The computer does not detect the USB flash drive what to do. The computer does not see the USB flash drive, what to do. Windows troubleshooters

What if the computer does not see the USB flash drive? Removable drives and HDDs should be extremely easy to use. But sometimes it happens that after connecting an external USB device to a personal computer with Windows operating system, it is categorically not recognized. If the computer does not see the flash card, then this may be caused by problems with partitions on the removable drive, using the wrong file system, faulty connectors, outdated drivers, or other reasons.

Below in the text, as well as at the end of the article, you can watch a video why the computer does not see the removable disk. Perhaps you will learn or understand more from it than from the article.

If the PC does not see the USB flash drive through "My Computer", then, in the worst case, this may mean that the removable drive is out of order and can no longer be recovered. Pocket sticks and large external HDDs work in the same way, so the tips below apply to both.

What if the laptop does not see the USB flash drive? The first step is to find out if the drive is displayed in the Disk Management Manager. Windows Explorer should automatically detect the removable device when it is connected via the USB port. Insert the disc into the slot. In some cases, to activate an external device, you need to press a special button or lever on it. Heavy removable HDDs, unlike flash drives, can even be connected to the mains using a separate power cable, so the computer may not see the external drive if it is turned off.

Now you need to open the disk management tool. To do this, press the key combination Win + R, enter diskmgmt.msc in the line that appears and confirm with Enter. Now we can see the external drive in the control window. It should appear here even if it has no partitions.

If you see a device here that is not readable, then you can immediately start formatting it so that Windows Explorer and various devices can access it. If the netbook did not detect the USB flash drive, then go to the next section, in which we will try to determine why the drive is not recognized.

Now we need to somehow get Windows Explorer to recognize the external drive. It may not be recognized due to a hardware problem with the computer's USB port. Other possible reasons may be incorrectly installed drivers or physical damage to the flash drive.

What to do when the computer does not see the USB flash drive? First, you need to disconnect the drive from one USB port and try connecting it to another. If the removable disk works in the new slot, it means that the problem was a malfunction of the previous one. In case you are using a USB extension cable, try disconnecting it and connecting the USB flash drive to your computer directly. These cables sometimes cannot provide enough power for the removable device to operate.

Driver problems

If Windows 7 does not see the USB flash drive in the disk management tool, even after you plug it into a different connector on the laptop, then the malfunction may appear both in the USB flash drive itself and in the PC. If there is another computer nearby, then you need to try connecting the drive to it to see if it detects it. If the flash drive refused to work on several computers, then it, most likely, has outlived its own and must be recycled. But before making such a sad conclusion, you definitely need to check if the removable device appears in the disk management window on other computers.

If the drive works on other PCs, or if you do not have additional computers at hand to use, you need to check that the installed drivers are up to date. This is done using the Device Manager. To open it, press the key combination Win + R, enter devmgmt.msc in the opened line and confirm with Enter.

In the list of devices that appears, you need to carefully check all disks for the presence of an icon in the form of a yellow exclamation mark. If such a symbol is found, then the problem is with the drivers. Right-click on the device with a yellow exclamation mark, select "Properties" and look at the error message. It should help you fix the problem as it can be copied into the Google search bar to find reviews from other users who have encountered a similar issue.

Problems like this can be difficult to fix. If the computer does not see the drive relatively recently, then you can try running System Restore. However, it is best to use the Update Driver button to install the latest required software. You can try to click "Roll back driver", in the hope that its previous version will work. It is also allowed to use the "Delete" button so that the external device disappears from the system's field of view until the computer is restarted. It also happens that when you restart Windows, the flash drive suddenly becomes working.

Partitioning and formatting

If your computer does not see your USB stick, you can use Disk Management to fix partition and file system problems. If you see that the disk is partitioned and full of unallocated space, then you can create a new compartment on it. Thanks to this, Windows and other operating systems will be able to work with the flash drive.

Right-click inside the unallocated space, select "New Simple Section" and follow the further instructions of the program. If the drive is divided into parts, but still not displayed, you need to check if a specific drive letter is assigned to it. This should normally happen automatically, but in some cases manual input may be required. Right click on the removable disk partition, select "Change letter" and enter any free letter. For example, you can write "G:", and henceforth the drive on the computer will be called that way.

If the disk is partitioned, but XP does not see the USB flash drive, then it is not a fact that the partition was done using the correct file system. For example, a flash drive can be formatted using ext4 for Linux (Linux) or HFS Plus from Mac (Mac). In this case, Windows 10 does not see the flash drive, because it is not familiar with such a system. You need to reformat the drive with NTFS or FAT32. Thanks to this, Windows will be able to recognize the flash memory. To reconfigure a partition, right-click on it, click "Format" and select the desired file system.

Note that this will delete all files on the disk. It makes sense to first connect the USB flash drive to a Linux or Mac device to copy the data. If you cannot connect the removable disk to a device such as a DVD player or TV, the cause may be NTFS. The above technique only works with FAT32.

You connect the USB flash drive to the laptop, but nothing happens - the drive is not displayed in the system, and it is impossible to work with the data stored on it. A very unpleasant situation requiring immediate resolution.

Identifying the cause

The first step is to understand what is not working: the USB port of the laptop or the flash drive. To check, you can use another USB flash drive - if the laptop detects it, then the problem lies in the drive. If the laptop does not find any media, then you will have to check several system parameters, the failure of which could lead to such an unpleasant result.

Checking media through "Disk Management"

Let's check if the laptop detects the USB flash drive connected to it using the Disk Management system utility:

1. Using the Win + R shortcut, launch the Run menu.
2. Enter "diskmgmt.msc" in the window and click "OK".
3. See if your removable disk is in the list of connected drives.

Perfectly:

• the connected flash drive is detected;
• all partitions of the drive have the "Good" status.

In this case, just right-click on the removable media and select the option "Make the partition active". Additionally, you may need to assign a letter to the USB flash drive - if this was not done automatically by the system.

The status "Not initialized" or "Unknown" instead of "Good" indicates that the flash drive is faulty; you need to think about restoring the data that was stored on it.

Reset BIOS settings

Sometimes the laptop does not see the USB flash drive due to a BIOS settings failure. You can fix this by resetting the settings to the factory state or manually enabling the USB controller in the BIOS.

After rebooting again, check if the flash drive is detected. If resetting the BISO settings did not help, proceed to the next solution to the problem.

Removing old USB drivers

Windows installs drivers for the USB flash drive when it is first connected to the computer. However, after removing the drive, the installed software does not disappear anywhere. Furthermore, sometimes old drivers prevent other removable media from working correctly... To eliminate this effect, you need to update the software of the USB device:

After removing the device, you need to disconnect the flash card, and then plug it back in - the old drivers will be removed, and the problem with detecting the flash drive should be resolved.

At one fine moment, when the user inserts his storage device into the USB port, the computer may not react in any way. Until that moment, everything was fine: the system calmly determined the information carrier and could work with it. But now everything is different and the computer flatly refuses to even show that a USB flash drive has been inserted into it. In such a situation, you should not panic, because everything can be fixed, the main thing is to know how to do it correctly so as not to completely ruin the drive.

In most cases, a banal reconnection helps. If you removed and reinserted your storage medium, but the problem persists, then our guide will help you.

It is very important to adhere to the order in which all actions will be described below. If you decide to use any method separately, this is unlikely to solve the problem. In the course of describing the methods, we will be able to check all possible reasons why the flash drive is not detected by the operating system.

Method 1: check the device itself and the computer

First you need to do the following:

1. Determine if the media itself is working. To do this, plug it into a USB port and see if the indicator light on it comes on. In some cases, a special sound is also used. In any case, there should be some kind of reaction on the flash drive.
2. Connect the drive to a different USB port. It is advisable to use the one that works for sure (this can be, for example, the connector that you use to connect a mouse or printer).
3. Take a close look at your USB stick. Perhaps there is some kind of debris or dust on it that prevents it from being detected by the computer.

Device problem

If your drive is detected (something glows or there is a characteristic sound), but nothing happens next, then the problem is in the ports or in the computer itself. But if the drive itself has no reaction to the connection, then the problem is in it.

To verify this, be sure to try connecting it to a different connector. First clean the dust thoroughly. To do this, use brushes and cotton wool with alcohol. Let the device dry and use it again.

The problem persists? Then the obstacle may be in the device itself, or rather, in its contacts. In this case, it can be taken for repair, but the restoration procedure is likely to be very expensive. It is often better to buy a new USB stick than to pay to repair an old one.


Port problem

If the drive has some kind of reaction to the connection, but the computer itself does not react in any way, the problem is in the USB ports. To verify this, do the following:

1. Try connecting it to another computer (very convenient if you have a PC and laptop).
2. Use the disk management tool on your computer. To do this, simultaneously press the buttons on the keyboard "Win" and "R"to launch a program execution window. Enter the command "Diskmgmt.msc"... Click on "Enter"... When the tool we need starts, try removing and reinserting your USB flash drive. If there is no response in disk management, then the problem is definitely in the ports. But if there is a reaction, everything is much easier. Then use method 2-7 of this manual to solve the problem.

So, if you were able to determine that the problem is in the ports, do this:

It is likely that after these steps, the flash drive will begin to appear on the computer, at least in the disk management tool. If this manual does not help and the media is still not readable, contact a specialist and have the computer repaired. It is quite possible that the problem is a complete malfunction of the ports and it would be better to simply replace them. It is worse if there is some kind of malfunction in the motherboard. But all this can be checked only with a more detailed analysis using special tools.

Method 2: use the Windows USB troubleshooter

So, everything is fine with USB ports, the flash drive has some kind of reaction when connected to a computer, and it appears in the disk management tool as an unknown device. But then nothing happens and the files, accordingly, cannot be viewed. In this case, use the standard Windows troubleshooter. The system will probably be able to independently determine what the problem is and how to solve it.

To do this, follow these steps:

Unfortunately, this program does not always allow you to correct errors. Therefore, if all else fails, try the following methods manually.

Method 3: update your drivers

There are two methods for performing this action: through the Windows Device Manager and through additional software. To use the former, do the following:

Method 4: Check the USB flash drive and computer for viruses

This method is relevant for those cases when the drive is detected by the computer, but still does not open. Instead, an error appears. It, for example, can be written "Access denied" or something like that. Also, the media can be opened, but there will be no files on it. If this is not the case in your case, just check your computer for viruses and if nothing is found, skip this method and move on to the next.

Use your antivirus to make sure your computer is free of viruses. If you have a weak antivirus program, use one of the special virus removal utilities. One of the best is Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. In the event that no virus is detected, do this:

Method 5: Change the name of the removable media on the system

It is possible that there is a conflict because of the names of several drives in the system. In simpler terms, it means that the system already has a drive with a name, under which your USB-drive should be identified. However, it will still be detected in the disk management program. How to run it, we considered above, in the first way. So open Disk Management and follow these steps:

Method 6: Format the storage medium

In some cases, when you try to open the drive, a warning appears stating that the drive must be formatted before use. Then it will be most effective to do it. Just press the button "Format Disk"to start the process of erasing all data.


Even if the above warning does not appear, it is still better to format the USB stick.

To check the file system, in "Computer", on the hard disk, right-click.

In the window that opens, go to the tab "General" and pay attention to the inscription "File system"... It is very important that the USB stick is formatted on the same system.

If the drive still doesn't display anything, all you have to do is use one of the recovery tools.

Method 7: Recover your drive

You can accomplish this task using a standard Windows tool. To do this, do the following:

In addition, there are dedicated recovery software for removable media from brands such as Transcend, Kingston, Silicon Power, SanDisk, Verbatim, and A-Data. For devices from other manufacturers, please refer to method 5 in the Kingston recovery instructions. It describes how to use the flashboot iFlash service. It allows you to find special programs for flash drives of various companies.

• 1. Roots of the problem
• 2. USB does not work
• 3. When the USB port on the front of the PC is de-energized
• 4.USB port on PC is faulty or disconnected
• 5.USB connector is dirty
• 6. Infection with various viruses
• 7. The problem of outdated drivers or their failure
• 8. Errors in the file system
• 9. File system conflict
• 10. Main findings

It is difficult for a modern person to imagine his life without numerous gadgets. Along with tablets, personal computers and smartphones, we very often use removable drives, USB and memory cards. But sometimes we face a problem when it is impossible to drop some files onto the drive, because the computer simply does not see it. Such technical failures in the operation of these devices are of a different nature - hardware or software. What to do if the computer does not see the USB flash drive? Buy a new removable storage right away? Or try to somehow solve this problem? More on this in our publication.

The roots of the problem

All sorts of breakdowns and failures in the hardware component of an SD card or USB are quite common, but the main reason is not a physical breakdown, but, as a rule, a software failure. Basically, the most common reasons why the computer stopped seeing the USB flash drive are the following:

• The flash drive itself stopped working;
• The USB port located on the front panel of the PC is de-energized, disconnected or defective;
• The USB connector is dirty;
• There is a viral infection;
• Drivers are outdated, crashed or conflicted;
• File system errors or failure occurred;
• Defective power supply;
• There is an excessive overcurrent on the USB Port.

Let's consider in more detail the most common reasons why the computer does not see the drive.

USB does not work

Sometimes the flash drive fails due to mechanical impact on the controller or device chip, due to damage to the contacts on the board, due to moisture, or due to a short circuit in the electrical circuit. All these breakdown options, among many other options for which the computer does not see USB, are the most difficult to fix.

But how do you determine what really happened to the drive? It's pretty simple. First, check it visually for any mechanical damage, all kinds of cracks and chips. Next, check if such a device is functional. To do this, connect the USB to the PC connector. If at the same time you hear a characteristic sound on the computer (when a new device is connected) or the LED lights up on the drive, then everything is in order, you can try to somehow solve the problem. But if nothing happened, the problem is more serious. And, most likely, you will not be able to use USB in the future.

Of course, if the information that was previously saved on this drive is very important to you, you can try to take it to a service center. It is possible that the wizard will try to replace the controller or rewire the contacts. But such work will be quite expensive. In the first case, if USB shows signs of life, we will try other methods to restore its performance.

When the USB port on the front of the PC is de-energized

This is one of the most common problems faced by PC users. As a rule, we most often insert USB into the front port. It's simple and convenient. But sometimes, even during the assembly of the computer, for one reason or another, the front panel was not connected to the power system. In such cases, the flash drive will not be reflected, although there are no problems in its operation.

How to solve this problem? There are two options. The first is the easiest one: plug the USB into another connector located on the back of the computer. The second is to connect the power cable on the motherboard to the front panel of the PC. Please note that the connection ports will differ depending on the specific PC model.

The most common wires are types "D-", "VCC", "D +", "GND". In addition, the color marking of the connector and the cable on the motherboard is the same, but it is better, after all, to keep the reference point by the inscriptions. The work algorithm is as follows:

• We get access to the motherboard (on the case, unscrew the mounting bolts and remove the cover);
• We are looking for a cable leading to the front panel and an identical connector on the motherboard

USB port on PC defective or disabled

In some, the situation of unreadable data on removable media is not entirely related to the problem of the USB itself, but to the connector into which it is connected. But in this case, not only the flash drive will stop working, but also other devices that you will connect to this port. How to solve this problem? It is enough to arm yourself with an ordinary soldering iron and have at least minimal knowledge of circuitry. But if such knowledge is absent, it is better not to risk it and contact the nearest service center.

Sometimes the problem is not only specific to one connector, but also to others. In this case, it is much more complicated. Sometimes ports can be disabled in BIOS settings. This problem is not difficult to fix. To enter the BIOS menu, press the corresponding key on the keyboard during the first seconds of PC boot. Typically, this is the F2 or Del key. Then go to the "Advanced Settings" / "USB Configuration" section. Next, find "USB Controller". In order to enable the use of ports, set the opposite value to "Enabled". Immediately after enabling this option, click on F10 to save the settings.

The USB connector is dirty

Quite often, the reason why the computer does not see the USB flash drive is the pollution of the USB connector. After all, in fact, a flash drive is a mobile device. It is often worn in briefcases, backpacks, bags, and put in pockets. That is why it is not surprising that over time, dust and small debris accumulate in the connector. As a result, the flash drive becomes unusable. To clean the USB connector, arm yourself with a regular cotton swab and carefully remove all debris from the connector. After that, moisten the stick with alcohol and then wipe the contacts.

Infection with various viruses

Drive security is one of the most pressing issues today. By visiting a site you are used to, you can get a dangerous infection. Not to mention downloading programs from questionable sources. What is the end result? The system detects the drive, you can even hear a characteristic sound (connecting the device to the system), but you will not be able to read the information. In this case, a message will appear: "Application not found" or "Removable media not found".

The first thing to do in such a situation is to install high-quality anti-virus software on your PC and immediately carry out a complete diagnosis of the files. In order to access data on USB, it is important to delete the file containing the virus and then scan the drive. For such purposes, go to "Start", then in the line enter "Show hidden files and folders." Next, left-click on the found element. The Folder Options window opens. In it, we remove the check mark from the option "Hide protected system files" and put it on "Show hidden files, folders and drives." After such actions, click on "Apply" and then "OK" for all changes to take effect.

Next, open "My Computer" and the drive folder. There is a file called "Autorun", delete it, and check the USB flash drive for viruses. After all these procedures, you can use a full USB flash drive. This shouldn't cause any problems.

The problem of outdated drivers or their failure

This problem is quite common. In addition, a failure is possible due to an unexpected shutdown of the OS or a power surge. In addition, some older PC models may not function with drives that are 32 GB or more.

How to solve this problem? Open the "Device Manager". After that, connect the drive to the PC and open the "USB Controllers". After such actions, select "Storage device" and right-click to open the system menu and click "Delete". This will remove the storage driver installed on the system. After such actions, remove the USB flash drive from the computer and reconnect it. This will reinstall the driver on the flash drive, and the problem will be solved.

In a situation where nothing has changed, try updating the drivers for all USB ports. In this case, you can use a special disk (included with the motherboard). But if you do not have one, then download the DriverPack utility. Such software will automatically select those drivers for which there is an update and, after your agreement, will carry out the necessary procedures.

Errors in the file system

In some cases, the PC may not detect the drive due to file system errors. How can I check this? Open "Device Manager" / "Disk Devices". If you see a USB flash drive in this device, it is functional, but the file system for some reason does not perceive it, and therefore does not reflect it in the explorer. How to fix it? Try to format your drive.

File system conflict

Sometimes the contents of the drive are not displayed due to a conflict between the file systems on the PC and removable media. For example, if the PC operates on NTFS, and FAT32 is used on USB, a conflict situation is not excluded. And even more, this problem occurs not only in Windows, but also on other platforms, in particular on Mac OS. What to do in such a situation? First of all, find the PC that uses a different file system, then open the drive and save important data for you, because after the formatting procedure, they will be lost for you.

Key findings

We have considered only some of the reasons that prevent the PC from reading the drive and information on it. The described solutions will certainly help get rid of this problem, otherwise you will still need to visit a service center.