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.

Comments

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! I have looked everywhere for this solution, I was just starting to dread having to reinstall when I found this page. Now my flash drives appear on “my computer”. Once again - Thank You

I faced the same problem. I was able to assign a drive letter and access through the dos prompt but it was not showing under explorer. I was lucky to find the solution. I guessed that it might be due to “Daemon Tools” (a virtual optical drive simulator) as it was not working either. So I reinstalled “Daemon” and everything was back to normal.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

If I my flashdrive is NOT listed, the above solution will not work. Anything that can be done? Thanks.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

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.

I will throw my computer away if it happens!

i have never seen a situation where XP doesn’t recognize the flash drive

Stick it in, does it light up? If it lights up-or flashes then it will work.
Hit my computer, see if the Lexar shows up in that menu.
You can also go on line to Lexar and report it to them.

wow i cant express my thanks enough. i recently moved countries and put all my files onto memory sticks before i left. i had this problem and you helped me fix it right away!! now i have all my photos and memories back. thanks a million!

sometimes the flash drive can be corrupted as well.

Thanks bro, this was proving to be a major pain in the a**

Thanks

hmm..Its a nice post keep it up man.

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