Explorer not see USB drives?

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Just purchased two USB separate devices: a Western Digital MyBook 500 gig external drive, and another device best called a “phone” for our purposes here. When inserted, the software on each that should fire up doesn’t. Windows Explorer doesn’t see either device (used alternately), but each will show by going into Computer Management > Disk Management, in the right-hand panel. Plus, when I right-click on the icon of the drive in the RH panel, I can “Open” or “Explore,” and the resulting Explorer window DOES show the device. This was how I was able to install the MyBook, by manually starting the setup.exe file. Why would it show in DM but not Explorer? (In DM the devices do have drive letters). Some setting I’ve missed? Also, my USB thumb drives and other USB devices (HP printer, scanner, Dymo labelmaker, speakers, all working normal and appearing where they should be.)

(Maybe this post belong in Hardware?)

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I have seen similar issues when a USB disk or Network share uses the drive letter that you have assigned to your new disk.

StuartR

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StuartR,

I am running into the same issue at work. I have a mapped a network drive using letter “g” and this is my drive for ESRI ArcMap and associated data. When I put in a USB flash drive it will conflict with the g drive everytime. Any idea why this happens? I have to disconnect from the network drive, get what I need off the flash drive and remove and then reconnect the network drive. Not that big a deal, more annoying than anything else. I have discovered though, if I use a specific flash drive, use the computer management to assign a drive letter other than “g” it fixes the problem until I use a different flash drive.

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…… I have a mapped a network drive using letter “g” and this is my drive for ESRI ArcMap and associated data. ….

Is there any reason why the network drive *has* to be “G:”. Non-sequential drive lettering has been recognised back to at least NT4. It may be that code on the flash drive has not been well-written. As a result, a workaround is needed. HTH

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StuartR,

I am running into the same issue at work. I have a mapped a network drive using letter “g” and this is my drive for ESRI ArcMap and associated data. When I put in a USB flash drive it will conflict with the g drive everytime. Any idea why this happens? I have to disconnect from the network drive, get what I need off the flash drive and remove and then reconnect the network drive. Not that big a deal, more annoying than anything else. I have discovered though, if I use a specific flash drive, use the computer management to assign a drive letter other than “g” it fixes the problem until I use a different flash drive.

try changing your network drive to ‘Z’ like i do, or any letter higher than ‘m’ , then can not have conflicts as no plugin drive will be allocated that letter.

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