Help, please, with U3 Flash Drive

[RFCC]

Once it has been used on a PC, my Sandisk Cruzer U3 flash drive appears to block other portable USB devices such as other flash drives and card readers that are subsequently plugged into that PC.

When connected the devices don't appear on Explorer and do not have a 'power-on' light, when fitted.

Presumably there is a flag in the registry somewhere. Can somebody advise please?

[BOAC]

Assuming XP??? Do you 'safely disconnect' the drive? If not, the U3 prog keeps running I have found.

[RFCC]

Thanks, BOAC, this occurs with XP and 2000. I've had a look in Task Manager/Processes and it doesn't appear to be still running.

I've also tried booting up with the U3 disconnected and a memory card/reader plugged in. The fault is still there.

[BOAC]

Mine (2GB) works fine in XP. I have not tried 2000. Looking around there appear to be several conflicts, Musicmatch, Roxio and Nero 7 for starters. Removing the U3 launchpad seems to help. All from Google.