In today’s digital age, USB devices are essential for transferring data and connecting peripherals. However, if you’re encountering an issue where your USB device is not recognized by your Windows 7 computer, it can be frustrating. In this article, we will explore eight solutions to fix this issue and get your USB device up and running again.
Reinstalling or Updating USB Drivers
To reinstall or update USB drivers, follow these steps:
1. Open Device Manager.
2. Locate the USB drivers section and right-click on the driver that’s malfunctioning.
3. Select Uninstall and confirm the action.
4. Disconnect the USB stick or device.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Reconnect the USB stick or device to the last USB port you used.
7. Windows should automatically install the driver.
8. If not, go back to Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes.
9. If the device is still not recognized, try using a different USB cable or USB hub.
10. If the issue persists, update the drivers by going to the manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your specific device.
11. If you’re using Oracle VM VirtualBox, make sure to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack.
By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “USB device not recognized” error on your Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer. For more detailed instructions, check out our tutorial on how to fix USB device not recognized errors.
Uninstalling and Reconnecting External Hard Drive
To uninstall and reconnect an external hard drive on Windows 7, follow these steps:
– First, disconnect the external hard drive from your computer.
– Open the Device Manager by typing “device manager” into the search bar.
– Look for any entries that are labeled as an “unknown device” or have a yellow exclamation mark next to them.
– Right-click on the entry and select “Uninstall device”.
– Once the device has been uninstalled, restart your computer.
– After restarting, reconnect the external hard drive using a different USB cable or port.
– If the device still isn’t recognized, try connecting it to a different computer to see if the issue is with the device itself.
– If the external hard drive works on another computer, then the issue may be with your computer’s USB drivers. Try updating the drivers or reinstalling them.
By following these steps, you can uninstall and reconnect your external hard drive to fix any USB device not recognized issues you may be experiencing.
Installing Hotfixes and Windows Updates
To fix USB device not recognized issues in Windows 7, installing hotfixes and updates can help. Check for updates by going to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update. Install all recommended updates, including optional ones related to USB drivers. To install hotfixes, search for the specific hotfix on the Microsoft website and download it. Follow the installation instructions provided. If the issue persists, try plugging the USB device into a different USB port or using a different USB cable. Updating the driver for the device in Device Manager may also help. If using virtualization software like Oracle VM VirtualBox, enable USB support in the virtual machine settings. Finally, if all else fails, the USB device may be malfunctioned and require replacement.
Reinstalling USB Controllers
To reinstall USB controllers on your Windows 7 or 8 computer, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
3. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category.
4. Right-click on each USB controller listed and select Uninstall.
5. Disconnect all USB devices from your computer.
6. Restart your computer.
7. Windows will automatically reinstall the USB controllers.
8. Reconnect your USB devices and see if they are recognized.
If the USB device is still not recognized, try using a different USB cable or port. If the issue persists, it may be a problem with the USB driver. Check the manufacturer’s website for an updated driver or try reinstalling the driver from Device Manager. If you are using a virtual machine like Oracle VM VirtualBox, make sure the USB device is properly connected to the virtual machine and not just the host computer.
Disabling USB Selective Suspend Setting
To fix USB device not recognized in Windows 7, you can disable USB Selective Suspend Setting. This feature puts USB devices to sleep to save power, but it can also cause connection issues. Here’s how to disable it:
1. Open Control Panel and go to Power Options.
2. Click on Change plan settings next to your current power plan.
3. Click on Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand USB settings and USB selective suspend setting.
5. Change the setting to Disabled.
6. Click Apply and OK.
Once you’ve disabled USB Selective Suspend Setting, try reconnecting your USB device. If it still doesn’t work, try updating your USB drivers or checking Device Manager for any unknown devices. Hopefully, this tutorial helps you fix your USB device connection issues.
Installing Latest Chipset Drivers
To install the latest chipset drivers, follow these steps:
1. Go to the manufacturer’s website and locate the latest chipset drivers for your computer.
2. Download and save the file to your computer.
3. Right-click on the downloaded file and select “Run as administrator” to start the installation process.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. Restart your computer once the installation is complete.
After installing the latest chipset drivers, reconnect your USB device to see if it is recognized. If you are still encountering issues, check the Device Manager for any unknown devices or USB devices with a yellow exclamation mark.
If you are using virtualization software like Oracle VM VirtualBox, make sure to enable the USB support in the settings. Also, try connecting the USB device directly to the computer instead of using a USB hub or extension cable.
By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “USB device not recognized” error on your Windows 7 or 8 computer. For more detailed instructions, refer to our tutorial on how to fix USB device not recognized errors.
Identifying Causes of “USB Device Not Recognized” Issue
- Check USB Device
- Try connecting the USB device to another computer
- Check if the USB device is working properly and has no physical damage
- Check if the USB device is compatible with your computer
- Check USB Port
- Try connecting another USB device to the same port to check if the port is working
- Check if the USB port is damaged or dirty
- Try connecting the USB device to a different USB port
- Check USB Drivers
- Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section
- Check if any device has a yellow exclamation mark
- Right-click on the device and select Update Driver Software
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
- Check Power Management Settings
- Open Device Manager
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section
- Right-click on the device and select Properties
- Go to the Power Management tab
- Uncheck the box that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
- Check USB Root Hub
- Open Device Manager
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section
- Right-click on the USB Root Hub and select Properties
- Go to the Power Management tab
- Uncheck the box that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
- Check System Files
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator
- Type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter
- Wait for the scan to complete
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
- Check BIOS Settings
- Restart your computer and enter BIOS settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, Del or Esc)
- Go to the Advanced tab
- Go to the USB Configuration section
- Make sure that the USB Controller and USB 2.0 Controller options are enabled
- Save changes and exit BIOS settings
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
Steps to Fix “USB Device Not Recognized” Problem on Windows OS
- Disconnect the USB device from your computer
- Restart your computer
- Connect the USB device to your computer again and check if it’s recognized
Solution 2: Try a different USB port
- Disconnect the USB device from your current USB port
- Plug the USB device into a different USB port on your computer
- Check if the USB device is recognized
Solution 3: Update your USB drivers
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category
- Right-click on the USB device that’s not recognized and select Update Driver Software
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
Solution 4: Disable USB selective suspend setting
- Press Windows key + X and select Power Options
- Click on Change plan settings next to your current power plan
- Click on Change advanced power settings
- Expand USB settings and USB selective suspend setting
- Change the setting to Disabled for both On battery and Plugged in
- Click Apply and OK
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
Solution 5: Uninstall and reinstall USB controllers
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category
- Right-click on each USB controller and select Uninstall
- Restart your computer and Windows will automatically reinstall the USB controllers
- Check if the USB device is recognized
Solution 6: Install Windows updates
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings
- Click on Update & Security
- Click Check for updates
- Install any available Windows updates
- Restart your computer and check if the USB device is recognized
Solution 7: Check the USB device on another computer
- Disconnect the USB device from your computer
- Connect the USB device to another computer
- If the USB device is recognized on the other computer, the issue may be with your computer’s USB ports or drivers
- If the USB device is not recognized on the other computer, the issue may be with the USB device itself
Solution 8: Contact the manufacturer
- If none of the above solutions work, contact the manufacturer of the USB device for further assistance
Data Recovery When Unable to Fix “USB Device Not Recognized” Issue
| # | Data Recovery Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use a data recovery software | There are various data recovery software available online that can help you recover data from a USB device that is not recognized by your computer. |
| 2 | Take the USB device to a data recovery service | If the data on your USB device is extremely important and cannot be recovered using software, then you can take the device to a data recovery service. |
| 3 | Try using a different USB port or computer | It is possible that the USB device is not recognized by your computer due to a faulty USB port. Try using a different port or computer to see if the device is recognized. |
| 4 | Check for driver updates | It is possible that the USB device is not recognized because the drivers are outdated. Check for driver updates and install them if available. |
| 5 | Reset BIOS settings | Resetting the BIOS settings to default can sometimes help in fixing the USB device not recognized issue. |
| 6 | Update Windows | Make sure that your Windows operating system is up to date with the latest updates. Sometimes, updating Windows can fix the USB device not recognized issue. |
| 7 | Replace the USB device | If none of the above methods work, then it is possible that the USB device is faulty and needs to be replaced. |
