by Milan Stanojevic
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he… read more
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- A USB storage device is the best method to transfer files from one PC to another, but sometimes issues with it can occur.
- Many users reported USB Mass Storage has a driver problem message, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it.
- To learn more about storage and flash drives, be sure to check this dedicated USB flash drive article.
- Are you experiencing additional Windows 10 errors? You can find more solutions in our Errors Hub.
We use USB drives to transfer files all the time, but sometimes issues with USB storage can occur. Many users reported USB Mass Storage has a driver problem error, and this can prevent you from transferring files.
Fixing this problem is relatively simple, and in today’s article, we’re going to show you the best methods that you can use to get your USB storage device working again.
How can I fix USB Mass Storage has a driver problem error?
1. Use a dedicated driver updater program
This error is usually caused by outdated or corrupted drivers, and this is where a dedicated tool can be helpful. The software is will perform a quick scan and give you a list of all drivers that are out of date.
To fix the driver issues, you just need to select the drivers that you want to update, and the latest version of the drivers will be downloaded automatically.
Often, your computer system might not be able to update the generic drivers for your hardware and peripherals correctly. There are vital differences between a generic driver and a manufacturer’s driver. Finding the correct driver versions for every hardware component can become tiresome.That’s why a dependable updater can help you find and update your drivers automatically. We strongly suggest the Outbyte Driver Updater, and here’s how to do it:
- Download and install the Outbyte Driver Updater app.
- Launch the software and wait for the app to detect all incompatible drivers.
- Now, it will show you a list of all outdated drivers to select the ones to Update or Ignore.
- Click on Update & Apply Selected to download and install the latest versions.
- Restart your PC to ensure the applied changes.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Maintain your device healthy by letting OutByte Driver Updater find the latest driver options.
Disclaimer: You may need to upgrade the app from the free version to perform specific actions.
2. Reinstall the driver
- Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the list.
- Click on View and check Show hidden devices.
- Now go to the Universal Serial Bus controllers section and expand it.
- Right-click USB Mass Storage Device and choose the Uninstall device.
- When the confirmation dialog appears, click on Uninstall.
- Do this for all USB Mass Storage Device entries on the list.
- After removing the driver, restart your PC.
After your PC restarts, the removed driver will be installed automatically and the USB Mass Storage has a driver problem error should be fixed.
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3. Check your registry
- Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter or click OK.
- Navigate to the following path in the left pane:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor - Locate the Start value in the right pane. If it’s not set to 3, make sure to change it to 3.
4. Change power settings
- Open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section and double click on USB Root Hub.
- Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Click OK to save changes.
USB Mass Storage has a driver problem message will prevent you from using USB storage devices, but you should be able to fix this problem by reinstalling or updating your drivers.
When mass storage controller device shown with a yellow mark in your Device Manager, it cannot be recognized by your PC. In such case, you may also get the message: Windows can’t find the driver software for it. Then it’s the time to deal with its driver. In this post, we will be showing you two quick and easy way to fix Mass Storage Controller driver issue on Windows 10.
Read on， please.:)
1. Reinstall your mass storage controller driver
2. Update your mass storage controller driver
Solution 1. Reinstall your mass storage controller driver
1)
On your keyboard, press Windows key + X key together to open quick-access menu.
Then click Device Manager.
2)
On the open window, find and expand Other devices catalog.
Then right-click on Mass Storage Controller and choose Uninstall device.
3)
Reboot your Windows 10 to let Windows reinstall the driver for your mass storage controller.
See if the error is fixed.
If the error still exists, try solution 2 to update the driver please.
Solution 2. Update your mass storage controller driver
To update your device driver, you can head to your PC manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver. Your mass storage controller is no exception. If you have no time, no patience or no enough computer skill to find and download the correct driver, let Driver Easy help you then.
Driver Easy is a safe and really helpful driver tool. It will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
1)
Download and install Driver Easy.
2)
Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers. Your mass storage controller driver is no exception.
3)
With FREE version: Click the Update button next to a flagged mass storage controller driver to automatically download and install the correct driver.
With Pro version: Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.
(full support and a 30-day money back guarantee for Pro version)
That’s it.
This tutorial provides 12 ways to help you fix “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device, this device is currently in use” issue in Windows 10. If you eject the USB storage device improperly and find some data are lost, MiniTool data recovery software is top-recommended to help you recover lost data from USB.
- How do I eject a USB drive that is currently in use?
- When I try to safely remove the USB device, it pops up a “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” error message: This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device and then try again.
What’s the problem? How to fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device issue and safely remove USB from Windows 10 computer? Will it have some bad results like USB data loss if I ignore this message and remove the USB device directly?
This post provides 12 ways to help you solve “Problem ejecting USB mass storage device this device is currently in use” error in Windows 10. Keep your data safe and utilize MiniTool data recovery software to restore lost data from USB device if you lose some important files in USB storage device now or future.
Tip: MiniTool Power Data Recovery – Easy and professional data recovery software lets you recover any deleted/lost files from Windows computer, memory card, USB, external HDD, SSD, etc. 100% clean program.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Also read: Unlock the secrets of hard drive data recovery and regain access to your precious files by delving into this enlightening article.
Causes of “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” Error
Common reasons to cause this error are as follows:
- Some files in USB may not be closed when you try to eject the USB.
- Some files in the USB storage device are currently in use by some programs in computer.
- Some software or programs are accessing the USB device in the background on computer like Windows security software, anti-virus software, backup software, etc.
- The USB is formatted as NTFS, and this may also cause the USB eject error.
Because of these reasons, your computer may pop up this error message “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” to notify you and protect data in your USB.
If you force to remove the USB from computer, it may lead to some serious problems, for instance, the USB can’t be recognized by computer next time you plug in, the USB device can’t be accessed or opened again, severe data loss in USB device (USB pen drive data recovery), the USB storage device partition is corrupted, the USB device is damaged, etc.
Therefore, you can try the 12 ways below to fix “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device, this device is currently in use” issue.
How to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device Windows 10/8/7
- Close All Opened Files and Programs
- Run an Anti-virus Scan
- Disable Computer Security Software for Now
- Use Task Manager to Eject USB
- Eject USB Device via Device Manager
- Remove USB with Disk Management
- Eject USB in This PC
- Log Off and On Computer
- Restart Computer
- Shut Down PC
- Troubleshooting the USB Device
- Format USB to FAT instead of NTFS
Quick Video Guide:
#1. Close All Opened Files and Programs on Computer
The first step you should take to fix this issue is to check if all files and programs on Windows 10 computer are closed, if not, close all of them, and try again to see if the USB can be safely removed.
You can also right-click a blank area on desktop screen and select Refresh, and then try to eject the USB drive again.
#2. Run an Anti-virus Scan on Your Windows 10 Computer
If your computer is infected by a virus, the virus may access and use some files in your USB device in the background. You can use Windows Defender or other third-party reliable anti-virus software to perform a virus scan on your Windows 10 computer. After that, click the USB device in the Notification Center to see if it can be safely removed.
#3. Disable Computer Security Software for Now
Some security software you’ve installed on your Windows 10 computer may interfere with some process and access the USB device in the background to cause the “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” error. You can try to temporarily disable security software on Windows 10, to see if you can safely eject the USB storage device.
#4. Use Task Manager to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device
You can open Task Manager in Windows 10 to check if any processes of programs are running in the background, if so, close all of them in Task Manager.
Step 1. Right-click the blank area at the taskbar and choose Task Manager option from the list to open Task Manager.
Step 2. After you enter into the Task Manager window, you can view all the running processes and programs under Process tab. If you don’t see the Process tab, you can click More details to access it.
Step 3. Next you can check the list of running processes and programs in Task Manager. Right-click any process or program that may be using your USB storage device, and click End Task to close the application or process.
Then you can try to safely remove USB drive and see if the “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device, this device is currently in use” error has been fixed.
Best Way to Recover Lost Data from USB on Windows 10
“How to recover my files from USB device?”
If you ever directly eject the USB directly when encountering “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device, this device is currently in use” problem, but find some files are lost in USB, you can try to recover the lost files from USB with the best data recovery software for Windows 10/8/7 – MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery enables you to easily recover lost data or deleted files from USB flash drive, computer local hard drive, external hard drive, SSD drive, SD card, and more.
This best free file undelete software for Windows 10/8/7 can help you deal with almost any data loss situations like mistakenly file deletion, system crash, virus attack, hard drive failure, and more. 100% clean software.
Download and install MiniTool Power Data Recovery on Windows 10/8/7, and follow the easy 3 steps below to restore lost data from USB.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1 – Connect USB, Run USB Recovery Software
Plug in the external USB drive to Windows 10/8/7 computer, and launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
Step 2 – Scan the USB Device for Lost/Deleted Data
Next select the target USB drive under Logical Drives and click Scan button. Or you can click Devices tab, select the USB device and click Scan.
This smart free data recovery software will start scanning all data and files from the USB drive incl. lost and deleted files.
Step 3 – Check, Recover Files from USB
After the data scan process is completed, you can check the scan result and find the needed lost files or mistakenly deleted files in USB device. Check those needed files and click Save button to specify a new location to store the files.
The destination file storing location should be different from the source location, to avoid data overwriting. Since if you store new data to the drive that contains lost data, the drive will be overwritten, and the lost files can’t be recovered anymore.
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#5. Fix This Device Is Currently in Use via Device Manager
You can also try to eject USB drive using Windows Device Manager.
Step 1. You can click Start, and type device manager. Click the best-matched result to open Device Manager in Windows 10.
Step 2. Find Disk Drives category from the devices list, and expand it. All connected storage devices are displayed.
Step 3. Find the USB storage device which can’t be ejected. Right-click it and click Uninstall device. Click OK to continue to uninstall this device from your Windows 10 computer system.
After the uninstallation process is finished, you can try to remove the USB drive from your Windows 10 computer again to see if the “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” error disappears.
#6. Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device with Disk Management
Windows Disk Management allows users to manage computer local hard disk, external hard drive, removable disk drive like USB flash drive or SD card (fix my phone SD). You can eject USB in Disk Management.
Step 1. You can press Windows + R to open Windows Run. Type diskmgmt.msc in Run window, and hit Enter to open Disk Management in Windows 10.
Step 2. Find and select the USB drive that can’t be removed. Right-click the target USB drive and click Eject. Then you can unplug your USB from Windows 10 computer to see if “This device is currently in use” eject error is fixed.
Tip: If it’s an external hard drive you want to eject, you won’t see Eject option after right-clicking the USB, but see an Offline option. You can click Offline and then remove the external hard drive. When you connect the external hard drive again to computer, you need to enter Disk Management again to change the setting to Online.
#7. Eject USB Mass Storage Device through This PC
You can change to another way to eject the USB device, namely, through This PC.
You can click This PC and find the target external USB device, right-click it and select Eject option.
If this doesn’t work and it still pops up the Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device error message, then you should try other ways in this post to fix this issue.
#8. Log Off and On Computer
Another way to close all opened files and applications including those on the external USB device on Windows 10 is to log off the computer. This might work in fixing “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device, this device is currently in use” error.
To sign out or log off Windows 10 account, generally you have 4 ways to accomplish it.
- Click Start -> Administrator icon -> Sign out.
- Press Windows + X -> Shut down or sign out -> Sign out.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Del -> Sign out.
- Press Alt + F4, click the down-arrow icon and choose Sign out.
#9. Restart Computer to Fix This Device Is Currently in Use Error
Most of the time, you can restart or reboot computer to fix many minor issues of Windows 10 computer. You can click Start -> Power -> Restart to restart Window 10 computer. After restarting, try to safely remove USB again to see if the Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device error is gone.
#10. Shut Down PC to Fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device
Another easy way you can try to fix this USB eject error is to shut down the PC. Just click Start -> Power -> Shut Down to shut down your Windows 10 PC. Then you can remove the USB device, and reboot your computer.
#11. Troubleshooting the USB Device
If nothing works, and it always pops up the Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device error when trying to eject the USB device, then you may run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter to troubleshoot USB problems to fix Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device Windows 10.
You can click Start -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Troubleshoot, click Hardware and Devices and click Run the troubleshooter to find and fix problems with device and hardware.
Note: The Windows Hardware and Devices troubleshooter was not included in Settings app since Windows 10 1809. If you want to use it on later versions of Windows 10, you can tap Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open Run dialog. In the Run box, enter the following; msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and press Enter to open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter on Windows 10.
#12. Format USB to FAT instead of NTFS
If your USB flash drive is formatted in NTFS, you can try to format USB to FAT to see if the “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device” problem can be fixed.
If you directly format the USB drive, it will delete all data on it. You can choose to back up all the needed data to another storage device at first and then format it. Alternatively, you can choose to convert USB from NTFS to FAT without data loss with MiniTool Partition Wizard.
Step 1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard on Windows 10/8/7 computer. Launch it.
Step 2. Choose the connected target USB drive after you enter into MiniTool Partition Wizard main UI.
Step 3. Right-click the NTFS partition on the USB disk and choose Convert NTFS to FAT. Click Apply to start converting USB partition from NTFS to FAT format.
In this way, you can change USB format without data loss. (> NTFS vs. FAT32 vs. exFAT)
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Conclusion
These are the 12 ways to fix “Problem ejecting USB mass storage device this device is currently in use” error. Hope there is one way to help you get out of the trouble. If you still have some issues, please contact [email protected].
Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device FAQ
Is it safe to remove external hard drive without ejecting?
When ejecting the external drive, you can keep your external hard drive data safe by clicking “Safely remove hardware” to eject it. But as long as you let any file transfer complete and close any opened file in the external hard drive, you don’t need to be so nervous about removing an external hard drive without ejecting. However, if you meet a problem when ejecting it, it’s advised you try the 12 ways in this post to fix the problem before you force to eject the external hard drive.
What does USB mass storage mean?
USB mass storage is a USB-based portable storage device. You can connect it into a computer via a USB cable, and check the device contents in the same way as a built-in computer hard drive. USB-based devices include USB flash drives, USB memory card readers, external drives, digital cameras, etc.
How do I force eject a hard drive?
You can force eject a hard drive via Task Manager, Device Manager, Disk Management, etc. The detailed guides to use them to remove the hard drive is included above.
How do I eject a USB drive that is currently in use?
When you try to disconnect the USB drive, it appears “This device is currently in use” error, you can firstly close all opened files and programs and try to eject it again. If the problem still exists, you can try all the 12 ways in this tutorial one by one to see if a way can work.
- Ahmir
- Comments Off on How to install USB mass storage device driver on Windows 10?
How to install USB mass storage device driver on Windows 10?
One of the main reasons a USB driver may fail to install, or why you may see the USB Mass Storage Device has a driver problem error is because of a loose USB port. Ports tend to come loose with time or if you’re not careful when you move your system. Remove the USB storage device and connect it to a different port.
One of the main reasons a USB driver may fail to install, or why you may see the USB Mass Storage Device has a driver problem error is because of a loose USB port. Ports tend to come loose with time or if you’re not careful when you move your system. Remove the USB storage device and connect it to a different port.
One of the main reasons a USB driver may fail to install, or why you may see the USB Mass Storage Device has a driver problem error is because of a loose USB port. Ports tend to come loose with time or if you’re not careful when you move your system. Remove the USB storage device and connect it to a different port.
Updated September 2023: Stop error messages and fix your computer problem with this tool. Get it now at this link
- Download and install the software.
- It will scan your computer for problems.
- The tool will then fix the issues that were found.
How do I fix USB Mass Storage Device has a driver problem?
Change USB port.
Reinstall the USB device.
Usually edit the Windows registry.
Check your power settings.
How do I reinstall USB mass storage drivers?
How to reinstall the latest 11 USB drivers? Windows Click Windows X and hence select “Device Manager” from the list of reasons why options open it. Double-click Universal Serial Bus Controller. Right click the mass storage driver. Reinstall your computer. After a reboot, Windows will almost certainly reinstall the generic driver.
What does it mean when a USB says driver error?
The recently loaded USB driver was corrupted, stuttered, or was corrupted. Your PC needs a serious update problem which can have issues with USB external hard drive and Windows. Windows may have other important hardware updates or tool issues. Your controller’s USB port may be unstable or damaged.
Why is there problem ejecting USB Mass Storage Device?
Causes of the “There was a problem ejecting the USB storage device” error.
Some programs or web interface programs access the USB element on the computer in the background, Windows security programs, antivirus programs, support programs, etc. The USB drive is always organized in NTFS, and this can still cause the USB eject error.
Updated: September 2023
Are you grappling with persistent PC problems? We have a solution for you. Introducing our all-in-one Windows utility software designed to diagnose and address various computer issues. This software not only helps you rectify existing problems but also safeguards your system from potential threats such as malware and hardware failures, while significantly enhancing the overall performance of your device.
- Step 1 : Install PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista).
- Step 2 : Click Start Scan to find out what issues are causing PC problems.
- Step 3 : Click on Repair All to correct all issues.
How to enable USB mass storage devices?
Go to “Settings” > “More…”.
Under the Advanced section, click USB Utilities.
Then click Connect Storage to PC.
Now connect the USB cable to the PC and Android® device. A green Android® icon TV screen appears on our own screen with a USB connected.
How to fix Windows 10 doesn’t recognize USB?
How to fix almost any Windows 10 not recognizing a USB port
Solution 1: Check – Power Management with a USB Root Hub One way to fix the Windows 10 issue related to this spec is to change the Ultimate power management framework.
Solution 2 – Install generic USB hub drivers
Solution 3 – Change USB Selective Suspend settings
Solution Medicine – reconnect USB devices.
How to install Windows 10 from an USB drive?
You will need a USB drive of at least 8 GB and a blank DVD. Go to the Microsoft download page for Windows 10, then get the Windows 10 installation media and install it. The tool can guide you through the steps. After the USB flash drive or DVD drive
Why is my USB not working?
USB port not responding to FAQ Restart your computer.
Check the current USB port.
Try a different USB port to determine if the issue is with the USB drive.
Use a different USB cable.
Check USB controller.
Update device drivers.
Once Driver Booster is installed and running on 10, Windows decides to help you find faulty or non-updatable drivers on your PC. Driver Booster will help you scan all your devices, including a failed USB storage device, and tell you how many drivers work best, are outdated, and how many are missing.
USB Drive Drivers * Windows 10 Service. Microsoft Corporation USB Drive Class Driver. These packages are also available in Windows 7, 7 and Vista. The USB Storage Massive Driver Service is a kernel-based driver. If the USB mass storage device driver does not start, an error is usually logged.
How to enable Muscle Mass USB on screens 10A) To disable USB ports, possibly or possibly on the drive, change the “Data Value” to “4”, then click OK. b) Right click USB 3.0 (or other devices mentioned on your PC), click and device to get those USB ports from your device. How to turn on gadgets with USB drives? Unlock the screen.
What is the difference between molecular mass and molar mass calculate the molecular mass and molar mass for carbon monoxide?
Textbook solution The unit of molecular weight will be kg or g or person. Molar mass is the mass contained in one mole of a substance/particle. Molar mass has units of g/mol plus kg/mol. The molar mass of CO is 28 units, and the molar mass is usually 28 g/mol.
You can follow the steps below to install USB Mass Storage mobile phone driver in Windows 10. Open Device Manager. Click “Generic” to expand “Serial Bus Controllers”. Right-click the USB Mass Storage model and select the driver update process. Select Browse My Computer to find available additional driver software.
How to fix USB mass storage device driver issue?
Open Device Manager. Find the exact USB storage device you want to recover and double click on it. Go to Power Management and hence make sure that the option “Allow the computer to shut down this device to restore power” is disabled. These solutions should solve the problem of USB electronic storage device drivers that you often encounter.
How do I install a USB mass storage device driver?
1) Download and install Driver Easy. 2) Run Driver Easy and just click Scan Now. Driver Easy can scan your computer and detect complex tasks of all drivers. 3) Click the “Upgrade” button next to the dedicated USB device to automatically download and install a specific version from that car owner (you can do this with the FREE version).
What is USB mass storage device driver?
The Mass USB Storage Biker is used to communicate with storage devices such as thumb drives, external hard drives, and other types and designs of USB-connected removable media. The USB mass storage device driver will be divided into two parts. Blocking tool interface using the Forbid protocol.
How to update the USB mass storage device driver?
How to update the USB mass storage device driver? Use Windows search to find Device Manager. Click on the first result to open it again. Find the device your car driver wants to update and right click on the following. Then select Update driver.
How do I fix USB mass storage device driver?
Solution 1 – Uninstall the Open Manager device driver Right-click USB Mass Storage Device and select Uninstall. Then, when prompted to continue, click OK. When you see Delete the driver software for this device, check the box next to it, then click the OK button in the software. Restart your computer.
What is the difference between molecular mass and molar mass calculate the molecular mass and molar mass for carbon monoxide?
Classical solution The molecular mass unit is kg or g, and for u the molar mass is the speed of one mole of one substance/particle. Molar mass has units and even g/mol kg/mol. The molecular weight most commonly associated with CO is 28 units, and the molar mass can be described as a mass of 28 g/mol.
How to install USB mass storage device driver on Windows 10?
You can follow the steps below to install the USB mass storage device driver for Windows 10. Open Device Manager. Click Universal Serial Bus Controllers to expand it successfully. Right-click the USB storage device and select Update driver frequently. Select the Browse My Computer for Driver Platform option.
How to fix USB mass storage device driver issue?
Open Device Manager. Navigate to the USB storage device you want to restore and double-click it. Go to the “Power Management” section and make sure “Allow the computer to turn off this device to lock it from AC power” is unchecked. These solutions should certainly solve the USB drive driver issue someone is having.
How do I install a USB mass storage device driver?
1) Download the driver and just install it. 2) Download Driver Easy and click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan your computer’s workstation for problematic drivers. 3) Click the “Update” button next to the marked USB device to automatically download and install the correct copy of this driver (you can bundle it with the FREE version).
What is USB mass storage device driver?
The USB Mass Storage Driver is designed to communicate with storage devices, most of which are USB flash drives, external hard drives, and other types of removable push connections. The USB mass storage device driver is divided into several parts. Block Device Interface Uses the block protocol.
How to update the USB mass storage device driver?
How to update the USB mass storage device driver? Use Windows to search for Device Manager and click on the first answer to open it. Locate the drive whose driver you want to update and right-click it. Then select Update driver.
How do I fix USB mass storage device driver?
Solution 1 – Uninstall the driver Open device manager. Right click USB Mass Storage Device, select and delete. When prompted to continue, click OK. Usually, when you see Remove software from this device, check the box next to it, and then click OK. Restart your computer.
RECOMMENATION: Click here for help with Windows errors.
I’m Ahmir, a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology and business. My work has been featured on many of the most popular tech blogs and websites for more than 10 years. Efficient-soft.com is where I regularly contribute to my writings about the latest tech trends. Apart from my writing, I am also a certified project manager professional (PMP).
Yesterday when I connected my SanDisk USB Flash disk to my Windows 10 PC, it showed an error that the USB device has malfunctioned and Windows could not recognize it. This alarmed me a little bit as I had so many important files on this USB disk. At first I thought the disk had gone bad, but I was proven wrong when I connected it to another PC running Ubuntu Linux. Clearly the USB disk was functioning alright, but there was some problem in the Windows configuration. So after fifteen minutes of trying out various things I figured out that the problem was with the USB drivers and fixed it.
Here is how you can fix the problems related to Windows not recognizing mass storage devices (or perhaps even other types of USB devices):
- Since we are going to uninstall the USB drivers for USB serial bus controllers, all the USB devices will stop working including your mouse and keyboard. So we have to setup a timer to restart Windows before mouse or keyboard stops working. You can use a software like Daxtar Shutdown Timer for this and make it reboot your PC in 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can open an elevated command prompt (press Win+X hotkey, select Command prompt (Admin) from the menu) and give this command: shutdown /r /f /t 300 in the command prompt window. This will restart your PC in 300 seconds (5 minutes) which is enough time for finishing our job.
- Press Win+R hotkey to open the Run dialog, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. This will open the Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, expand the USB Serial Bus Controllers node, right-click on all the device one-by-one starting from the top and select Uninstall from the right-click menu.
- After you have uninstalled all the USB controllers devices, you will find that your mouse and keyboard has stopped working. Wait for the timer set in the first step to trigger the restart of the PC. When Windows reboots, it will automatically re-install the USB controllers in your computer, without you having to do anything further. Now the USB devices should work without any problems.
