In recent years, flash drives have become very popular and almost every PC user has one. It has become the norm that almost every second person constantly carries a flash drive with all the necessary information. And this is not surprising, because a memory card is much more convenient than a previous generation storage medium, for example, like a disk.

Compactness and accessibility are not the main advantages of flash media. Users appreciate it primarily because all files for work or study are always at hand and, if necessary, they can be erased or overwritten.

But no technology is absolutely perfect. Problems such as the inability to read or open files are becoming increasingly common. The reason may lie either in the storage media itself or in the computer. And this is deplorable because in an instant you can lose all files with important information. That’s why it’s worth knowing why a flash drive stops working and all possible methods to fix the problem.

Non-working flash drive

Let's start with the worst, namely that the problem lies in the fact that the media has failed. Indeed, in this situation, repairing it will be almost impossible or unreasonably expensive.

Mostly, flash drives break after rough impact on the controller or chip, as well as due to short circuits and failure of contacts on the board. It happens that after getting into the water the carrier remains working and users only breathe a sigh of relief. But in vain! After the flash drive gets into the water and turns out to be working, you should immediately rewrite all the files to another medium. After all, just because it works correctly does not mean that after a while it will be the same. Moisture and electronics, although very small, are completely incompatible things and almost never their contact goes unnoticed.

Also, if the computer does not see the media, you first need to determine the reason. You need to inspect the body of the device for cracks and dents. Naturally, if the flash drive is completely smashed, it is useless to do anything at all.

But if you still have doubts about the device’s inoperability, you need to move on. It's easy enough to check if it works. You just need to insert the flash drive into your computer. If the device lights up (there is an LED built into the case) and the computer beeps when the device is connected, then the flash drive is working. This means the problem can still be fixed.

But if the carrier itself did not react in any way, like the PC, then it is useless to do anything. You can, of course, contact an electronics repairman or service center. They will try to resolder the contacts and may even replace the broken case, but this will be very expensive. It is easier to buy a new flash drive, unless, of course, there are vital files on the old one.

Is the flash drive showing signs of life? So, we look for the problem further.

De-energized USB port on the front panel of the PC

The most common reason why a computer does not see a flash drive is a de-energized USB port on the front panel. Many users automatically connect the flash drive to the computer through the front panel. It's easy and convenient. And somehow we completely forget that these are not the only ports on the PC.

This problem is especially likely after the PC has been repaired or cleaned from dust, replaced thermal paste, or any other activity that includes disassembling the system unit. It’s just that at the time of its assembly, due to forgetfulness, you may not connect the front ports to power. The problem is simple and easy to solve.

If you need files right here and now, you can simply use other ports. They must be working if the problem really is hardening of the front ports. If the flash drive works and the rear ports too, then there will be access to files. This can be called the first way to solve this problem. But after that, it’s still better to spend a little time and connect them, because habit is a gainful thing.

But method 2 already takes time. You need to connect the motherboard power cable to the front panel of the PC. The connectors may be different, depending on the case model. But it’s practically impossible to get confused in them, since each cable has markings and the whole structure is designed, so you need to try hard to connect a “foreign” cable.

But still, in different models there are wires of such types as “VCC”, “D-”, “D+”, and also “GND”. Also, those who are afraid of messing things up and doing something wrong can look at the color coding. As a rule, wires and connectors have the same markings. But just in case, you need to pay attention to the inscriptions.

First you need to gain access to the motherboard itself. To do this, you need to carefully unscrew the bolts holding the cover in place and remove it. It is recommended to put the bolts in one place so as not to lose them. After this you need to find the cable leading to the front panel and find the connector on the motherboard. Their markings must match. And so you can work on the principle of exclusion. If only one power cable is not connected, then its connectors are free. But you still need to carefully look at the color and letter markings.

Once the connector of the desired color is found, you need to carefully insert the power cable into it. Then, without assembling the case, turn on the computer and check the functionality of the front panel. If everything works well, then great; if not, then you should check the labeling more carefully.

If you cannot connect the cable due to fear of burning the contacts, it is recommended to call a specialist. A qualified specialist will do this work once or twice, and your equipment will work as before.

Malfunctioning or disabled USB port

In some cases, the problem that the computer does not see the flash drive is not the storage media itself, but the connector where it is connected. For example, a port may simply not work due to damaged contacts in it. And this port will not see not only the flash drive, but also any other device connected through it.

The problem can be easily solved if you have a little knowledge of circuit design. You just need to patch up the soldering iron contacts. But if such knowledge is completely absent, then the computer must be taken to a service center. There, problems can be quickly resolved for a small fee.

But it’s worth noting that if not a single port is working, then the problem may lie much deeper. For example, this may happen because the ports are disabled in the BIOS.

To reconnect the ports in the BIOS settings, you must first go into it. To do this, you need to restart the computer and press the F2 key in the first three seconds of the reboot. After this, the BIOS window should open. On different models, the keys for calling up the BIOS may differ. As a rule, they are marked.

To connect ports you need to follow the instructions:

• After the BIOS is opened, you need to go to the Advanced Settings menu and select the USB configuration.
• Find the line “USB Controller” and set the value opposite it to “Enabled”. This will allow you to use the ports.
• After all the above manipulations, you need to save the changes by pressing the F10 key. This will not only save the changes, but will also exit the BIOS.

Now that we can say with confidence that the ports are connected, we need to check them. To do this, you need to connect a flash drive through one of the ports and make sure that everything works as it should. If the computer still does not see the flash drive, then the problem lies elsewhere.

Dirt and dust in the flash drive connector

Due to the fact that the flash drive is very compact, you always carry it with you in your pocket or bag. Some even attach it as a squirrel to their apartment or car keys. In addition, quite often the lid from it is lost.

It is this attitude towards the device that leads to its contamination. Small debris and dust getting into the card connector can damage it. This occurs because the pins become dirty and no longer communicate properly with the port pins on the PC.

Also a sign that the flash drive is dirty can be its freezing, slow file transfer and reading of information. To clean the media connector you need a match or a cotton swab. Use a match to shake out all the debris from the connector. Soak a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe everything inside. This will help eliminate debris and prevent contact oxidation.

Viruses on PC or storage media

You should be especially careful to ensure that no virus gets onto the flash drive. Even on a trusted site you can get infected. And many users do not think about information security at all and download files from unverified sources.

Inserting a flash drive into someone else's computer that has viruses is a sure sign of infecting files that were already on the drive. Viruses on a computer multiply quite quickly, infecting more and more files.

This is why quite often a flash drive does not work precisely because it is infected with a virus. As a rule, in this case, the computer recognizes the media and beeps when it is connected. But the files on it cannot be read, and the system tries to convince the user that the flash drive was not found.

If this happens, first of all you need to install an antivirus on your computer and scan it completely. And in order to be able to view files on the card, you need to gain access to them. But to do this, you need to delete the infected document from it. To do this, first of all you need to do the following:

1. Open "Start";
2. Find through the search bar “Show hidden folders”;
3. Right-click on the item requested and go to “Show hidden files and folders”;
4. Find the line “Hide system files” and uncheck it;
5. Find the line “Show hidden files” and tick it;
6. Click the “Apply” button;
7. Click "OK".

After all these steps, you need to go to the “My Computer” folder and go to the problematic device, in this case the drive. In its folder you will see a file called “Autorun”. This file must be deleted, and then the flash drive must be scanned for viruses using any anti-virus software. This can be done by right-clicking on the drive folder and selecting “Scan for viruses.” Typically, this line will be marked with your antivirus icon.

Once the flash drive is completely safe for use, you can easily read information from it. But, for example, if there were no viruses on it or it still did not work after all the manipulations, then the problem may lie in the lack of drivers.

Outdated drivers or their failure

It also happens that the flash drive is not displayed by the computer due to the drivers being outdated or a system failure. A common cause of failure is a power surge or sudden shutdown of the system. Also, older computers may simply not work with cards larger than 32 GB. Both can be solved by simply updating the drivers.

To do this you need to go to “Device Manager”. You can get to it through the “My Computer” folder and simply find it by searching in the system. After the “Device Manager” folder is opened, you need to insert the problematic flash drive into the computer port and open the “USB Controllers” tab. In the tab we find the line called “Storage device”, select it and delete it through the right-click menu. This is to remove the driver from the system for the flash drive. After removal, you need to reconnect the flash drive. This will start automatic driver installation and the computer will see it as usual.

Of course, if the problem persists, then you need to try something else. For example, reinstalling all USB drivers may help. This can be done using the disk that came with the motherboard. If it is not there, then you can download a driver update program. There are many such programs on the Internet. They work identically. They scan your computer and display all drivers that have updates. Also, such programs themselves update them after agreement from the user.

It is worth noting that you should not doubt your actions due to the difference in USB formats. Drivers for ports 2.0 and 3.0 are installed in the same way. Moreover, the ports differ only in the speed of writing and reading information.

There are errors in the file system

Due to the fact that there is an error in the file system on the computer, it cannot see the drive. You can check this through Device Manager.

To do this, you need to insert the drive into the PC and go to the “Disk devices” tab in the manager. If the device is displayed, then the drive itself is working, but the system simply does not perceive it as necessary. The problem can be corrected by simply formatting the memory card. But this is a very delicate action. It will be described in detail in the next paragraph.

If the drive is not displayed in this tab, then the flash drive itself is faulty. Its contacts could come loose or the controller could burn out. When it comes to repairing equipment, experts are quite capable of resurrecting it. But such minor work will be unreasonably expensive; it will be cheaper to buy a new device.

Conflict between file systems

It happens that files on the media are not displayed by the computer due to a conflict between the file systems on the connected device and the PC. For example, this often happens when the file system on the computer is NTFS and the drive is FAT32. This occurs not only in Windows operating systems, but also in Apple products. So, for example, if a flash drive was formatted on a MacBook, it will not be readable on a PC with the Windows operating system.

So, it turns out that the only way out is to format the device. But before doing this, it would be wise to copy the files to a computer with a different operating system. The last PC on which the drive was used is perfect. After formatting, the flash drive will be completely empty.

To properly format the drive you need to follow the instructions:

• Open the “My Computer” folder;
• Right-click on the connected device and select “Properties”;
• In the window that appears, see what file system is used on the drive and remember. Close this window;
• Right-click on the folder of the connected device and select the “Format” function;
• In the window that appears, check the box that matches the file system of the drive. This will allow you to format it into the desired file system;
• Check the “Quick” attribute and click “Start”.

After some time, the PC will report that formatting the drive is complete. The flash drive is formatted correctly and should now work correctly.

IMPORTANT! Quick formatting is chosen not only for the reason that files will be deleted faster. If suddenly there was something important on the flash drive, only in this deletion option can these files be returned using a special program. If you do not use quick formatting, the files will be lost forever.

Unformatted flash drive

Quite often, when a completely new flash drive is inserted into the port, the PC warns that the device needs to be formatted before use. That is, until formatting occurs, there is no access to the device. If the flash drive is new and there is no information on it, then you can safely format it of any type. The problem will go away after this.

But if the flash drive is not new and has been used before, that is, it has the necessary files or not, then you can try connecting it to the port of another PC. Then again to the computer, which does not provide access to the files. This simple action helps resolve the problem.

If the problem does not go away, then it is better to copy the necessary files to another PC and format the flash drive. Step-by-step instructions for correct formatting were provided just above.

The flash drive has been assigned a busy letter or there are problems with the partition

As already mentioned, technology is imperfect and even a computer can make mistakes. Thus, the PC may incorrectly determine the type of connected device. But you can’t tell by looking at it, because the computer signals the connection and the flash drive is displayed. But it cannot be used for its intended purpose.

Also, the problem itself may be that the system did not assign a letter to the partition, or did so, but it is already occupied. For this reason, a conflict between addresses arises.

To fix this, you need to try assigning a letter to the partition. You need to do this manually according to the instructions:

1. Press “Win+R” simultaneously to open the “Run” window;
2. Enter the command diskmgmt.msc into the line of the window. It will redirect to the section we need for managing drives;
3. In the connected device manager you need to find the flash drive. You can simply turn it off and on and see what appears;
4. On the partition defined as a connected drive, you need to right-click and click on “Change letter”;
5. In the window that appears, click sequentially “Change” - “Ok”;

After this, an additional dialog box will open in which you can select the letter you like for the drive. After making your selection, just click on “Ok” and the selected letter will correspond to the device section.

ADVICE! Before choosing a drive letter, you should look at those already occupied. Otherwise, the problem will remain if you unknowingly assign a busy letter to the device.

The power supply is faulty or the portal is over-current

Many users noted that the computer did not see the drive because the power supply was faulty. Its job is to consume and distribute energy. Like any device, it has a limit on power values. That is why the distribution across nodes is balanced.

For example, such a situation may arise after replacing one node. And the new element requires more energy than the others. Because of this, the balance in the distribution of energy is upset, and since the power supply cannot supply more energy to the replaced node, it simply does not reach other points.

Such an imbalance in energy distribution can literally cut off power to the PC's USB network. It is correct to calculate in advance the energy consumption of a particular component when replacing it. But if an important element was replaced without this calculation, then all that remains is to buy a more powerful power supply.

But if the unit has not been replaced, then most likely the power supply is faulty and incorrectly produces the potential for power. For example, after a breakdown, it began to produce less power than declared by the manufacturers. In this case, you should not even try to fix the problem, since the fate of the entire PC is at stake. It's better to replace the power supply.

There is another explanation for the fact that the PC does not see the flash drive. Look at your computer, what is connected to it? A computer mouse, a keyboard lamp, a smartphone on charge and maybe some other device? And all this overloads the USB ports. Simply connecting multiple devices already consumes the maximum current distributed to them. And there's an extra flash drive there. In order for the PC to start seeing the map, you need to disconnect a couple of devices and the problem will be solved.

What to do if your Windows XP PC does not recognize the flash drive

There are a large number of reasons why a memory card is not recognized by a PC running the Windows XP operating system. The problem may be either in the storage medium itself or in the operating system. But the computer hardware itself may also be to blame.

If the operating system is the reason why the computer does not see the connected device, then you need to make changes in the OS settings. This can be done using special utilities, but it is recommended to do everything yourself.

A faulty flash drive is not worth the money that can be spent on repairing it at a service center. The only thing worth doing is keeping this one and buying a new drive. You should choose a good quality flash drive with a casing made of durable material. This will help protect the new drive from mechanical damage.

As a rule, if the PC cannot detect the drive, the OS informs the user about this with the following messages:

• The drive is inserted into the computer port and when you try to read information from it, a message like “Insert disk drive” pops up.
• When you try to read information from the card, the OS reports that the drive must be formatted before use and does not allow you to read data without this. It turns out that it is not possible to view the files, since after formatting they will be deleted.
• After the user attempts to access files on a connected device, the OS reports that access to files on the drive is impossible.
• Immediately after connecting the device through the port, the OS freezes. It is noteworthy that when the drive is removed, everything returns to normal.

When solving the problem that the PC does not see or read files from the drive, it is necessary to solve it sequentially, strictly following the points:

1. The first thing you should pay attention to when connecting a drive is the indicator on the card body. It is built in there in order to determine the performance of the device itself. If the LED blinks, but the flash drive is not read by the computer, this means that the problem is in the OS itself or the PC hardware.
2. The flash drive looks fine, but still doesn't work? It is recommended to change the port. There is a possibility that the one in which the flash drive is inserted is malfunctioning. Quite often, when connecting a drive through an incorrectly working port, the computer freezes. This is easy to check, since there are other ports on the computer. If everything works as it should when you reconnect the device, then you need to either stop using the broken port or have it repaired at a service center. It is also recommended to check whether it is dirty. Dirt and dust can interfere with the connection of the contacts and cleaning usually eliminates the problem.
3. When using hubs or extension cables to connect a USB device, it may not be recognized by the computer due to a malfunction of the additional equipment. It can be easily repaired with minimal knowledge. Upon inspection, you can easily notice contacts that have come loose and a soldering iron can easily fix this. You can also solve everything without personal intervention and simply take the hub for repair.
4. There is a possibility that not enough current is supplied to the USB ports. This happens due to their overload with various devices. This can be easily checked by turning off all extraneous devices, leaving only the essentials, namely the keyboard and computer mouse. After this, you need to connect the drive and make sure that it works. If this is the case, then the power supply is too weak and needs to be replaced. But buying a cheaper hub for USB devices can help, since it has its own power source.
5. If the previous steps did not help resolve the problem, then there is a possibility that the power supply does not have enough power or the USB port is out of date for your drive. In a word, old computers and laptops cannot read drives larger than 32 GB. Nothing can be done here. Either use a smaller drive, or replace the computer with a more modern model.
6. Well, the last possibility of a faulty flash drive is that it is connected out of habit to the front port. It may be de-energized due to the fact that the port is not connected to the motherboard. Also, the ports may not be working due to lack of power. You can connect them to the motherboard yourself. Detailed instructions for connecting them are located in the section above.

Errors in Windows XP prevent you from seeing your drive

The device may not be detected due to errors in the operating system itself. For example, the OS may simply not have the necessary update software packages needed for the correct operation of devices connected via USB ports. It is also possible that only some devices can be read on a certain port.

You can solve this problem by updating the system to SP3 and making all the updates that are available. This does not require any special knowledge. A couple of clicks and the system will do everything automatically.

Updates can be downloaded either from Windows Update or from media (flash drive, disk). But first of all, you need to check which package is installed on the system. To do this you need to do the following:

• Right-click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”.
• In the window that opens, view the necessary information.

In order to install updates, you need to let the system search for and install them on its own. This can be done in the Windows Update panel. After the system gains control, it will independently find the necessary updates and ask the user for permission to install them. The installation can be done either selectively of all found ones, or as a whole package. It is recommended to perform a custom installation only if you have an idea of ​​what the selected update does. If there is no such knowledge, then it is better to let the system install all the updates found.

After the system has installed all the necessary OS updates, it will ask you to restart the computer. This is necessary for the changes to take effect. It does not take a lot of time. After the reboot, you can safely connect the flash drive and get on with your business.

For those who want to install only some updates, you need to know which one does what. Here's the information you need to get started:

There is a conflict between drivers in Windows XP

It also happens that due to conflicting drivers, the computer cannot recognize the connected device. Thus, old drivers can cause errors in the system and prevent new ones from working correctly. The problem can be expressed as an error message popping up when a flash drive is inserted. The system does not see it and requires you to insert a disk to start working. Sometimes the OS freezes.

This happens because the drivers conflict. For example, a user has two drives. After he inserts drive No. 1 into the PC, the system automatically installs drivers for this type of device. After finishing working with this device, the user removes it and begins working with drive No. 2. As a rule, the second flash drive is working, but the system still reports an error. This happens because the OS uses the installed driver after using drive #1 to start the second one. But they are incompatible with each other.

Reinstalling drive drivers on Windows XP

Since the drivers are incompatible with each other, they need to be reinstalled. This can be done either automatically or independently.

Due to the fact that the system uses drivers from one device to another connected via a port, you must first remove all drivers for this type of drive. Then perform a clean installation.

Typically, if there is such a conflict, the OS displays a message stating that the inserted device cannot be recognized. Also, the system may completely freeze, making it impossible to perform work on the PC.

Removing drivers using the DRIVECLEANUP utility

The special DRIVECLEANUP utility will help you remove drivers simply and effectively. This utility is good because before uninstalling it searches for drivers in the system. After which they are deleted.

To start fixing the problem, you need to turn on the PC and disconnect all unnecessary devices from it, leaving only the keyboard and computer mouse. This will help avoid various conflict situations during the process.

Then you need to download the driver removal utility. It is advisable to do this through a trusted resource, or better yet, from the official website of the program. The program itself is compatible with all versions of the OS. When the utility is downloaded, you need to open it using administrator rights. This can be done by right-clicking on the program icon and selecting “Open as administrator.” Then the utility will do everything on its own.

1. Place the utility file for updating drivers in a system folder called System.
2. Open the command line and write the command drivecleanup.exe and execute it by pressing the Enter key.
3. This command will launch the utility, and the command line will display information about all drivers on the PC.

This will also remove them.

Automatic installation

Since in the previous paragraph all drivers were removed from the computer, you need to reinstall them. This is necessary for normal operation of the system. Fortunately, they can be installed automatically. It's very easy to do.

The only thing you need is a flash drive. You just need to insert it into the USB port of your computer. After the PC recognizes the device, automatic installation of drivers for it will begin.

Quite often this will be evident from the pop-up dialog box. But in some systems, the process of automatically installing drivers for a new device occurs unnoticed by the user.

This process is short-lived. This can take a maximum of 2-3 minutes, no more. After installing the drivers, the device will start working correctly. This means that now the computer will not only recognize the card, but also read information from it.

Manual installation

You can also install the drivers yourself without using a flash card. To do this, you need to download drivers from the Internet. But in this case, a conflict with the system may arise. That is why it is recommended to install using another PC.

To do this, you need to take the flash drive that had problems and insert it into the computer where it is recognized. There is a small condition for manually installing drivers, namely that the version of the operating system on the PC where the flash drive is not recognized and the one from which the installation will be carried out must completely match.

Now you need to search through the system to find two files with paths: %SystemRoot%\INF\usbstor.inf and %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\drivers\usbstor.sys

In any convenient way, you need to move these files to a PC that does not recognize the flash drive. This can be done, for example, using another flash drive or sent via Kidney or via Contact. On a computer that has a problem recognizing the drive, the files need to be placed in a folder with the same path where they were located on the working PC. After moving them to the required folder, the system will ask the user to confirm the replacement of files. When everything is ready you need to restart the system. And you can safely use an already working flash drive, as the problem will be resolved.

Here we have discussed the most common reasons why a flash drive is not recognized by a computer. But as you might guess, there are many other reasons for its inoperability. This error may also be accompanied by other messages from the system.

"Insert disk" message

This message may appear when a disc is inserted. First of all, it is recommended to check how the flash drive is inserted and whether the device itself reacts (flashing LED). It happens that over time the flash drive bends, and in order for contact to occur, you need to insert it into the port slowly until a sound signal is heard.

This may also occur due to the overlap of drivers from the previous media. Because of their incompatibility, it turns out that the flash drive doesn’t seem to exist. To correct the situation, you need to remove all drivers and install (simply reconnect the flash drive after removing the drivers).

The system requires you to format the disk before use.

This may happen because the flash drive is new and has never been used. In this case, you can format it without consequences, since there are no files on it.

But this may indicate a system failure in the flash drive itself or its damage. The solution to this problem is described above, and the principle of correct disk formatting is also given there.

A message appears indicating that there is a data error

This message appears when:

• There are incompatible drivers on the computer. Solution: uninstall and reinstall drivers.
• A conflict has occurred in the file systems. Solution: format the flash drive in the desired system with preliminary saving of the data.
• There is a failure in the media itself.

The system hangs after connecting the device

This PC behavior may indicate that:

1. The port through which the media was connected is faulty.
2. Presence of incompatible drivers.

To eliminate one of the problems, you need to connect the flash drive through a different port. If everything works, then that's it. No, it's the drivers' fault.

The computer does not see the flash drive, but it signals the connection

When the media is connected, an indicator on it lights up, indicating that contact has been established. If in this case the computer does not see the flash drive, a faulty contact in the media itself, which is directly responsible for transmitting information, may be to blame.

Also, a conflict between drivers or an already occupied partition letter can also cause such a reaction.

Error 43 / Error 43

If the OS produces this error, then it is useless to even try to access the files on the media, since it automatically stops the process of reading information on the device. The following reasons may cause this error:

• Media failure. It is recommended to check its functionality on a third-party PC.
• Presence of incompatible drivers in the system.
• The equipment configuration has been updated. Solution6: Roll back the driver in the Manager.

Conclusion

The article described all types of the most common reasons why the computer does not see the flash drive, and also described ways to solve them. It is recommended that if there is such a problem, solve it sequentially, following the points of the article. This will help correct the situation only if the flash drive is not mechanically damaged irreversibly.

There can be many reasons why a computer or laptop does not see a flash drive. And it’s quite difficult to determine what’s wrong. After all, the reason may be related to both the PC and the USB device itself. There is only one way out in this case: try all possible options.

And to make this task easier for you, below are 8 recommendations on how to fix this problem. The tips are universal and are suitable for all PCs and laptops running Windows XP, 7, 8 or 10.

Checking the functionality of the USB flash drive

If the flash drive is not recognized by the computer, then first of all check whether it works at all? The easiest way is to connect it to another laptop or PC.

Look at the USB device LED (available on all modern models). If it does not light up, then the flash drive is probably no longer working. Although you could simply extract it incorrectly. In this case, I recommend reading.

Checking USB ports

The second reason why the flash drive is not recognized by the computer is that you connect it to a non-working USB connector. Even if it worked yesterday, it still needs to be checked. To do this, connect another device to the same port - a mouse, printer, smartphone. Or you can connect a USB flash drive to the connector on the rear panel.

Configuration update

If the flash drive is not displayed on Windows 7, 8 or 10, go to “Device Manager” (it can be opened through Start - Control Panel).

After that:

1. Find your flash drive. It is usually located in the "USB Controllers" or "Other Devices" section and may be named as a mass storage or unknown device (or the standard name - Kingstone, Silicon Power, etc.).
   
2. Select it, right-click and click Delete.
   
3. In the top menu, select Action – Update configuration.
   

Installing a utility from Microsoft

After this, you need to open the settings (“USB Configuration”). Since there are many BIOS versions, the path will be different in each case. For example, in the screenshot below, the required item is in the “Advanced” section.

Open it and check that next to “USB Controller” the option “Enabled” is indicated. If this is not the case, select the appropriate item.

Changing the device letter

To fix this error:

1. Go to Start – Control Panel – Administrative Tools.
   
2. Select the Computer Management shortcut.
   
3. On the left, go to the Disk Management tab.

   
   Disk Management Tab

4. Select the flash drive (it is labeled “Removable device”), right-click and select the “Change drive letter” line. To check which letter is not in use, look in My Computer.

   
   

Driver Update

If the flash drive is not recognized on the laptop, the reason may be outdated drivers. In this case, they need to be updated. Easiest to use (they do everything automatically).

By the way, if you have an old PC, then flash drives with a capacity of 32 GB or more will not be displayed on it.

And allows you to quickly save important files and text documents. However, sometimes users are faced with the fact that the flash drive does not appear on the computer. What to do in this situation? What could cause problems of this kind?

It is worth considering that sometimes the computer stops seeing removable media, even if there were no problems with it before. In some situations, the PC does not display the contents of folders, and sometimes it does not even “see” that the device is connected. Finding yourself in such a situation, every user asks himself a completely logical question: “Why is the flash drive not displayed on my computer?” Some begin to panic, worrying that all saved data will now be lost. But don't despair prematurely. First you need to calmly deal with the causes of the problem. There may be several of these.

Lack of power or socket problems

Typically, stationary system units have several ports for connecting USB storage devices. Some of them are located on the front part of the system unit, and they quite often stop working correctly.

In this case, you need to try inserting the flash drive into the slot located on the back of the computer. If there are no corresponding ports there, then you need to check the headphone output hole, which is usually also located on the front of the system unit. If the audio track does not play, then the problem is due to a mechanical failure of the connectors. Another possible explanation is that they were not originally connected to the PC motherboard. Developers very often make this mistake when producing systems systems.

In addition, if the computer is via USB, this may indicate that too little power is being supplied to the connector, which is why the media is constantly turning on and off. This happens due to errors by developers who do not always fit the cables as tightly as possible into the required grooves.

If the flash drive is not displayed in the “My Computer” folder for these reasons, then it will be difficult to deal with the problem on your own. It is much easier to contact a service center or return the faulty system unit to the seller.

If the problem is not related to a lack of power or improper operation of the connectors, then it is worth considering other reasons for the non-functioning removable media.

Drivers

Each flash drive has software installed by default, which should be automatically activated when the device is connected to the PC. However, Windows 7 does not always install the driver correctly. This is where the most common reason why a flash drive is not displayed in “My Computer” appears.

To fix this problem, you need to go to Device Manager. You can do this in two ways:

• Right-click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”. On the left in the window that opens there will be a list of available directories. From it you need to select “Device Manager”.
• Left-click on “Start” and enter the name of the required directory in the search.

If everything is done correctly, a new window will open with a list of all connected devices and a report on their operation. In this list you need to find “USB controllers”. There will be a “+” icon next to the inscription. You need to click on it and see if there is an exclamation mark next to any of the devices.

If one of the drivers does not work correctly, then you need to right-click on it and select “Update”. After this, the system will try to independently find the required software.

If this does not happen and the computer, then the necessary drivers can be installed manually. To do this, you need to go to the website of the manufacturer of the removable drive and download the current version of the software. After this, you can either run the file directly from the downloads folder, or go to the “Device Manager” again and specify the path to the folder where the necessary drivers are located.

If the computer no longer sees the flash drive, you can use other ways to solve this problem.

Windows Troubleshooters

This method is not suitable in cases where the device is not detected by the system at all. If the computer sees the flash drive, but does not open the files stored on it, then in this case Windows itself will help solve the problem.

To use standard troubleshooting tools, you need to unplug the flash drive and reinsert it. After this, the system usually notifies you that it was not possible to install the software for the device and offers to try to solve the problem.

If such a function is not available on your computer, do not despair. To do this, go to the official Microsoft website and download the necessary utility. After that, launch it and click the “Next” button. The program will automatically begin diagnosing and correcting possible faults. As a result, the utility will report a verdict and offer several options to choose from to solve the problem. The user only needs to follow the program's recommendations.

In some cases, standard troubleshooting tools will produce a report indicating that no problems were found. This means that the functionality of the utility was not enough to work. This may also be a sign that the problem lies in the removable drive itself.

Sometimes the flash drive is not displayed in the “My Computer” folder for a number of other reasons.

Viruses

Virus and spyware can also affect the correct operation of the system. In this case, errors like “Access Denied” most often appear on the screen. This means that viruses and Trojans have damaged the original device driver and replaced several files on it.

To solve this problem, you need to go to “Computer” and enter the name of the flash drive (usually some Latin letter) in the address bar, followed by the characters “:\”. Next you need to press Enter. The next step will most likely open an empty folder. To make its files visible, just go to the startup directory. To do this, select “Tools” and go to “Properties”, after which a new window will open.

In it you need to find the “View” tab and scroll the slider to the very bottom. Having found “Hide files”, you need to uncheck that option and activate the visibility of hidden files. After this, it is enough to confirm the operation, and all the necessary files should appear in the folder of the flash drive. However, that's not all. The fact is that after these manipulations the flash drive still does not appear in the “My Computer” folder, this is due to the fact that the file affected by the virus has not yet been deleted.

To get rid of it, you need to find a document called autorun.inf and delete it. After this, all that remains is to scan the system for possible malware. It is possible that there may be residual virus files on your computer.

If nothing helps and the flash drive is not visible to the phone and computer, then you can try more complex manipulations.

You can also try disconnecting all devices from the computer and restarting the PC. After this, you need to scan it for viruses, turn the device off and on again, and only then connect the flash drive. The fact is that the virus may not be on the PC itself, but on some additional device connected to it, so they need to be disabled.

Formatting media

If the device is not visible not only on the PC, but also on the smartphone, then the problems may be more serious. As a rule, in this case, a message appears on the monitor stating that the installed disk needs to be formatted. When starting to fulfill the system requirement, you need to understand that this operation will destroy absolutely all data from the removable media. But along with the necessary documents, malicious or incorrect software will also be removed.

To activate this process, just click on “Format” and wait until the system cleans the flash drive.

To start the formatting process manually, just perform the following manipulations:

• Go to “Properties” by right-clicking on “My Computer”.
• In the drop-down menu, activate the formatting function.
• Choose a file system that will fully match your PC.
• Check the box next to “Quick”. In this case, the files may be saved, but the “broken” folders will not disappear along with them.
• Click "Start".

There are other reasons why the flash drive does not appear in the My Computer folder.

Partition conflict

This happens when for some reason the system cannot recognize the name of the flash drive. The fact is that several disks can be installed on a computer. If the user assigned the name “K” to one of them, and at the same time the same index is set on the removable media by default, this will lead to a failure. Solving this problem is very simple.

To do this, you need to go to the “Control Panel” and make a selection by category (this will be more convenient). After this, you need to find the administration panel and select “Computer Management”. In this case, all manipulations must be carried out exclusively on behalf of the administrator. Otherwise, all operations will be in vain, since the system will not accept the changes made.

There are 3 categories in the administration panel. From them you need to select “Storage devices”. After opening a new window, a list of all disks registered in the system will be displayed on the right. This list will also include an unnamed device - this is a flash drive whose name “does not please” the OS.

To correct this small oversight, just assign a new index to the drive. To do this, you need to right-click on the nameless flash drive and select “Change letter”.

After this, a new window will appear on the laptop computer monitor, and the system will offer to change the letter. It is not recommended to use the letter “A” for a flash drive, as it only applies to floppy disks. For the same reason, you should not use the symbol "B". The "C" index is usually assigned to the main system partition of the hard drive. The letter "D" is responsible for the second logical partition, so it is also not suitable.

All other symbols can be safely used for the drive.

Continuing to understand why the flash drive is not visible on the computer and how to solve this problem, it is worth considering several more options.

Replacing an extension cord

All kinds of splitters are often used for USB ports. Such wires very often fail. The same thing happens to them that constantly happens to headphones - the contacts come off or break, making it impossible to use the accessory correctly.

This can happen if too many devices are connected to the PC at the same time. In this case, it is recommended to try connecting the flash drive directly to the computer. If it works correctly, then it's all about the extension cord. It's also worth trying to use the splitter with another device to check its functionality.

However, sometimes it happens that even after all these manipulations the computer does not see the USB flash drive. What to do in this situation? Don't despair. It is possible that the connectors for removable drives are simply disabled.

How to enable USB ports

Sometimes sellers, for unknown reasons, disable connectors using “fine” system settings. Perhaps this is done so that buyers turn to them for paid services. However, you can handle everything on your own.

To do this you will need to go into the BIOS. After this, you need to go to the section responsible for controllers and activate the connectors if they are actually disabled. As a rule, the necessary settings are located in the Advanced section. To enable controllers, just use the arrows on your keyboard to select Enable next to the USB Controllers line. Next, just press F10 to save your changes. After this, all that remains is to boot the computer in normal mode.

There is also a simpler explanation why a Windows computer does not see a USB flash drive.

Mechanical damage

The miniature device could fall on the floor or into the water. Its fragile parts are very easily damaged by impact.

To check the functionality of the flash drive, just insert it into the appropriate slot on your PC. If the indicator light on the drive does not light up and the computer does not make the characteristic “duck-duck” sound, then the accessory may be damaged.

In this case, it will be very difficult to “reanimate” the flash drive yourself. Of course, you can try to take it to a service center, where a specialist can restore the data. That is why it is better not to store information on only one miniature media. Experts also recommend saving important data not on flash drives, but on removable hard drives. They break much less often and last longer.

Specialized programs

If the user purchased a flash drive from popular manufacturers Kingston, Verbatium and others, then it is worth familiarizing yourself with the software that these companies offer. If you look at their official websites, you can find specialized utilities there that will help you quickly restore the operation of your device. You can also search the Internet for something else from other manufacturers.

However, you should not download such programs from sites that are not related to the company that produces flash drives. In this case, you can get dangerous malware on your computer.

Knowing why the computer does not see the flash drive, what to do and how to solve this problem, you can try to deal with it yourself. However, in the future you should make it a rule to use several drives at once. This is the only way to be sure that important data and files will not be lost at the most unexpected moment. It is also recommended to promptly clean your PC registry and check it for viruses. Some of them may be located in system files. Therefore, do not forget about OS security.

Operating systems of the Windows family produced by Microsoft often do not see USB devices, and there can be a lot of reasons for this.
How this manifests itself and whether there is a way out of the situation is the topic of our article. We will dwell on the reasons in more detail and try to consider each case separately. If your laptop or personal computer does not see the USB flash drive, this manifests itself as follows:

• You connected a USB flash drive, but the computer displays the message “insert USB device.”
• The flash drive is connected, as evidenced by the icon and sound, but it is not in the file manager.
• A warning appears about formatting the USB device.
• A data error warning appears.

Check if the computer sees the connected flash drive in Disk Management

Open the Disk Management tab and turn the flash drive on and off several times. If a connected USB device appears, the computer will notify you that each of its sections (there is only one in the flash drive) is working. In this situation, the easiest way to fix the error is that the PC does not see the flash drive. Right-click on a section to make that section active. You can also assign the letter E or D to the flash drive. After this, you will see that the computer has recognized the USB device.

And if, after reconnecting the device, the partition status is displayed in “Disk Management” as “Not allocated,” then it either does not exist, or it is working with errors. Right click and create a partition. But this can only be used if the menu has the “Create a simple volume” item. If you create a partition, the flash drive will be formatted, although all data stored on it will be lost.

If in the utility you find a label “uninitialized” USB device, it means it is damaged. You can try to restore the drive's memory. We will tell you how to do this later. If you have previously created partitions on a USB device that are not supported by the Microsoft operating system, then you need to delete them. Step-by-step instructions will tell you how to do this.

Further simple steps

There are also other situations that lead to an error in which the computer does not see the flash drive. Perhaps you are connecting a USB device using an extension cord or USB hub? Then try directly connecting the device to each of the USB ports in turn. Perhaps one of the ports is inoperative and you don't know about it.

Try another option. Turn off your computer and remove everything that was connected to it (printers, cameras, external media, card readers and other devices connected via USB), leaving only the bare minimum and the drive. After this, turn on the computer. If the PC saw the connected storage device, you have found the problem. The problem is that there is little power supplied to the computer's USB ports. In this case, replacing the power supply or purchasing a USB hub will help you.

Windows 10 does not see the flash drive after updating or installation (suitable for Windows 7, 8)

If this is the second option, you can use the USBOblivion program. You can download it for free to the author and remove all outdated entries. Be careful! Before deleting, it is better to create a restore point so that if USBOblivion does not work correctly, you can undo the erroneous actions and return to the previous settings.

If you have an operating system version 10, then an error may occur due to driver incompatibility. If this is the case, there will be a mark next to the driver - an exclamation point. In this case, download updated versions from the official developer pages. Do not use third-party sites to search for drivers, especially if you need to update them for your mobile computer. In some cases, it is recommended to update the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) as well.

If the flash drive is not seen by Windows XP

If you have this operating system and encounter the problem, follow these steps:

1. Update the build to SP3 and remove the IE browser.
2. Update your operating system, even if you have a new build.
3. If the problem occurs on Win Vista, also update the software first.

• KB967132 - in the previous version it was impossible to connect multiple flash drives or other devices. When interacting with each other, they caused crashes, freezes and critical system reboots.
• KB898962 - when the printer is turned off, the flash drive also stops working correctly.
• KB315634 - it is impossible to connect new USB flash drives, although old ones that were previously used work without problems.
• KB924196 - this error indicated that the personal/mobile computer did not see the connected flash drive or portable media player.
• KB88840 - when connecting/disconnecting a USB device, a computer or laptop displays a warning about a common Rundll32.exe error.
• KB362370 - the new build of Windows XP now supports the second version of the USB port.
• KB881233 - after the computer wakes from sleep mode, the flash drive does not appear in Device Manager. A problem similar to the previous case occurs after the computer comes out of hibernation.
• KB857900 - after turning flash devices on/off again, the port did not work correctly.

Completely remove old USB drivers

Microsoft operating system drivers are installed by default immediately after connecting the external drive for the first time. Then this installed driver remains in the OS. But when connecting another device, the driver may not work, causing crashes and other problems. In a word, to solve all sorts of problems associated with incorrect operation of drivers, they must be removed and new ones installed again.

How to remove drivers for all USB devices

Step two Boot the operating system.

Step three Download the free DriveCleanup program, compatible with all versions of Windows, from the author’s official page.

Step four The drivecleanup.exe file must be copied to

C:\Windows\System32\
Step Five In the command line, write drivecleanup.exe.

Step six The program will clear all drivers and entries.

Reinstalling USB devices in Windows Device Manager

1. In Device Manager, enter devmgmt.msc.
2. From Device Manager, open the USB Controllers tab.
3. Delete everything where the names include USB hub, Hub, Host Controller.
4. Update the USB device configuration from the manager.

Additional actions

1. A possible reason that a computer or laptop does not see flash media is the presence of viruses. Download if you do not have it installed, and check all disks.
2. A possible cause could also be an incorrect registry entry. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer. NoDrives must be removed, and then restart your PC or laptop.
3. In registry entries HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ System\ CurrentControlSet\ Control you also need to remove StorageDevicePolicies.
4. If all else fails, completely unplug your computer. Unplug the cord from the outlet, having first disconnected the PC or the battery from the laptop, and hold the power button for a while. After this, you can turn on the computer and try the flash drive.

Recovering data from a flash drive that the computer cannot see

When using flash drives, remember two simple things that, in case of unexpected situations, will help you restore everything that was stored on them:

First, if you want to restore a flash drive, do not copy additional information to it.

Second, if you are restoring the device’s memory, save the information from it to another flash drive.

We recommend that you use the best utility - . The program is free, effective, has a clear Russian-language interface and two versions - installation and portable - therefore it is very popular among different categories of users. Using this software, you can recover absolutely all information from all media, not just flash devices.

The utility works in both manual and automatic mode, and even beginners who have never dealt with such software can use it. Recuva itself will offer the best way to recover all information from a damaged flash drive, you just have to agree by clicking the confirm button.

If after all the manipulations you still cannot connect the USB device to your computer or laptop, the recovery program cannot be used, and the information stored in its memory is very important, we recommend professional help from specialists who deal with these problems. They will restore both files and all content stored on the damaged device.