Cheers thought it was fixed for a brief moment then Disk Management crashed!
I don't want to format YET AGAIN. Any further suggestions? Thanks

"R. McCarty" wrote:

> Several step process:
> 1.) Add a System Environment Variable, named
> DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
> set it's value = 1
> *System Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables
> System category
> 2.) Device Manager, Click View - tic/check "Show Hidden
> Devices
> 3.) In the following categories, locate all entries shown in
> diminished tone or grayed out and Right Click, choose
> uninstall ( Unplug all USB Flash/Drives prior to starting ).
> a.) Storage Volumes
> b.) Universal Serial Bus Controllers
> 1.) All "USB Mass Storage Controllers"
> c.) Disk Drives
>
> Re-plug each Flash/Drive, once enumerated, use DiskMgmt.Msc
> to set it's Drive Letter assignment to a mid-alphabet letter, such as
> L or M.
>
> "RalphieUK" <RalphieUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6FB97621-DCB8-4EB5-84FB-32E3C346D666@microsoft.com...
> >I have the same problem and it's driving me crazy as I can't access my
> >flash
> > drives or usb card reader. Thanks
> >
> > "Ron Carr" wrote:
> >
> >> When I plug in a USB external disk drive, or a flash memory card, the
> >> device
> >> does not show in Windows Explorer. Disk management shows the disk drive
> >> (not
> >> the flash memory) but it has no drive letter and I cannot assign one
> >> (Change
> >> drive or path grayed out). I do have an E: drive which is evidently the
> >> memory card port on my photo printer - never used. (I have 2 hard disks C
> >> and
> >> D, my CD and DVD are assigned P and Q).
> >> Thanks for any help.....I threw away a flash memory card figuring it was
> >> no
> >> good!
> >> Ron
>
>
>