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

Wow! Had no idea this was such a problem.
I have tried almost all of these things in one way or another but there are
certainly a few things I can try. I am really impressed with this list!
Thanks much.

Ron

"Anna" wrote:

>
> "Ron Carr" <RonCarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:17DD5C7B-A43D-41F3-97A3-5B4415E4B369@microsoft.com...
> > 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
>
>
> Ron:
> These USB non-recognition problems have been vexing all of us for some time
> now. We've become increasingly convinced that the relatively large number of
> problems in this area involving the non-recognition of USB devices that
> we've all been experiencing is an indication that there is something
> seriously flawed with respect to either the USB 2.0 specifications, possibly
> involving quality control issues affecting the manufacturer of these USB
> devices as well as supporting components such as motherboards and other
> USB-related components. Then too, we've become increasingly suspicious of
> the XP OS as it relates to its recognition of and interaction with these USB
> 2.0 devices.
>
> We have encountered far too many unexplained problems affecting
> detection/recognition of these devices and their erratic functioning not to
> believe that something is seriously amiss in this area.
>
> We continually encounter situations where a USB 2.0 device - generally
> involving a flash drive or USB external hard drive, will work perfectly fine
> in one machine and not in another. And, in far too many cases, we're unable
> to determine why this is so since we're unable to detect any
> hardware/software problem in the balking machine that would cause this
> non-recognition effect.
>
> Be that as it may, we've put together a more-or-less checklist for
> troubleshooting these USB non-recognition problems that (hopefully) may be
> of some value to you and other users encountering this type of problem...
>
> 1. Access Disk Management and see if the USB device is listed. If so, and
> there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive letter to
> the device.
> 2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
> letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
> Hopefully, Windows Explorer will open and the device will be listed.
> 3. Connect the USB device *directly* to a USB port on the computer, not via
> a USB hub. Try different USB ports should your computer have multiple ports.
> 4. Avoid using a USB extension cable.
> 5. Try connecting a USB device (that does not contain an auxiliary power
> supply) to a USB port both before and after the boot operation.
> 6. Where a USB (or Firewire) external HDD is involved, access Device
> Manager, highlight the Disk drives listing and click on the Action menu item
> and then the "Scan for hardware changes" sub-menu item. Do the same in Disk
> Management > Action > Rescan disks.
> 7. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
> power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
> *after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
> 8. Try a different USB cable.
> 9. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
> controllers listed and reboot.
> 10. If the device in question is not a commercial USB external HDD but
> rather one in which you installed a HDD in a USB enclosure, jumper the HDD
> as Master (or Single if the HDD is a Western Digital disk). A number of
> users have reported that jumper configuration corrected their
> non-recognition problem. In my own experience it didn't seem to matter how a
> USB external HDD was jumpered. But it may be worth a try.
> 11. If the device in question is a USB external HDD, first check out the HDD
> with the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility. If it checks out OK,
> and you can remove the HDD from its enclosure (without voiding any
> applicable warranty), do so and install the HDD as an internal HDD to
> determine if there are problems with the drive.
> 12. If the USB device is connected to a USB 2.0 PCI card, try changing the
> PCI slot to which it's currently connected to another one.
> 13. Access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device to determine if
> there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're experiencing or
> there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might be defective.
> 14. Determine from the manufacturer of your motherboard whether there's a
> BIOS upgrade affecting USB device recognition.
>
> A number of posters have reported they've found useful information re
> troubleshooting USB devices on this site -
> http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html
> Anna
>
>
>

"Ron Carr" <RonCarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:17DD5C7B-A43D-41F3-97A3-5B4415E4B369@microsoft.com...
> 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


Ron:
These USB non-recognition problems have been vexing all of us for some time
now. We've become increasingly convinced that the relatively large number of
problems in this area involving the non-recognition of USB devices that
we've all been experiencing is an indication that there is something
seriously flawed with respect to either the USB 2.0 specifications, possibly
involving quality control issues affecting the manufacturer of these USB
devices as well as supporting components such as motherboards and other
USB-related components. Then too, we've become increasingly suspicious of
the XP OS as it relates to its recognition of and interaction with these USB
2.0 devices.

We have encountered far too many unexplained problems affecting
detection/recognition of these devices and their erratic functioning not to
believe that something is seriously amiss in this area.

We continually encounter situations where a USB 2.0 device - generally
involving a flash drive or USB external hard drive, will work perfectly fine
in one machine and not in another. And, in far too many cases, we're unable
to determine why this is so since we're unable to detect any
hardware/software problem in the balking machine that would cause this
non-recognition effect.

Be that as it may, we've put together a more-or-less checklist for
troubleshooting these USB non-recognition problems that (hopefully) may be
of some value to you and other users encountering this type of problem...

1. Access Disk Management and see if the USB device is listed. If so, and
there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive letter to
the device.
2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
Hopefully, Windows Explorer will open and the device will be listed.
3. Connect the USB device *directly* to a USB port on the computer, not via
a USB hub. Try different USB ports should your computer have multiple ports.
4. Avoid using a USB extension cable.
5. Try connecting a USB device (that does not contain an auxiliary power
supply) to a USB port both before and after the boot operation.
6. Where a USB (or Firewire) external HDD is involved, access Device
Manager, highlight the Disk drives listing and click on the Action menu item
and then the "Scan for hardware changes" sub-menu item. Do the same in Disk
Management > Action > Rescan disks.
7. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
*after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
8. Try a different USB cable.
9. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
controllers listed and reboot.
10. If the device in question is not a commercial USB external HDD but
rather one in which you installed a HDD in a USB enclosure, jumper the HDD
as Master (or Single if the HDD is a Western Digital disk). A number of
users have reported that jumper configuration corrected their
non-recognition problem. In my own experience it didn't seem to matter how a
USB external HDD was jumpered. But it may be worth a try.
11. If the device in question is a USB external HDD, first check out the HDD
with the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility. If it checks out OK,
and you can remove the HDD from its enclosure (without voiding any
applicable warranty), do so and install the HDD as an internal HDD to
determine if there are problems with the drive.
12. If the USB device is connected to a USB 2.0 PCI card, try changing the
PCI slot to which it's currently connected to another one.
13. Access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device to determine if
there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're experiencing or
there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might be defective.
14. Determine from the manufacturer of your motherboard whether there's a
BIOS upgrade affecting USB device recognition.

A number of posters have reported they've found useful information re
troubleshooting USB devices on this site -
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html
Anna

Wow! Had no idea this was such a problem.
I have tried almost all of these things in one way or another but there are
certainly a few things I can try. I am really impressed with this list!
Thanks much.

Ron

"Anna" wrote:

>
> "Ron Carr" <RonCarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:17DD5C7B-A43D-41F3-97A3-5B4415E4B369@microsoft.com...
> > 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
>
>
> Ron:
> These USB non-recognition problems have been vexing all of us for some time
> now. We've become increasingly convinced that the relatively large number of
> problems in this area involving the non-recognition of USB devices that
> we've all been experiencing is an indication that there is something
> seriously flawed with respect to either the USB 2.0 specifications, possibly
> involving quality control issues affecting the manufacturer of these USB
> devices as well as supporting components such as motherboards and other
> USB-related components. Then too, we've become increasingly suspicious of
> the XP OS as it relates to its recognition of and interaction with these USB
> 2.0 devices.
>
> We have encountered far too many unexplained problems affecting
> detection/recognition of these devices and their erratic functioning not to
> believe that something is seriously amiss in this area.
>
> We continually encounter situations where a USB 2.0 device - generally
> involving a flash drive or USB external hard drive, will work perfectly fine
> in one machine and not in another. And, in far too many cases, we're unable
> to determine why this is so since we're unable to detect any
> hardware/software problem in the balking machine that would cause this
> non-recognition effect.
>
> Be that as it may, we've put together a more-or-less checklist for
> troubleshooting these USB non-recognition problems that (hopefully) may be
> of some value to you and other users encountering this type of problem...
>
> 1. Access Disk Management and see if the USB device is listed. If so, and
> there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive letter to
> the device.
> 2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
> letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
> Hopefully, Windows Explorer will open and the device will be listed.
> 3. Connect the USB device *directly* to a USB port on the computer, not via
> a USB hub. Try different USB ports should your computer have multiple ports.
> 4. Avoid using a USB extension cable.
> 5. Try connecting a USB device (that does not contain an auxiliary power
> supply) to a USB port both before and after the boot operation.
> 6. Where a USB (or Firewire) external HDD is involved, access Device
> Manager, highlight the Disk drives listing and click on the Action menu item
> and then the "Scan for hardware changes" sub-menu item. Do the same in Disk
> Management > Action > Rescan disks.
> 7. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
> power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
> *after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
> 8. Try a different USB cable.
> 9. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
> controllers listed and reboot.
> 10. If the device in question is not a commercial USB external HDD but
> rather one in which you installed a HDD in a USB enclosure, jumper the HDD
> as Master (or Single if the HDD is a Western Digital disk). A number of
> users have reported that jumper configuration corrected their
> non-recognition problem. In my own experience it didn't seem to matter how a
> USB external HDD was jumpered. But it may be worth a try.
> 11. If the device in question is a USB external HDD, first check out the HDD
> with the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility. If it checks out OK,
> and you can remove the HDD from its enclosure (without voiding any
> applicable warranty), do so and install the HDD as an internal HDD to
> determine if there are problems with the drive.
> 12. If the USB device is connected to a USB 2.0 PCI card, try changing the
> PCI slot to which it's currently connected to another one.
> 13. Access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device to determine if
> there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're experiencing or
> there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might be defective.
> 14. Determine from the manufacturer of your motherboard whether there's a
> BIOS upgrade affecting USB device recognition.
>
> A number of posters have reported they've found useful information re
> troubleshooting USB devices on this site -
> http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html
> Anna
>
>
>

On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:12:32 -0500, "Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote:

>
>"Ron Carr" <RonCarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:17DD5C7B-A43D-41F3-97A3-5B4415E4B369@microsoft.com...
>> 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
>
>
>Ron:
>These USB non-recognition problems have been vexing all of us for some time
>now. We've become increasingly convinced that the relatively large number of
>problems in this area involving the non-recognition of USB devices that
>we've all been experiencing is an indication that there is something
>seriously flawed with respect to either the USB 2.0 specifications, possibly
>involving quality control issues affecting the manufacturer of these USB
>devices as well as supporting components such as motherboards and other
>USB-related components. Then too, we've become increasingly suspicious of
>the XP OS as it relates to its recognition of and interaction with these USB
>2.0 devices.
>
>We have encountered far too many unexplained problems affecting
>detection/recognition of these devices and their erratic functioning not to
>believe that something is seriously amiss in this area.
>
>We continually encounter situations where a USB 2.0 device - generally
>involving a flash drive or USB external hard drive, will work perfectly fine
>in one machine and not in another. And, in far too many cases, we're unable
>to determine why this is so since we're unable to detect any
>hardware/software problem in the balking machine that would cause this
>non-recognition effect.
>
>Be that as it may, we've put together a more-or-less checklist for
>troubleshooting these USB non-recognition problems that (hopefully) may be
>of some value to you and other users encountering this type of problem...
>
>1. Access Disk Management and see if the USB device is listed. If so, and
>there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive letter to
>the device.
>2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
>letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
>Hopefully, Windows Explorer will open and the device will be listed.
>3. Connect the USB device *directly* to a USB port on the computer, not via
>a USB hub. Try different USB ports should your computer have multiple ports.
>4. Avoid using a USB extension cable.
>5. Try connecting a USB device (that does not contain an auxiliary power
>supply) to a USB port both before and after the boot operation.
>6. Where a USB (or Firewire) external HDD is involved, access Device
>Manager, highlight the Disk drives listing and click on the Action menu item
>and then the "Scan for hardware changes" sub-menu item. Do the same in Disk
>Management > Action > Rescan disks.
>7. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
>power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
>*after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
>8. Try a different USB cable.
>9. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
>controllers listed and reboot.
>10. If the device in question is not a commercial USB external HDD but
>rather one in which you installed a HDD in a USB enclosure, jumper the HDD
>as Master (or Single if the HDD is a Western Digital disk). A number of
>users have reported that jumper configuration corrected their
>non-recognition problem. In my own experience it didn't seem to matter how a
>USB external HDD was jumpered. But it may be worth a try.
>11. If the device in question is a USB external HDD, first check out the HDD
>with the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility. If it checks out OK,
>and you can remove the HDD from its enclosure (without voiding any
>applicable warranty), do so and install the HDD as an internal HDD to
>determine if there are problems with the drive.
>12. If the USB device is connected to a USB 2.0 PCI card, try changing the
>PCI slot to which it's currently connected to another one.
>13. Access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device to determine if
>there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're experiencing or
>there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might be defective.
>14. Determine from the manufacturer of your motherboard whether there's a
>BIOS upgrade affecting USB device recognition.
>
>A number of posters have reported they've found useful information re
>troubleshooting USB devices on this site -
>http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html
>Anna
>
>

Another problem I have found is that the HDD can be corruptly
formatted, which isn't so easy to detect actually.

Reformatting the drive non-corruptly corrects the non-drive letter
situation.

I've found the Acronis True Image disk utilities seem to accurately
diagnose corrupt disk formatting and then correctly format badly
formatted HDDs.

I've been caught out with a USB2.0 hard drive being set to slave when
it ought be set to master too. Some USB2.0 HDD enclosure instructions
specifically state the drive _must_ be set to master.

Ross

(To get email address ROT 13)
ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz

On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:12:32 -0500, "Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote:

>
>"Ron Carr" <RonCarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:17DD5C7B-A43D-41F3-97A3-5B4415E4B369@microsoft.com...
>> 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
>
>
>Ron:
>These USB non-recognition problems have been vexing all of us for some time
>now. We've become increasingly convinced that the relatively large number of
>problems in this area involving the non-recognition of USB devices that
>we've all been experiencing is an indication that there is something
>seriously flawed with respect to either the USB 2.0 specifications, possibly
>involving quality control issues affecting the manufacturer of these USB
>devices as well as supporting components such as motherboards and other
>USB-related components. Then too, we've become increasingly suspicious of
>the XP OS as it relates to its recognition of and interaction with these USB
>2.0 devices.
>
>We have encountered far too many unexplained problems affecting
>detection/recognition of these devices and their erratic functioning not to
>believe that something is seriously amiss in this area.
>
>We continually encounter situations where a USB 2.0 device - generally
>involving a flash drive or USB external hard drive, will work perfectly fine
>in one machine and not in another. And, in far too many cases, we're unable
>to determine why this is so since we're unable to detect any
>hardware/software problem in the balking machine that would cause this
>non-recognition effect.
>
>Be that as it may, we've put together a more-or-less checklist for
>troubleshooting these USB non-recognition problems that (hopefully) may be
>of some value to you and other users encountering this type of problem...
>
>1. Access Disk Management and see if the USB device is listed. If so, and
>there's no drive letter assigned, see if you can assign a drive letter to
>the device.
>2. If the USB device is listed in Disk Management with an assigned drive
>letter, right-click on its listing and select Explore from the submenu.
>Hopefully, Windows Explorer will open and the device will be listed.
>3. Connect the USB device *directly* to a USB port on the computer, not via
>a USB hub. Try different USB ports should your computer have multiple ports.
>4. Avoid using a USB extension cable.
>5. Try connecting a USB device (that does not contain an auxiliary power
>supply) to a USB port both before and after the boot operation.
>6. Where a USB (or Firewire) external HDD is involved, access Device
>Manager, highlight the Disk drives listing and click on the Action menu item
>and then the "Scan for hardware changes" sub-menu item. Do the same in Disk
>Management > Action > Rescan disks.
>7. Try alternate powering on/off methods. If the USB device contains its own
>power supply, try booting up with its power on, then try powering on only
>*after* the system has booted to a Desktop.
>8. Try a different USB cable.
>9. In the USB controllers section of Device Manager, uninstall all the USB
>controllers listed and reboot.
>10. If the device in question is not a commercial USB external HDD but
>rather one in which you installed a HDD in a USB enclosure, jumper the HDD
>as Master (or Single if the HDD is a Western Digital disk). A number of
>users have reported that jumper configuration corrected their
>non-recognition problem. In my own experience it didn't seem to matter how a
>USB external HDD was jumpered. But it may be worth a try.
>11. If the device in question is a USB external HDD, first check out the HDD
>with the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility. If it checks out OK,
>and you can remove the HDD from its enclosure (without voiding any
>applicable warranty), do so and install the HDD as an internal HDD to
>determine if there are problems with the drive.
>12. If the USB device is connected to a USB 2.0 PCI card, try changing the
>PCI slot to which it's currently connected to another one.
>13. Access the website of the manufacturer of the USB device to determine if
>there's any firmware update or info re the problem you're experiencing or
>there's any possibility that the USB enclosure itself might be defective.
>14. Determine from the manufacturer of your motherboard whether there's a
>BIOS upgrade affecting USB device recognition.
>
>A number of posters have reported they've found useful information re
>troubleshooting USB devices on this site -
>http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html
>Anna
>
>

Another problem I have found is that the HDD can be corruptly
formatted, which isn't so easy to detect actually.

Reformatting the drive non-corruptly corrects the non-drive letter
situation.

I've found the Acronis True Image disk utilities seem to accurately
diagnose corrupt disk formatting and then correctly format badly
formatted HDDs.

I've been caught out with a USB2.0 hard drive being set to slave when
it ought be set to master too. Some USB2.0 HDD enclosure instructions
specifically state the drive _must_ be set to master.

Ross

(To get email address ROT 13)
ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz

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).

Sounds to me like the daemon tools problem:
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#daemon


Uwe

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).

Sounds to me like the daemon tools problem:
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#daemon


Uwe

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

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

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
>
>
>

Disk Management crashed ? - That's not a good thing. Are you
sure the System Services for Disk management are running ? Not
sure what else to recommend while the system is unstable.

"RalphieUK" <RalphieUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37ACD6BC-4BA8-49AF-A433-CDD60B827D7E@microsoft.com...
> 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
>>
>>
>>

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

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

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
>
>
>