Member Avatar for rbower

I have a computer problem that is stumping me. I have a 32M flash usb memory stick that works just fine on one of my computers in the office but not on the other three. All the same model dells. The one it works on has some different soft ware but it appears to be using the same driver that is used on the other computers for the device. The device is recognized in the device manager when you plug it in and says that it is working properly. An icon appears on the task bar for proper removal of the device. The problem is that the device does not show up in any list so that you can write to it. You can not see it in my computer or if you try save as from an office program. On the computer that it works with. It shows up as a usb mass storage device and you read and save from it as with any other drive. I think it must be a setting or something since the computers are the same. Our IT guys don't want to help because it is an unsupported device but it's driving me crazy. I have looked all over the Internet and as of yet have not found anyone describing this problem. If you have any ideas I would appreciate your input. Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by thushymails

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A few notes that extend the thread (original case for was resolved by a drive‑letter conflict found by ). For the slightly different symptom reported later by — the stick briefly enumerates (taskbar balloon) then disappears and never shows in Disk Management — the cause is usually not a letter conflict but one of several other things. A short checklist and safe next steps follow.

First, quick diagnostics: inspect Device Manager for the device’s status/code and check Event Viewer (Kernel‑PnP/USB hub messages) for timestamps that match the plug‑in. Test the same stick on a known‑good rear USB port and on another PC, and try a different cable or a powered USB hub; transient enumeration that disappears often indicates a power/port or failing device. If USB controllers look flaky, remove the entries under “Universal Serial Bus controllers” and reboot so Windows reinstalls them (common Microsoft troubleshooting). (support.microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com)

If Windows never assigns a volume letter at all (Disk Management empty), check the Mount Manager / automount setting and re-enable automatic mounting if disabled. From an elevated command prompt:

diskpart
automount            (shows current state)
automount enable     (re-enable automatic mounting)
exit

OR

mountvol /e
diskpart
list volume

Enabling automount or running mountvol /e lets Windows attempt to mount new basic volumes so a drive letter can be assigned. (learn.microsoft.com)

Other causes to consider: per‑user visibility or elevation differences (a stick that works under one account but not another can be due to session/mapped‑drive visibility; the EnableLinkedConnections tweak or remapping under the appropriate session is documented by Microsoft), corporate Group Policy or endpoint software that blocks removable storage, and filesystem/partition corruption on the stick. If Windows asks to format or shows RAW on other systems, image the device first and use partition-recovery tools such as TestDisk/PhotoRec to inspect/restore the partition table rather than formatting. (learn.microsoft.com)

Collect the device’s Hardware IDs (VID/PID from Device Manager), the exact Device Manager status text/code, and Event Viewer entries before deep changes or recovery work; those details make further diagnosis far easier.

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for Catweazle

I'd certainly be interested in hearing a definitive answer to this one as well. some time back I looked all over the net for clues to a reader's similar problem, but with no success.

Member Avatar for antioed

Shot in the dark here but I've seen where Windows wants to assign the USB drive a particular drive letter, for example I'll use F: but the user already has F: mapped to a network resource, the device will not show up as an available drive in the My Computer folder. If that is the case right click the "My Computer" icon and choose "Manage" then under "System Tools" go to the section called "Disk Management". This is a good place to check anyways since it will tell you if Windows sees the volume. If you do see your 32MB memory stick in there you should be able to right click it and choose the "Change Drive Letter" and set it to some drive that isn't already mapped such as Q: drive. I think you have to reboot after that change but you might check in the My Computer folder and see if it populates under the new drive letter before rebooting. Good luck!

Member Avatar for rbower

:lol: Problem solved, Antioed was right. The memory device was assigned the same drive letter as a mapped network drive. I changed the drive assignment letter and problem solved. Thanks for your help.

Member Avatar for DuncanIdaho

Most excellent, this one goes into my vault. Nice work, Antioed. :)

Member Avatar for antioed

Easy ones are still the best.

Member Avatar for lipery

thanks too to the advice of antioed, it worked on my problem with IcyBox too.

cheers

Member Avatar for thushymails

hi
i have a 256 datatraveller . i also have the sasme problem. but even though i worked like what you all said still the problem continues.in a computer my drive in neglected and when i logged via another username it accepts.

i didnt see my rive on disk management.

when i insert my drive there is an indication of my drive being pluged and suddenly after 2 - 3 seconds the drives name dissapear from the task bar as wel as in mycomputer. though my drive is working perfectly in the 6 computers out of the 9 computers at my university.
i formatted the drive 2 times that too didn't work.i chaged the driver's path in a computer which accepts my drive.(because when it denies i didnt see my drive on the screen to modify)

please help me on this aspect.

looking for a favourable reply. thanks

Member Avatar for thushymails

hi
i have a 256MB datatraveller . i also have the sasme problem. but even though i worked like what you all said still the problem continues.in a computer my drive in neglected and when i logged via another username it accepts.

i didnt see my drive on disk management.

when i insert my drive there is an indication of my drive being pluged and suddenly after 2 - 3 seconds the drives name dissapear from the task bar as wel as in mycomputer. though my drive is working perfectly in the 6 computers out of the 9 computers at my university.
i formatted the drive 2 times that too didn't work.i chaged the driver's path in a computer which accepts my drive.(because when it denies i didnt see my drive on the screen to modify)

please help me on this aspect.

looking for a favourable reply. thanks

Member Avatar for thushymails

[hi
i have a 256MB datatraveller . i also have the same problem. but even though i worked like what you all said still the problem continues.in a computer my drive in neglected and when i logged via another user appilication it accepts.it happens only in a computer.

i didnt see my drive on disk management.

when i insert my drive there is an indication of my drive being pluged and suddenly after 2 - 3 seconds the drives name dissapear from the task bar as wel as in mycomputer. though my drive is working perfectly in the 6 computers out of the 9 computers at my university.
i formatted the drive 2 times that too didn't work.i chaged the driver's path in a computer which accepts my drive.(because when it denies i didnt see my drive on the screen to modify)

please help me on this aspect.

looking for a favourable reply. thanks

Member Avatar for thushymails

hi
i have a 256MB datatraveller . i also have the sasme problem. but even though i worked like what you all said still the problem continues.in a computer my drive in neglected and when i logged via another username it accepts.

i didnt see my drive on disk management.

when i insert my drive there is an indication of my drive being pluged and suddenly after 2 - 3 seconds the drives name dissapear from the task bar as wel as in mycomputer. though my drive is working perfectly in the 6 computers out of the 9 computers at my university.
i formatted the drive 2 times that too didn't work.i chaged the driver's path in a computer which accepts my drive.(because when it denies i didnt see my drive on the screen to modify)

please help me on this aspect.

looking for a favourable reply. thanks

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