USB Jumpdrive vs. network drive

[Guest]

I have a network drive f: and when I insert a USB drive it also is f:... I
can see it in the hardware manager, but not in the directory. If I re-map
the network drive elsewhere I can then see the USB drive as f:. Permanently
re-mapping the network drive to another letter isn't an option because of all
of the drive letter dependent files on it; is there a way to start external
drive letters on a higher letter?

 

[R. McCarty]

Use Disk Management to make letter designation changes.
Right Click My Computer, Manage - Expand Disk Mgmt.
Right Click the Bar graph for the existing drive and take
"Change Drive Letter" from the context menu.

By the way, conventional PC/IT standards are for Shares
to use higher order letters - leaving E,F,G.... available for
physical drives connected to the PC. This avoids the kind
of issue you're experiencing.

 

[MGGP]

I have a network drive f: and when I insert a USB drive
it also is f:... I can see it in the hardware manager,
but not in the directory.

By hardware manager, do you mean Device Manager ?
What does "but not in the directory" mean ?

I would 1) temporarily re-map the network device f: to
something else, 2) use compmgmt.msc (go to Start, Run,
type compmgmt.msc, OK), go to Disk Management and assign
the flash drive to an unused letter, 3) change the network
drive back to f:

Re-boot the system with the flash drive unplugged and
after Windows is FULLY up, insert the flash drive and see
what happens. It should take the drive letter that you
assigned to it.

Good Luck !