Windows does not see the flash drive what to do. Why is the flash drive not working? What to do? Power supply is defective or portal overcurrent

Probably, many users have encountered the fact that Windows completely refuses to detect the connected USB drive and generally work with it. But there are several ways to solve this problem.

In general, there are many reasons for such an error. From the banal obsolescence of drivers to the physical breakdown of a flash drive. However, in 90% of cases, the problem can be solved programmatically without resorting to the help of specialists and without purchasing a new drive.

To solve the problem, you will have to use the possibilities of the most operating system or third party applications. The main thing is the result. There is nothing difficult in this. You just need to follow the instructions exactly.

First you need to understand why the flash drive is not detected by the computer. You can determine this by the type of message that the system issues when USB connection drive. The reasons may be as follows.

• Viruses. The most common cause of an error when connecting a flash drive. If the drive is hosted by viruses, then it will not work normally. It is required to solve the problem.
• Outdated or faulty drivers. In this case, the system will not be able to detect the device and a yellow question mark icon will appear in the Device Manager. Solving the problem is very simple.
• Formatting failed. If the file system of the flash drive was damaged (for example, if it was removed incorrectly), then Windows will not be able to see it and will offer to format the drive.
• The flash drive is connected, but not visible in the "Explorer". There may be several reasons for this. But the problem can be easily solved. In most cases. Often this is due to some features of the drive's file system.
• Data error. This message when connecting the drive to the computer indicates problems with the file system. The solution to the problem should be based on formatting or changing the type of the file system.
• "Insert disc" message. If such an inscription appears when the drive is connected to the computer, then the problem is USB drivers. You need to replace them or simply remove the device from the list in the Device Manager.

If you have tried all possible software fixes for the error, but they did not help, then it is likely that the problem lies in the hardware of the drive. And you can solve the problem only by replacing the flash drive. Now let's turn to ways to remedy the situation.

Virus Elimination

Viruses on a computer can damage not only a flash drive, but also the operating system itself. Therefore, you need to get rid of them. You can do this with the help of antivirus programs. There are many, but not all of them are good.

TO the best products include Kaspersky Anti-Virus, NOD32 from ESET and the legendary Dr.Web. however, all these programs have one drawback: they are paid. And the product from Kaspersky requires too many computer resources.

Dr.Web does not cure files, but deletes them. Therefore, it is best to use NOD32. This antivirus does not require a lot of OS resources and works well. Consider removing viruses on a flash drive using this program.

Scanning will start immediately. The scan time depends on the size of the drive and the number of files on it. If the antivirus program finds any threat, it will inform the user with the appropriate message and try to eliminate it.

After the scan is completed, you need to disconnect the USB flash drive from the computer and connect it again. If business was in viruses the drive should be defined. If not, then you should move on to other ways to solve the problem.

Uninstalling and installing drivers

Faulty drivers are another common reason why a flash drive may not be detected in the system. There are several solutions to this problem. The first is to simply remove the device.

When you reconnect the drive to your computer, the system will detect it and install it. new driver, which will probably work correctly. To do this, follow these steps.

Open the "Control Panel" and in it click on the "Device Manager" item.

In the "Device Manager" we find "USB mass storage device", right-click on it and select "Remove device".

After that, re-insert the drive into the USB port. The operating system should automatically install the new device. And the freshly installed driver should be functional.

If this does not happen, then you should update the drivers manually. You can do this using the same "Device Manager". You just need to run it in a known way. Next, you need to do the following.

The OS will immediately start searching for the necessary drivers on the Microsoft servers. If they are there, they will be installed immediately. If the wizard does not find anything, then you should find them manually on the official website of the device manufacturer and install them manually.

After that, you should restart your computer or laptop and then reconnect the USB drive. If all is well, then the problem is solved. If not, then you should use alternative ways problem solving.

Using the USB Troubleshooter

Windows 10 also has this option. This tool allows you to fix numerous errors that occur when connecting a drive. Of course, there is no talk of a physical malfunction of the storage medium.

First you have to download the utility from the official website of Microsoft. It's free. No installation required. You just need to run the downloaded file. To check USB for errors, do the following.

It is worth noting that when fixing problems, you need to remove the drive from the USB port. After carrying out all the activities, it is advisable to restart the computer and only then re-insert the USB flash drive into USB port.

Basically, this way helps to cope with problems regarding the file system of the drive. But if this does not happen, then you have to do it manually. To work with FS disks as part of Windows, there is a regular utility.

Using Disk Management

This tool allows you to fully customize sections hard drive and USB stick and provide them correct work. In Windows 10, the component received new features and began to cope with its tasks even better.

Using "Disk Management" is very simple, as the program interface is not overloaded unnecessary elements and speaks Russian. Now let's talk about what needs to be done to fix the file system on the drive.

The formatting process will start immediately. During this process, the drive's file system will be completely repaired. After formatting is complete, it is recommended to remove the drive from the port and reinsert it.

It is worth noting that when formatting, all data that was on the flash drive will be deleted. It will be possible to restore them, but you should not particularly count on success. It's the same formatting. But the flash drive should start working normally.

Conclusion

So, we have considered possible options for fixing the error when connecting a USB drive to a computer. If none of them helped, then the problem probably lies in the hardware of the drive.

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

It should be borne in mind 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 the folders, and sometimes it does not “see” at all that the device is connected. Finding themselves in such a situation, each user asks himself a completely logical question: “Why is my flash drive not displayed on my computer?” Some begin to panic, worried that all saved data will now be lost. But do not despair prematurely. First you need to calmly deal with the causes of the problem. There may be several of them.

Lack of power or socket problems

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

In this case, you need to try inserting the USB flash drive into the slot located on the back of the computer. If there are no corresponding ports, then you need to check the headphone outlet, 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 malfunction of the connectors. Another explanation is that they were not originally connected to motherboard PC. Developers very often make this mistake in the production of "systems".

In addition, if the computer is via USB, then this may indicate that too little power is supplied to the connector, which is why the media is constantly turning on and off. This is due to the mistakes of developers, who do not always place the cables as tightly as possible in the right 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. Much easier to contact service center or return the faulty one system unit seller.

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

Drivers

By default, each flash drive has software, which should be automatically activated when the device is connected to the PC. However Windows system 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 the "Device Manager". You can do this in two ways:

• Right-click on the inscription "My Computer" and select the line "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 the "Start" and drive in the search for the name of the desired directory.

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

If any of the drivers does not work correctly, then you need to right-click on it and select "Update". After that, the system will try to find the right software on its own.

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 current version BY. After that, 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 has stopped seeing the flash drive, you can use other methods to solve this trouble.

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 the standard troubleshooting tools, you need to remove the USB flash drive and reinsert it. After that, the system usually notifies 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 necessary utility. After that, run it and click the "Next" button. The program will automatically start diagnosing and fixing possible faults. As a result, the utility will report the verdict and offer several options for solving the problem to choose from. The user only needs to follow the recommendations of the program.

In some cases standard means Troubleshooting issues a report indicating that no problems were found. This means that the functionality of the utility was not enough to work. It 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 in the address bar (usually it is some kind of Latin letter), indicating the characters ":\" after it. 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 autorun directory. To do this, select "Service" 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 that, 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 in the "My Computer" folder, the flash drive does not appear anyway, 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 that, it remains only to scan the system for possible malware. It is possible that residual virus files may be present on the computer.

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

You can also try disconnecting all devices from the computer and restarting the PC. After that, you need to scan it for viruses, turn the device off and on again, and only then connect the USB 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.

Media Formatting

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

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 format function.
• Choose a file system that will fully match the PC.
• Check the box next to Fast. In this case, the files may be saved, but the “broken” folders will not disappear with them.
• Press "Start".

There are other reasons that are responsible for the fact that the flash drive is not displayed 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 has given one of them the name "K", and at the same time the same index is set on the removable media by default, then this will fail. Solving such a problem is very simple.

To do this, go to the "Control Panel" and make a selection by category (it will be more convenient). After that, 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 "Memory 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 "did not please" the OS.

To correct this small oversight, it is enough to assign a new index to the drive. To do this, right-click on the unnamed flash drive and select "Change letter".

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

All other characters can be safely used for the drive.

Continuing to figure out why the flash drive is not visible on the computer and how to solve this problem, it is worth considering a few more options.

Extension cord replacement

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 move away or break, which makes it impossible to use the accessory correctly.

This can happen if too many devices were 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 the whole thing is in the extension cord. It's also worth trying the splitter with another device to see if it works.

However, sometimes it happens that even after all these manipulations, the computer does not see USB flash drive. What to do in this situation? Don't despair. Possibly connectors for removable drives just 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 need to go into the BIOS. After that, you need to go to the section responsible for the controllers and activate the connectors if they are actually disabled. As a rule, the necessary settings are located in the Advanced section. To enable the controllers, just use the arrows on the keyboard to select Enable next to the USB Controllers line. Then just press F10 to save your changes. After that, it remains only to boot the computer in normal mode.

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

Mechanical damage

A miniature device could fall to the floor or into the water. From impact, its fragile parts are very easily damaged.

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

In this case, it will be very difficult to “reanimate” the flash drive on your own. 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. Also, experts recommend saving important data not on flash drives, but on removable hard drives. They break much less often and last longer.

Specialized programs

If a user has purchased a flash drive from popular manufacturers Kingston, Verbatium and others, then you should familiarize yourself with the software offered by these companies. If you look at their official websites, you can find specialized utilities there that will help you quickly restore the device. You can also search the Internet for something else from other manufacturers.

However, download similar programs from sites that are not related to the company engaged in the manufacture of flash drives, do not. 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, it is worth making 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 clean the PC registry in a timely manner and check it for viruses. Some of them may be in system files. Therefore, do not forget about the security of the OS.

• 1. Roots of the problem
• 2. USB not working
• 3. When the USB port on the front of the PC is not powered
• 4. The USB port on the PC is defective or disabled
• 5. USB port is dirty
• 6. Infection with various viruses
• 7. Problem 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 encounter a problem when we cannot transfer some files to 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 flash drive? Buy new immediately removable storage? Or try to somehow solve this problem? More on this in our publication.

Roots of the problem

All kinds 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, software failure. Basically, the most common reasons why a computer has stopped seeing a flash drive are the following:

• The flash drive itself has stopped working;
• The USB port located on the front panel of the PC is de-energized, disconnected or faulty;
• The USB port is dirty;
• There is a viral infection;
• Drivers are outdated, there was a failure or a conflict in their work;
• Errors or file system failure occurred;
• Faulty power supply;
• There is an excessive current overload of the USB portal.

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

USB not working

Sometimes a 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. electrical circuit. All these failure options, among many other options for which the computer does not see USB, are the most difficult to eliminate.

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

Of course, if the information that was previously stored on this drive, which is very important for you, you can try to take it to a service center. It is possible that the master will try to replace the controller or re-solder 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 not powered

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 such a problem? There are two options. The first one is the easiest one: connect the USB to 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. At the same time, pay attention to the fact that the ports for connection, depending on specific model PC will be different.

The most common wire types are "D-", "VCC", "D+", "GND". In addition, on the motherboard, the color markings of the connector and cable are the same, but it’s better, after all, to keep the reference point according to the inscriptions. The algorithm of work is the following:

• We get access to the motherboard (on the case we unscrew the fixing 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 is defective or disabled

In some situations, the unreadability of data on removable media is not entirely related to the problem of 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 such a 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 not available, it is better not to take risks and contact the nearest service center.

Sometimes the problem is inherent not only for one connector, but also for the rest. In this case, it is much more difficult. Sometimes ports can be disabled in BIOS settings. This problem is easy to fix. To enter the BIOS menu, press the corresponding key on the keyboard in the first seconds of booting the PC. Typically, this is the F2 or Del key. Then go to the " advanced settings» / «USB Configuration». Next, find "USB Controller". In order to allow the use of ports, on the contrary, you need to set the value to "Enabled". Immediately after enabling this option, click on F10 to save the settings.

USB port 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 mobile device. It is often worn in briefcases, backpacks, bags, 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 inoperable. To clean the USB connector, use a regular Q-tip and carefully remove any debris from the connector. After that, moisten the wand with alcohol and then wipe the contacts.

Infection with various viruses

The problem of storage security is one of the most relevant today. Visiting a site familiar to you, you can get a dangerous infection. Not to mention downloading programs from dubious sources. What is the result? The system detects the drive, you can even hear a characteristic sound (connection to the device 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 a USB, it is important to delete the file that contains 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 from the parameter "Hide protected system files» tick and put it on «Show hidden files, folders and drives. After these 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 flash drive for viruses. After all these procedures, you can use a fully fledged flash drive. This should not 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 jump electrical voltage. In addition, some older PC models may not work with drives that are 32 GB or more.

How to solve such a problem? Open "Device Manager". After that, we connect the drive to the PC and open " USB controllers". After such actions, select "Storage device" and right-click to open the system menu and click "Delete". So we can remove the mass storage driver installed in the system. After these steps, remove the USB flash drive from the computer and reconnect it. So the driver will be reinstalled 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 (comes with motherboard). But if you don’t have one, then download the DriverPack utility. Such software will automatically identify those drivers for which an update is available and, after your agreement, will carry out the necessary procedures.

Errors in the file system

In some cases, the PC may not recognize the drive due to file system errors. How to check it? Open "Device Manager" / " Disk devices". If in this device you will see a flash drive, it is serviceable, but for some reason the file system does not perceive it, and therefore does not reflect it in the explorer. How to fix it? Try formatting your drive.

File system conflict

Sometimes the contents of the drive are not displayed due to a file system conflict on the PC and removable media. For example, if the PC is running on NTFS system, while USB uses FAT32, conflict situation is not excluded. And even more, this problem takes place not only on 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 the data that is important to you, because after the formatting procedure, they will be lost to you.

Key Findings

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