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Could the USB voltage be wrong?

Tuesday, 24 June, 2008

My 1GB Kingston pen drive is not detected on any computer.

Could the problem be that it needs a different voltage or that the electrical plus and minus connections are reversed?

Please tell me what to do friends.

Rajasekaran , , India


This is getting to be an epidemic. I can only guess that because Kingston is such a well-known and respected brand that it attracts a lot of counterfeiting.

I'll say this again.
  • If you have a brand name product, the first port of call for technical support should always be the manufacturer - usually via its web site.
  • If you can't get help that way (for instance, if it turns out to be a counterfeit) then you go back to the place you bought it. Most countries have a law that says a product must be of merchantable quality, and in this case it means that the product must work.

As for your question about wrong voltage or polarity of the power supply, no, that's impossible. ALL USB ports are exactly the same, The voltage and polarity are standard and never change. To even consider that a USB device would be built backwards is ludicrous. (Unless your mad uncle built it in his garden shed.)

As for what's wrong with your pen drive, I'd suspect that it was one of the following:
  1. It's broken.
  2. It needs to have something done to it to get it to work. (Did it come with a CD of utilities?). This is where you visit the manufacturer's web site for guidance.
  3. It's such a fake that it doesn't even have ANYTHING INSIDE IT!

Whatever happens, we'd be interested in hearing about it Rajasekaran. Thanks

Paul Zucker


Reader solutions



JoePosted: 01/07/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
There may be something wrong with the actual port. Try a different port, or buy a USB card. Also, is the little light on the drive blinking/on when you plug it in? If it's on then that means that the voltage is ok and the data connection is wrong. Also, check if the device is listed in the device manager- In windows 2000/xp, Click Start>Run, type in devmgmt.msc and click OK. It should be under something starting with USB or something of the like.
Frank WoerlePosted: 28/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
Good point Bert, Bill and Ian.
Now that when i think back i had a 2001 Compaq computer with a Mitac Motherboard which had front USB which had its own circuitry plus the plug config was totaly different to todays standard config.
After installing it in another case i had to cross reference the colour code and pin outs to get it working.
So, if thats the case with Mr Rajasekarans comp please check your Motherboards pin outs and connectors as some connectors are of single plugs and others of a modular design which could also be wrongly wired.
Mind you this mainly happened when USB was first implemented as well as with some brand named computers.
There are some good internet sites that explain codes/colours/pinouts and how to configure them correctly.
Frank N Stien
bert loretoPosted: 27/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
Earlier M/boards had individual pins for the USB ports, so it was possible for an assembler(DIY'er) to get it wrong. If this was teh case it was possible to fry a USB stick the very first time it was used!! Nowadays the USB headers have a polarised single moulded plug that can only fit correctly into the M/B and avoids these problems. The USB sticks however must always be assumed to be RIGHT.

Goodluck
Bert

BillPosted: 26/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
That which happened to Ian happened to me - wrongly wired USB pins on the motherboard can (and did) fry a USB flash drive. It turned the pins were connected upside down. :(
ianPosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
Paul,

The polarity CAN be wrong.
I have an acquaintance who blew up 2 USB keys of a relative's computer because of this.

It is unlikely these days when USB is built into the motherboard, but on older systems with a header it is possible to connect the wrong way.

(Yes, good point Ian. I was thinking in terms of the standard, but you're correct. -PZ)

LeonPosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
yes the volatge is constant at 5v and not different polarity
Frank WoerlePosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
This bloke has posted before about his Kingston and has at least tried part of the prior suggestion by checking it on other computers.
So`Mr Rajasekaren my last part of the prior suggestion is that it is broken so you will have to buy a new one.
Frank N Stien

(I'm working on something at the moment Frank. I just discovered that the world is FULL of fake USB drives. I think that answers most of these questions. Stay tuned/ -PZ)

crisskissPosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
maybe it doesnt works because you need to disable on usb root hub ..enable pc to save energy. i think all pcs have this checked by default
MikePPosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
What OS are you using?
The older systems (w98SE etc) require a driver to be installed.
Have you tried other pen drives on you PC? do they read?
Have you disabled the USB ports?
Most pen drives have an LED indicator; does yours light up?

You need to do your own checks before you ask for help and you need to give more information on your system and what checks you have made. That said, it looks like the pen drive may be stuffed, especially if the led doesn't light.

JCPosted: 25/06/2008

re: Could the USB voltage be wrong?
Rajasekaran,try one of the web-sites below,and stop be too lazy.....doing your own research.
(From what I have read, you DO need a 'Driver' for yours...and, you definitely have to format it, first, for it to work properly.)
If it(your pen-drive) is a real 'fake'.....Tough luck, sport.


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