Why does USB flash drive stop working whenever I lock my WinXP?

[superboyac]

On my work computer, whenever I lock the computer and unlock to go back, the USB flash drive stops working.  Why?  how do I fix this?  It's like the drive gets automatically ejected when the computer gets locked.  The weird thing is, I have USB Safely Remove installed and the program can still see that the drive is plugged in, but it can't be used.  But it doesn't say the drive has been stopped or anything.  I don't get it, please help.  Thank you.

[KynloStephen66515]

Some USB drives get 'confused' when the Windows 'Lock Workstation' function is initiated and think the system has been shut down, there-fore they deactivate, I have noticed this with a few of my USB devices.

The only thing I can suggest is removing the USB flash drive before locking, and plugging it back in, when you unlock.

[superboyac]

Some USB drives get 'confused' when the Windows 'Lock Workstation' function is initiated and think the system has been shut down, there-fore they deactivate, I have noticed this with a few of my USB devices.

The only thing I can suggest is removing the USB flash drive before locking, and plugging it back in, when you unlock.

-Stephen66515 (February 08, 2010, 03:14 PM)

There's no other solution or explanation?  This same usb drive worked fine on other machines when locked.

[KynloStephen66515]

In which case, I can't be much more help to you I'm afraid, this is the only explanation I could think of as it happens to me also and I took a stab in the dark at troubleshooting it for myself, figured it might be the same for you.

[superboyac]

Stephen, quick question...is the computer where you have this same issue an HP?

[KynloStephen66515]

Nope, unless E-Machines have some sort of affiliation with HP, funno if it would be that though because there is very little left inside my tower that was originally there lol

[superboyac]

yeah, i ithought I found the solution, but I didn't.  It has to be some setting for hardware or the OS.  My computer came with a bunch of smartcard and security stuff installed, and I thought that may be the problem.  But I've removed them, and it still doesn't work.

The only one I haven't removed yet is the "Intel Management and Security" suite, because I don't know if the IT people here need it.  But I'd like to remove it.

[KynloStephen66515]

Have you had a look in BIOS? see if there is something there that could be kicking the USB Drive out?

[superboyac]

I just found the problem, I think.  I've been using the side usb ports on my monitor.  There are two of them.  The top one has this problem, the bottom one doesn't.  So it's either a faulty port, or some setting is screwed up for that particular slot.

[KynloStephen66515]

possibly, but at least you have figured it out 

[superboyac]

Ok, I still have the problem.  Sometimes there are two USB slots, and one or both of them will occasionally lose it's connection whenever I lock the computer.  I don't understand.  The computer still knows it's there, but it can't read the contents.  Like, it sees the drive in there and everything, but when you go to the drive, it's just like trying to browse an empty cd-r disk.

What happens when I lock the computer that disconnects the usb on the monitor?