USB Memory stick not recognised

[sparky]

This is way off topic but if I have had the problem someone else is sure to have had it.

I recently had a problem with my PC running XP SP2

When I plugged any USB memory stick in the hardware wizard launched asking for drivers, which obviously it should not.
After much searching I found the following result which worked.

I have given the link to the original discussion and would thank Elmo who came up with the solution.

Tutorials-Win.com >> Windows XP >> Found new hardware wizard always fails... - Microsoft Windows Forum

The registry key that points to the INF folder is corrupt. Start the Registry Editor (Run, Regedit). Check if under

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion
the item 'DevicePath' points to '%SystemRoot%\inf'. Additional items, separated
by semicolons, are ok but '%SystemRoot%\inf' has to be one of them.

Then delete the file C:\WINDOWS\inf\infcache.1 - XP will recreate it.

The INF folder and the infcache.1 file are 'hidden'. To see them in the Windows Explorer:
Menu 'Tools', 'Folder Options'
Tab 'View', mark 'show hidden files and folders'

If it still doesn't work after a restart, the files in C:\WINDOWS\inf might be corrupt. A Windows repair install helps then.

Another thing to check is if the values 'FactoryPreInstallInProgress' and 'AuditInProgress' are set to '1' under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Factory

They should be 0 or non present. "