Can't "see" the USB flash drive

Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates correctly
every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as a
drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS Word in
trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?

Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?

Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen, click
on Disk Management.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows



"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
> Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
> correctly
> every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
> operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as a
> drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS Word
> in
> trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?

Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash drive
is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and the drive
letter is automatically assigned.

"Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>
> Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
> click on Disk Management.
> --
> Cari (MS-MVP)
> Printing & Imaging
> http://www.coribright.com/windows
>
>
>
> "xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>> Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>> correctly
>> every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>> operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as
>> a
>> drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>> Word in
>> trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>
>

A couple reasons
1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another "drive".
2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting

Papa wrote:

> Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash drive
> is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and the drive
> letter is automatically assigned.
>
> "Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
> news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>
>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>
>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
>>click on Disk Management.
>>--
>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>Printing & Imaging
>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>
>>
>>
>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>
>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>correctly
>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as
>>>a
>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>>>Word in
>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>
>>
>
>

The system is smart enough to assign the next unused drive letter. However,
the flash drive could be corrupted (almost always because of something the
user did), and would indeed need to be re-formatted. Every flash drive I
have ever seen comes pre-formatted, so a format is not needed initially.


"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ODOyiezKGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>A couple reasons
> 1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another "drive".
> 2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting
>
> Papa wrote:
>
>> Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash
>> drive is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and
>> the drive letter is automatically assigned.
>>
>> "Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
>> news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>>
>>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
>>>click on Disk Management.
>>>--
>>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>>Printing & Imaging
>>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>>
>>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>>correctly
>>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as
>>>>a
>>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>>>>Word in
>>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

I think you may have a slight misunderstanding on the "assignment" of
drive letters. The system WILL assign the NEXT letter AFTER the last
local drive. That letter may have already been assigned to a a SUBST or
network drive and then the (1.) is the cause, and the flash drive won't
appear.

Papa wrote:

> The system is smart enough to assign the next unused drive letter. However,
> the flash drive could be corrupted (almost always because of something the
> user did), and would indeed need to be re-formatted. Every flash drive I
> have ever seen comes pre-formatted, so a format is not needed initially.
>
>
> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ODOyiezKGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
>>A couple reasons
>>1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another "drive".
>>2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting
>>
>>Papa wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash
>>>drive is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and
>>>the drive letter is automatically assigned.
>>>
>>>"Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
>>>news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>>>
>>>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
>>>>click on Disk Management.
>>>>--
>>>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>>>Printing & Imaging
>>>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>>>correctly
>>>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as
>>>>>a
>>>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>>>>>Word in
>>>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
>

That's a fairly rare scenario, isn't it? I have 4 PCs in a home network with
mutual access of folders/files between PCs and their storage devices, use
broadband, have been online for years, and have yet to find a need for the
SUBST function or a network drive.

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:u9PBvE$KGHA.1532@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>I think you may have a slight misunderstanding on the "assignment" of drive
>letters. The system WILL assign the NEXT letter AFTER the last local drive.
>That letter may have already been assigned to a a SUBST or network drive
>and then the (1.) is the cause, and the flash drive won't appear.
>
> Papa wrote:
>
>> The system is smart enough to assign the next unused drive letter.
>> However, the flash drive could be corrupted (almost always because of
>> something the user did), and would indeed need to be re-formatted. Every
>> flash drive I have ever seen comes pre-formatted, so a format is not
>> needed initially.
>>
>>
>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:ODOyiezKGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>A couple reasons
>>>1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another "drive".
>>>2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting
>>>
>>>Papa wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash
>>>>drive is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and
>>>>the drive letter is automatically assigned.
>>>>
>>>>"Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>>>>
>>>>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
>>>>>click on Disk Management.
>>>>>--
>>>>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>>>>Printing & Imaging
>>>>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>>>>correctly
>>>>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it
>>>>>>as a
>>>>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>>>>>>Word in
>>>>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>

Sounds like in your case yes, BUT frequently people will do something
"cute" like assigning "F" for files to a network drive and then are
mystified when the flash drive doesn't appear.

Papa wrote:

> That's a fairly rare scenario, isn't it? I have 4 PCs in a home network with
> mutual access of folders/files between PCs and their storage devices, use
> broadband, have been online for years, and have yet to find a need for the
> SUBST function or a network drive.
>
> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:u9PBvE$KGHA.1532@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
>>I think you may have a slight misunderstanding on the "assignment" of drive
>>letters. The system WILL assign the NEXT letter AFTER the last local drive.
>>That letter may have already been assigned to a a SUBST or network drive
>>and then the (1.) is the cause, and the flash drive won't appear.
>>
>>Papa wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The system is smart enough to assign the next unused drive letter.
>>>However, the flash drive could be corrupted (almost always because of
>>>something the user did), and would indeed need to be re-formatted. Every
>>>flash drive I have ever seen comes pre-formatted, so a format is not
>>>needed initially.
>>>
>>>
>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:ODOyiezKGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>
>>>>A couple reasons
>>>>1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another "drive".
>>>>2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting
>>>>
>>>>Papa wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash
>>>>>drive is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port, and
>>>>>the drive letter is automatically assigned.
>>>>>
>>>>>"Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen,
>>>>>>click on Disk Management.
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>>>>>Printing & Imaging
>>>>>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>>>>>correctly
>>>>>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>>>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it
>>>>>>>as a
>>>>>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS
>>>>>>>Word in
>>>>>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>
>
>

Yeah, I kinda thought that too.

"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uaOroPALGHA.3408@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Sounds like in your case yes, BUT frequently people will do something
> "cute" like assigning "F" for files to a network drive and then are
> mystified when the flash drive doesn't appear.
>
> Papa wrote:
>
>> That's a fairly rare scenario, isn't it? I have 4 PCs in a home network
>> with mutual access of folders/files between PCs and their storage
>> devices, use broadband, have been online for years, and have yet to find
>> a need for the SUBST function or a network drive.
>>
>> "Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:u9PBvE$KGHA.1532@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>I think you may have a slight misunderstanding on the "assignment" of
>>>drive letters. The system WILL assign the NEXT letter AFTER the last
>>>local drive. That letter may have already been assigned to a a SUBST or
>>>network drive and then the (1.) is the cause, and the flash drive won't
>>>appear.
>>>
>>>Papa wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>The system is smart enough to assign the next unused drive letter.
>>>>However, the flash drive could be corrupted (almost always because of
>>>>something the user did), and would indeed need to be re-formatted. Every
>>>>flash drive I have ever seen comes pre-formatted, so a format is not
>>>>needed initially.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Bob I" <birelan@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:ODOyiezKGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>A couple reasons
>>>>>1. Because the user MAY have assigned the same letter to another
>>>>>"drive".
>>>>>2. Because the drive content may be corrupted and it needs formatting
>>>>>
>>>>>Papa wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Assuming Windows XP, why is that necessary? In my experience a flash
>>>>>>drive is recognized immediately once it is plugged into a USB port,
>>>>>>and the drive letter is automatically assigned.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Cari (MS-MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:eJ0IUjoKGHA.3200@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next
>>>>>>>screen, click on Disk Management.
>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>Cari (MS-MVP)
>>>>>>>Printing & Imaging
>>>>>>>http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
>>>>>>>>correctly
>>>>>>>>every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
>>>>>>>>operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees
>>>>>>>>it as a
>>>>>>>>drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via
>>>>>>>>MS Word in
>>>>>>>>trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>

Thank you! In Disk Management, it showed up with the same drive letter as a
networked drive from work. Reassigning the letter to something else did the
trick! Much obliged!


"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> Did you remember to assign it a drive letter?
>
> Right click on My Computer, select Manage and then on the next screen, click
> on Disk Management.
> --
> Cari (MS-MVP)
> Printing & Imaging
> http://www.coribright.com/windows
>
>
>
> "xqqqqme" <xqqqqme@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BC97A3AA-7B79-4BF9-BC18-BB476214C671@microsoft.com...
> > Even though my Device Manager sees my USB flash drive and updates
> > correctly
> > every time I insert it or remove it (including assuring me that it's
> > operating properly), neither Windows Explorer nor My Computer sees it as a
> > drive that can be opened or saved to. I even tried finding it via MS Word
> > in
> > trying to save a doc to it...it's simply not there. Any ideas?
>
>
>