Usb generates message - drive e needs to be formatted

[riopaloma]

When I plug in a flash drive to a USB port, I get a message that the drive e needs to be formatted. It does recognize that a mass median device has been plugged in, but when I try to open the device, I get the format message. I've updated the drivers and still the same problem. Any ideas?
cd

 

[jsanthara]

Have you used this device before?

Are you trying to access data from the drive?

Does it work on other computers?

 

[popatim]

Was it formatted in another OS or is it for another OS, like a Mac maybe?

 

[riopaloma]

Have you used this device before?

Are you trying to access data from the drive?

Does it work on other computers?

This particular flash drive had data on it from a friend and I was going to copy it to my laptop pc when the problem first showed up. I was able to read and copy it using my desktop pc. I then took another flash drive that I have used before on this laptop, and tried it - and again, although it recognizes a mass media device in the drive, when I try to open it, it gives me the message that it needs formatted. That same device will read fine on my desktop. This laptop has 3 usb ports and none of them will work. Do you know if the usb ports have a main card or circuit board that just might have gone bad? Thanks

 

[riopaloma]

Was it formatted in another OS or is it for another OS, like a Mac maybe?

Yes, the time I tried to use the flash drive from a friend who was using a mac. This problem is on a Dell laptop running XP. But then I was able to open and read that same flash drive on my desktop pc also running XP. Then I tried using a flash drive that I have used before on the laptop and it still gave me the same format message. I cannot read or open from any of the 3 usb ports. Thanks

 

[jsanthara]

Try uninstalling all the USB drivers in device manager. Then restart your computer and windows will automatically reinstall the drivers. This does the trick a lot of times. Let me know how it works out.

 

[riopaloma]

Try uninstalling all the USB drivers in device manager. Then restart your computer and windows will automatically reinstall the drivers. This does the trick a lot of times. Let me know how it works out.

Thank you for the advice. I tried this. The drivers installed, but still the same problem. The other odd thing is that I used the USB port and down loaded pictures from my digital camera and that worked fine. So the USB port works with the camera, but not with a flash drive.