Can't get the code editor to connect to my Thumby

Started by Perodis, April 03, 2026, 09:02:49 PM

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Perodis

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Just received my Thumby today and am trying to get the code editor connected so I can get games downloaded and it isn't connecting. On my device manager it shows as 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)'.

The steps I've tried to fix this are the fixes in the FAQ (Reloading the firmware and installing Zadig and installing a USB Serial (CDC) driver). Neither have worked. When I did the reloading the firmware, my computer did detect it as RPI-RP2, which then I placed the firmware into the device, so it is connecting to my computer. But as soon as the firmware loaded, it went back to 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)' in Zadig and my device manager.

I'm at a bit of a loss, so if anyone could help me, I would really appreciate it. I'm on Windows 10.

Gunnarjace20!

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I'm sorry but windows 10 ain't supported anymore. Try seeing if you can update your PC or laptop. 💻

harrydaily

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The steps I've tried to fix this are the fixes in the FAQ (Reloading the firmware and installing Zadig and installing a USB Serial (CDC) driver).

fixobo

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Quote from: Perodis on April 03, 2026, 09:02:49 PMJust received my Thumby today and am trying to get the code editor connected so I can get games downloaded and it isn't connecting. On my device manager it shows as 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)'.

The steps I've tried to fix this are the fixes in the FAQ (Reloading the firmware and installing Zadig and installing a USB Serial (CDC) driver). Neither have worked. When I did the reloading the firmware, my computer did detect it as RPI-RP2, which then I placed the firmware into the device, so it is connecting to my computer. But as soon as the firmware loaded, it went back to 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)' in Zadig and my device manager.

I'm at a bit of a loss, so if anyone could help me, I would really appreciate it. I'm on Windows 10.
I had a similar issue with a USB device not being recognized properly on Windows. Since the Thumby shows up as **RPI-RP2** when you enter bootloader mode, that suggests the USB connection and board are at least working at that stage.

I'd try a few basic things first:

* Use a different USB cable, making sure it's a data cable rather than charge-only.
* Try another USB port, preferably a direct port on the PC rather than a hub.
* After flashing the firmware, unplug the Thumby completely and reconnect it.
* Check Device Manager for any leftover driver entries and remove the failed device before reconnecting.
* If possible, test it on another Windows computer to determine whether it's a PC/driver issue or something with the Thumby itself.

If it consistently works only in **RPI-RP2** mode but immediately becomes an unknown USB device after the firmware boots, I'd suspect either a driver/USB enumeration issue or potentially a hardware problem. Testing with another computer would probably be the quickest way to narrow that down.

felixandrea

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Quote from: Perodis on April 03, 2026, 09:02:49 PMJust received my Thumby today and am trying to get the code editor connected so I can get games downloaded and it isn't connecting. On my device manager it shows as 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)'.

The steps I've tried to fix this are the fixes in the FAQ (Reloading the firmware and installing Zadig and installing a USB Serial (CDC) driver). Neither have worked. When I did the reloading the firmware, my computer did detect it as RPI-RP2, which then I placed the firmware into the device, so it is connecting to my computer. But as soon as the firmware loaded, it went back to 'Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)' in Zadig and my device manager.                                                                                                                                                                                       heardle online

I'm at a bit of a loss, so if anyone could help me, I would really appreciate it. I'm on Windows 10.
Hi Perodis,

Since the computer recognizes the Thumby as **RPI-RP2** when you hold it in bootloader mode, the USB connection itself seems to be working, so I'd suspect the issue is happening when the normal Thumby firmware starts.

A couple of things I'd try before reinstalling anything else:

* Try a different USB data cable and, if possible, a different USB port (preferably a direct motherboard port rather than a hub).
* Remove the Thumby from Device Manager, unplug it, reboot Windows, and then reconnect it.
* Make sure you're using the current Thumby firmware and code editor rather than an older version.
* If you have access to another Windows PC, testing it there would help determine whether this is a Windows/driver issue or something with the Thumby itself.

The fact that flashing the firmware works but the device immediately becomes **"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)"** afterward is a useful clue. If it behaves exactly the same way on another computer with a known-good data cable, I'd contact TinyCircuits support because there may be a hardware/firmware issue rather than a Zadig problem.

Hope you get it working—it's frustrating when a brand-new device gets stuck at the USB stage.

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