When Your Computer Won't Recognize Your Flash Drive

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If your Windows XP computer is not recognizing your flash drive, its likely that you computer simply is confused as to what drive letter to assign to the memory stick. Fortunately, the fix is a simple one. This trick also works when your computer refuses to recognize a USB drive or other removable storage device.

First, hit Windows+E to open an Explorer window.

Select “My Computer.”

Right click and choose “Manage” from the contextual menu. This will open a window called “Computer Management.”

Select “Disk Management”, which is under “Storage”

On the bottom right side of the window, you’ll see a list of all of the storage devices currently attached to the computer. If your flash drive is listed there, that’s great—you can fix the problem. If not, this solution won’t work.

Right click on the drive listed in that window. This will bring up a contextual menu. Choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths.”

This will bring up yet another window, which will show your “missing” drive. Choose “Change” at the bottom.

Another window will pop up. This one will have a drop down menu on the right hand side. Choose a letter “higher” than the one currently assigned to the drive. If it’s “E”, for example, choose a letter between “F” and “Z.” Its probably best to pick one toward the end of the alphabet.

Once you’ve selected a drive letter, a warning message will come up saying that “Changing The Drive Letter of a Volume Might Cause Programs No Longer To run.”

That’s OK. It’s likely that all you’ve got on the drive is data. Click on Yes.

That will return you to the Computer Management Window.

Your drive now should function properly.

Portable Tor Updates

Tor is an application that allows you to connect into the Tor anonymous internet system from any computer with your flash or thumb drive. This way, you can browse the internet anonymously from public locations, such as internet hotspots, library, or school computers and public terminals.

The freeware portable version has just been updated. It’s a handy thing to keep on a flash drive.

Sandisk Offers Flash Drive With Online Backup

SanDisk has introduced a USB flash drive with automatic online backup allowing files to be recovered from any Internet-connected computer. This is designed to help recover data if the device is lost, forgotten or stolen.

The Cruzer Plus comes with a six-month subscription to the BeInSync backup service. Files are automatically backed up any time the computer is online.

The idea behind Cruzer Plus is to protect users against accidentally deleting files, such as documents, photos, music, video, spreadsheets or work presentations, SanDisk said. Backed up files can be recovered by signing into the backup account.

“We believe Cruzer Titanium Plus will encourage people to use flash drives for storing important data, not just transferring files from one computer to another,” Hezy Rotman, VP and general manager of SanDisk’s USB division, said in a statement.

Other features include a crush-resistant metal case, optional password protection for accessing files on the drive, and two years of BoomerangIt’s lost-and-found service. The Cruzer Plus comes with a BoomerangIt sticker to put on the drive. If the device is lost and later found, then under the plan, the owner typically pays shipping costs and provides a small reward.