Saving to Flash Drive

[JulesV]

Sorry, Real computer numpty question.

Mrs JV has prepared a powerpoint presentation which I need to save to a flash drive.

But....

Having plugged flash drive into a USB port, the computer does not seem to know it is there.

If anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong I would be very grateful. Thanks in advance.

[sstein]

Does the USB port or windows recognise any other hardware that is plugged in?

-

Stuart

[JulesV]

No, I have just plugged an iPod into the USB and nothing.

I tell a lie, the iPod has started working after about 10 minutes!

Edited by JulesV on Sunday 3rd February 20:34

[Scraggles]

goto my computer and see for new drives

or

run the software that you normally use to access the ipod ?

[sgrimshaw]

Try a reboot.

[JulesV]

The drive is not showing up in my computer and I have tried a reboot.

[sgrimshaw]

JulesV said:

The drive is not showing up in my computer and I have tried a reboot.

Next step.

Run Add New Hardware from the Control Panel.

If it still doesn't find it / display it in My Computer, can you check if it's there in Disk Management.

Edited by sgrimshaw on Sunday 3rd February 20:58

[JulesV]

Tried that and it did not find any new hardware. I am sure I am doing something stupid but it is getting very irritating.

[sgrimshaw]

JulesV said:

Tried that and it did not find any new hardware. I am sure I am doing something stupid but it is getting very irritating.

It can be a real PITA when the USB stops detecting properly.

Did you see I changed my last post, if that doesn't help then my next step would be to force Windows to reinstall the USB drivers.

[JulesV]

Thanks, I hadn't spotted that. This site is working nearly as badly as my computer skills tonight! Where do I find disc management and how would I reinstall the USB drivers? I think I am getting out of my depth....

[sgrimshaw]

JulesV said:

Thanks, I hadn't spotted that. This site is working nearly as badly as my computer skills tonight! Where do I find disc management and how would I reinstall the USB drivers? I think I am getting out of my depth....

Do the following:

1. Attach your flash drive

2. Right-click My Computer and choose Manage.

3. From the window which appears, click Disk Management.

4. The right side of the window will now list the available drives on your computer. You'll see Disk0 Basic (which should be your main hard drive). If you have another hard drive installed, it's probably Disk1. Your flash drive will be listed below your hard drives. Look for Removable and the size of your flash drive. It may also describe your flash drive (model, manufacturer) to the right. Once you've found it in the list, right-click once on it and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
NOTE: Make sure you are changing your flash drive and not another drive. If you're changing something called C: or D: or E:, STOP and reconsider.

5. Then click the Change button and choose a new drive letter for your flash drive. Choose something like Z or Q or Y or X. If you're not sure what drive letter to use, open up My Computer and pick something NOT already listed there.

6. Once you've changed the drive letter, save your changes and exit the window. Your drive should now be displaying under My Computer with the new drive letter.

If the Flash Drive is not displayed, come back and I'll describe the next steps.

Simon

[JulesV]

Simon

No Flash drive are displayed, just the C and D drives.

[sgrimshaw]

Just another couple of thoughts, before reinstalling things.

Have you tried installing the flash drive in all the USB ports?

Can you confirm you aren't going through a hub, but directly into a USB port.

Has the flash drive ever worked on this PC?

Can you try the flash drive in another PC or laptop?

[rsv gone!]

I'm guessing this is on Vista?

If so, plug in the drive. You should see a box on the toolbar saying windows is trying to find drivers. If you get the option to, direct the driver search at c:\windows\system32\ (assuming it is installed in the default location). It should find drivers and install OK.

[JulesV]

Have tried re booting again and also just tried a further new flash drive in another port but still nothing. It is plugged straight into a USB and the USB has only previously been used for an iPod. I am using Vista but cannot see a box on the toolbar.

[rsv gone!]

Have a google for vista and usb drives. It seems to be a common problem. I had to sort my mate's laptop out for this; he had problems with a camera and a card reader.

Go to the control panel and click on Device Manager. See if the drive shows up in there. If so, click to manually update the drivers and when prompted, point it at

c:\windows\system32\

[sgrimshaw]

If the drive is not showing up in Device Manager, then I would uninstall ALL the USB Controllers and Root Hubs, then Reboot.

Windows will reinstall all the USB controllers and root hubs.

[FourWheelDrift]

JulesV said:

Simon

No Flash drive are displayed, just the C and D drives.

Perhaps the flash drive is set up to be the D: drive, can you change the D: drive to soemthing else X Y or Z and try again. Remapping it to a different letter.

Happened to me with a Flash drive using the same E: drive as a network drive I had.

[JulesV]

It says it is installed correctly.

Thanks very much for your help guys, much appreciated, but I will speak to my IT guy tomorrow to see if he can pop round to have a look at it.

Thanks again.

[sgrimshaw]

Good luck.

Can you post the solution once it's fixed, then it'll help people in future who have a similar problem.