XP Pro unable to view external storage, CDs, iPod, USB sticks, etc.

[PrayForDeath]

So about a month ago my Windows XP Pro stopped booting due to a corrupt file (can't remember what it was). This happened when I lost power.

I ended up doing the whole repair process from the CD, and that fixed my OS and I was able to boot normally.

However, ever since that repair, my windows stopped showing CDs, USB sticks, or any external storage in explorer. All CDs are empty when I open them. And iTunes can no longer see my iPod.

It would still identify the USB drives and do the USB plug-in sound, but it wouldn't show it or let me browse it. And I can still burn and copy CDs/DVDs in Nero.

I'm very cautions about spyware/malware and I only browse in Firefox with noscript and have Avast and Threatfire running in the background. I scanned my PC several times, and I'm pretty sure this isn't a malware-related issue.

Does anyone have any suggestion on how to fix this?

Thanks

 

[MrChad]

Is there anything in Device Manager with an exclamation point next to it? What make/model motherboard do you have?

 

[Bozo Galora]

Several things to try come to mind right away since you had a power interruption - this can corrupt the MBR (master boot record), or the bios chip itself

so, as a very basic first move, I would make note of all bios settings, then shut down, reset cmos by shifting mobo jumper for min 1 hour, move jumper back, then booting and immediately f8 into bios and set failsafe defaults and save and boot, then reboot to bios and reinput settings

Next you need to do a FIXMBR from XP disc recovery (not repair) console.........
boot from the Windows install disk. When it gets past all the driver loading and stuff, hit R to go to recovery console.

Give the administrator password, and then give this command:
Code:

fixmbr C: (or, the drive your system is on)

Or pick the number of the O/S showing (enter) and type FIXMBR (enter)
http://www.microsoft.com/resou...s_fixmbr.mspx?mfr=true
Note that some bios must have its own virus protection disabled for these type things to work

There is a sw called diskpatch that is the most powerful MBR fixer I have ever used and an older vers (2.1) is avail free online at some sites
http://www.brothersoft.com/diskpatch-33206.html
Runtime's Get Data Back also has a fairly good MBR fixer

Do your opticals show in dev manager?
Also I might mention SP3 updated XP installs are famous for this.

 

[MrChad]

What would the MBR have to do with device detection? If he had an MBR issue it's unlikely that he could boot into windows.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
Several things to try come to mind right away since you had a power interruption - this can corrupt the MBR (master boot record), or the bios chip itself

so, as a very basic first move, I would make note of all bios settings, then shut down, reset cmos by shifting mobo jumper for min 1 hour, move jumper back, then booting and immediately f8 into bios and set failsafe defaults and save and boot, then reboot to bios and reinput settings

Next you need to do a FIXMBR from XP disc recovery (not repair) console.........
boot from the Windows install disk. When it gets past all the driver loading and stuff, hit R to go to recovery console.

Give the administrator password, and then give this command:
Code:

fixmbr C: (or, the drive your system is on)

Or pick the number of the O/S showing (enter) and type FIXMBR (enter)
http://www.microsoft.com/resou...s_fixmbr.mspx?mfr=true
Note that some bios must have its own virus protection disabled for these type things to work

There is a sw called diskpatch that is the most powerful MBR fixer I have ever used and an older vers (2.1) is avail free online at some sites
http://www.brothersoft.com/diskpatch-33206.html
Runtime's Get Data Back also has a fairly good MBR fixer

Do your opticals show in dev manager?
Also I might mention SP3 updated XP installs are famous for this.

I'll give this a try when I get home.

I forgot to mention that I have Windows7 installed on the same machine, and I can still view my CD's/USB sticks/iPod normally on it. So this is definitely software related.

My motherboard is in my sig.

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[Bozo Galora]

oops nm - new info

 

[Bozo Galora]

O.K. thats totally different situation
We went from power loss and restart surge corrupting something "you dont remember" in OP to a dual boot XP - Win 7 with an XP repair from the CD.

You need to clean your filters in XP registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060 (Opticals)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196/zh_CN (USB drives)


http://i42.tinypic.com/a1i9ex.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/erakaq.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/200s4g2.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/21buf51.jpg

Edit: But before you do the above, just go into safe mode and dev. manager and delete all opticals listed (safe mode also shows the "ghost drives" that were never uninstalled) to force a redetect after boot up. See if that fixes it first.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Thanks a ton. The microsoft fix worked and everything is back to normal now