desktop.
2.Double-click the device driver icon to begin installation.
3.When driver installation is completed, restart your computer.
4.After restarting, follow the instructions in Section2 to connect the drive. Windows automatically detects the drive and a new hard drive icon
appears in the My Computer window. Your WD drive is preformatted as a single FAT32 partition and is ready to use.
Windows Me/2000/XP
1.After connecting the drive, Windows automatically detects your WD drive and installs the drivers.
2.If prompted, restart your computer. A new drive icon appears in the My Computer window. Your WD drive is preformatted as a single FAT32
partition and is ready to use.