Q. Windows XP cannot detect a USB thumb drive, an Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive?

After attaching a USB device to a computer running Windows XP, scanning for hardware devices does not detect the attached device and it may not be visible in My Computer.

This behavior may occur with a USB thumb drive, Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drive, if a key in the registry is corrupted, or incorrect.

I have scripted FixUSBKey.bat to correct the corrupted or incorrect registry entries.

To use FixUSBKey.bat:

1. Open a CMD.EXE window.

2. Type FixUSBKey.bat and press Enter.

3. Shutdown and restart your Windows XP computer.

FixUSBKey.bat contains:

@echo offsetlocalset key1=HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass\{4D36E980-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}set key2=HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}call :quiet>nul 2>&1endlocalgoto :EOF:quietREG DELETE %key1% /V UpperFilters /FREG DELETE %key1% /V LowerFilters /FREG DELETE %key2% /V LowerFilters /FREG DELETE %key2% /V UpperFilters /F

NOTE: If you lose functionality in any third-party program, like a CD recording application, see Third-Party Vendor Contact List.

NOTE: See Your floppy disk does NOT appear in Windows XP's My Computer?

NOTE: See CD-ROM access from MY Computer is unavailable after you remove software?