PC does not see microsd. What should I do if the phone stops seeing the microSD memory card or USB flash drive? Give the memory card to specialists for recovery

Many new models of Android smartphones and tablets have a small amount of internal memory, and the main storage medium in them is an SD card. It is not uncommon for an Android device not to see a memory card. This can happen for various reasons. And in such a situation, the user is completely deprived of the opportunity to interact with the files.

If you encounter such a problem, do not immediately run to the store and spend money on a new memory card. It is possible that the problem can be easily solved. In this guide, we will explain why Android often does not see the card, and consider several ways to solve this problem.

The memory card may no longer be recognized in the device for one of several reasons.

System failure

The first step is to try a simple reboot of the device. It is possible that Android has crashed and the flash drive is not detected correctly.

In most cases, after performing a reboot, most of the minor glitches in the system are eliminated. In the event that the reboot did not help, then it is not a system error.

There may be a problem in the contacts of the memory card or slot. Often the contacts are clogged or moisture gets on them.

Try removing the memory card, wipe it from dust and insert it back. In the event that after these actions there are no changes in its operation, it is necessary to establish that the reason is in it, and not in the contacts of the device. To do this, you can insert a memory card into another device. If it is not detected on other devices, then the problem is definitely not in the contacts of the device, but in the card.

Format error

What to do if Android does not see the microsd memory card? It may be that the error is due to bad formatting. To fix the problem, the flash card must be reformatted on the computer.

For this you need:

Important! If the PC displays the contents of the drive, this does not yet give an absolute guarantee that there are no problems with it. Therefore, formatting must be done in any case, after making a copy of the files on a PC.

Breakage of device contacts

If, as a result of the check, it turned out that the matter was in the contacts of the device, you can try to gently clean them using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. At the same time, it is strongly not recommended to use various solvents for this purpose, since their use can further aggravate the situation.

If cleaning does not help, it is likely that the contacts in the slot have come off. In this case, the help of specialists will be required.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, no one is immune from the breakdown of a memory card or the occurrence of malfunctions in the device. If the problem could not be solved on your own, you may have to take your device to a service center (if it turns out that the problem is in the device) or fork out for a purchase new card memory.

Most users of mobile phones and smartphones are faced with a situation where the phone does not see the memory card. Sometimes this question arises immediately after the purchase of the device, but most often it fails later, having already become an integral attribute of everyday life and accumulating important files. There are many reasons why the flash drive is not displayed on the screen and, with effort, the owner can always eliminate them.

If the phone does not see the memory card, we can talk about software problems, this factor is fixed in half of the situations. Just as often, defects are the result of a banal breakdown of a flash drive, only a replacement will help here, although modern capabilities allow you to recover data from a damaged media.

With a lack of time and desire, there is always the option of contacting the specialized services of a service center, but they cost money and will cost more than the flash drive itself. The instructions for restoring the browsing function apply to all generations of mobile devices, including older versions. In these cases, in response to the question: why the phone does not see the memory card, it remains to shrug: he is tired, he leaves. But! Data can always be reproduced in full!

In an extreme situation, a reading device will help, from which all of them are easily transferred to a PC.

Factors due to which the phone does not see the memory card

Having wondered why the smartphone does not see the memory card, its owner needs to analyze the following points:

1. Why did she fail?
2. Find out the current state;
3. Clarify the causes of failures;
4. If they touch software, then why the android does not see the memory card.

Then based on the results

1. Format via PC;
2. Format via smartphone.

It must be remembered that when installing a flash drive for the first time, difficulties are often caused by its capacity. This is especially true for older models that are unable to support modern products.


If the new phone does not see the memory card what to do, the following list will prompt, which lists the main problems and ways to fix them.

• File system crashes. The most common problem that is fixed by reformatting a flash drive;
• Weak connection to the flash reader. The flash drive must be inserted more tightly, and then reboot the mobile phone;
• The phone does not see the memory card because the reader slot is completely defective. Only an appeal to the specialized services of the repair center will help here;
• The flash drive just burned out. It will no longer be possible to revive it, but there is still hope for data recovery. Modern facilities allow you to do this.

The phone does not see the memory card. Procedure

First of all, it needs to be rebooted. Usually this procedure is already enough to fix software failures and other difficulties. If, after rebooting, the phone does not see the microsd memory card, you need to remove the outer cover and pull out the battery, behind which the flash reader is located and check the contacts. In other models, the socket is located on the side, here you also need to try to press it more tightly against the contacts. The main thing is not to transfer, so as not to cause mechanical damage.

When there are no positive results, the product is tested on another instrument. The ideal option is a card reader connected to a computer. Another mobile device will work just fine. If it and all the stored information is available, then the problems are in the smartphone and repair can no longer be done here. The main reasons are caused by software flaws or damaged contacts.

When another phone does not see the memory card, we are talking about defects in the file structure, or the flash drive simply burned out. In this case, it is no longer subject to Recovery, while file failures are easily eliminated, it is enough to format the product.

Format with PC

It must be remembered that in the process all information from the drive will be deleted. If there is no certainty that the memory card is not visible on the phone due to software problems, and the stored information is important, it is better to take it to the repair service.

In another situation, you need to format the USB flash drive in the following sequence:

• It is placed in the reader, and then in the computer connector;
• The launch should start automatically. If this is not there, then the phone has stopped seeing the memory card due to its problems. You need to go to "My Computer" and see the list of available connections. The absence of a drive in it indicates that it burned out;
• When there is a display, right-click it and activate the "Format" option;
• A menu appears on the screen where the user must select the format. It is represented by 2 types NTFS and FAT. The lion's share of flash drives belongs to the FAT standard, which is selected from the very beginning. In the absence of positive results, you can try NTFS;
• Having determined the format, the owner activates the “Start” option and waits for the operation to complete;
• Next, a formatted flash drive is again checked for work. It happens that already at this stage all questions are removed.

In the absence of a card reader, all actions can be easily performed using a mobile device.

Formatting without a computer

So, what to do if there is no card reader, PC and laptop. It doesn't matter, the product is easily formatted using a mobile phone, you just need to go to the "Settings" of Android. They are located in the corresponding list, where the owner can use the "Disable" and "Extract" functions. Most current devices immediately prompt the owner to format the drive. You should not perform the operation immediately, because, just like in the case of a computer, the operation completely erases all stored files.

Before that, you need to check the contacts again, excluding the weak connection version. After making sure that the connection is sufficiently dense, the user proceeds to the direct process.

– The option "Clear" is selected in the menu. It takes a little time and, as a rule, fits within one minute. Then the "Connect SD card" function is activated in the menu and if there are no mechanical problems, it is ready for use.

Understanding the reasons, you should remember about different versions of Android firmware. This depends on the course of action. In other operating systems, the procedure is performed in a similar way, just find the "Settings" category

Does not see the flash card, the first step is to reboot. There is a possibility that the device does not recognize the memory card due to a software failure. In this case, such a simple manipulation will help between the phone and the card.

Problem with contacts

If this method does not work, look for possible cause failure in the outgoing . You can check this by removing and inserting the memory card into place. Also, or the flash could have oxidized. To clean dirt on the connectors, you need to gently rub them with a regular rubber band, then wipe the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

Fixing memory card errors

If the described methods did not help, you need to remove the flash card and check it with a card reader for errors using Windows tools. To do this, go to the "My Computer" section, in the window that opens, right-click on the memory card disk icon, select "Properties". Next, you need to switch to the "Service" tab and click the "Check Disk" button. The program will check and repair damaged areas of the flash drive. This should fix errors in the card's file system. After that, you need to insert the flash memory into and check its performance.

Formatting a flash card

If this method did not bring the card back to life, it is necessary to use drastic measures, such as formatting. Before formatting, you should copy all the data in the flash memory to a computer, because after this operation, all information will be lost. To format a flash card using Windows, you need to right-click on the memory card icon in the "My Computer" menu, select "Format" and follow the instructions.

Help from experts

If none of the above methods helped, you need to take the card to a service center. The specialists themselves will find and eliminate the cause of the malfunction or offer alternative ways to solve the problem.

In order to avoid problems with flash memory, you should remember that the memory card is very sensitive to any physical impact, and therefore requires careful handling. She is also afraid of moisture, direct sunlight and sudden changes in temperature. In addition, you should not turn off the card during the transfer of information.

Memory cards (microSD) are often used as additional data storage on mobile devices. Losing access to this storage can be a real disaster for the user, because many people keep photos and other personal files on them, which often exist in a single copy. In addition, access to applications that were hosted on this media is lost.

Why does the phone not see a memory card or USB flash drive that was working and being read properly yesterday? How to solve the problem on your own?

How to find the culprit

The source of the problem can be software and hardware errors both in the memory card itself (flash drive) and in the phone.

The reason is most likely in the card (flash drive) if:

• It is not defined or defined, but not read by different devices.
• It stopped being read immediately after being used on another device.
• It has visible mechanical damage.
• When the card is inserted into the slot (flash drive is connected), the phone freezes, reboots or turns off. Provided that it reacts normally to other removable media.

The culprit is most likely the phone if:

• It does not detect or detect but does not read any microSD card or flash drive.
• When you install any card or connect any flash drive, it turns off, reboots or freezes.
• The card slot (USB connector) has visible mechanical damage.
• The failure was immediately preceded by any actions with the phone: installing applications, updating the firmware, antivirus scanning, resetting to factory settings, etc. Or incidents - blows, falling to the floor, etc.

When connecting flash drives with a full-size Type A USB connector to mobile gadgets, OTG cables and adapters are used, which are also often the causes of such situations.

Unfortunately, in many cases there are no obvious signs of the “guilt” of one or another device. For example, when a card or flash drive is not detected by a specific phone, while others read it normally, and the phone reads all drives correctly, except for this one.

Because of what memory cards and flash drives are no longer detected and read

In about half of the cases, the cause of the failure is a drive failure. I already talked about the site. The same thing can happen with a card. In addition to the problems described, they quite often have another one - the formation of an oxide film on the surface of the contact group, which creates an obstacle to the exchange of data between the card and the phone. In addition, being small and fragile, micro SD cards are easily broken mechanically, much more often than flash drives.

Another group of reasons is of a software nature, that is, it is associated not with the drive, but with its contents. Among them:

• Unrecognized file system. This can happen if the card or flash drive was previously used on a Windows PC and formatted in NTFS. Or she was in another smartphone and was formatted in exFat. In order for removable media to be read normally on any android versions, it should be formatted in FAT32.

• The removable drive is infected with malware. The reason for the lack of access to it may be blocked by the antivirus that runs on the phone, or the actions of the malware itself.
• The file system of the memory card or flash drive is damaged. The reasons are incorrect shutdown (for example, during recording), use on a faulty device (including connection to a faulty reader or adapter), unstable power supply, viruses, and so on.

Why the phone does not detect or read memory cards and flash drives

Causes on the part of the phone can also be hardware and software. The first group includes:

• Mechanical failure of the memory card slot or USB connector. Often easily identified by eye. In this case, the phone will most likely not recognize any SD card. And if the USB socket is broken on it, then there will be problems not only with reading flash drives, but also with charging.

• Malfunctions in the electronic components of the board. A failure can manifest itself in the fact that when any drive is installed in the slot, the phone freezes tightly, reboots, etc. Or a seemingly undamaged slot and a working card are not detected in the system in any way. Or are defined and disappear.
• Malfunction of devices connected to the phone (SIM cards, etc.). It manifests itself in the fact that problems with recognizing a memory card (flash drive) occur only when connected together with a failed device.

Software reasons:

• Incompatibility with microSD cards of a certain type or volume (lack of driver). In such cases, maps may be detected, but incorrectly and without access.
• Crash in operating system. Manifested by errors "SD card does not work" and other similar ones. Either removable media is not defined at all.
• Install blocking apps.
• Virus infection of the phone.

How to fix the problem yourself

Below is a sequence of steps that will help you fix the problem in about 80% of cases (in the rest, only a service center or buying a new drive will help out). If the previous action did not give the desired result, go to the next one. Recommendations for flashing devices are given more for reference. They are performed at your own risk.

If the likely culprit is a card or flash drive:

• Make sure there are no mechanical failures of the drive. Some of them (the connector blade) are easy to fix with your own hands if you know how to use a soldering iron.
• Clean the contact group of the memory card with an eraser or alcohol. This will remove the oxide layer from their surface and restore signal transmission.

• Connect the media to the computer (if you are using a reader or adapter, make sure they work). Make sure its file system is supported by your phone. If not, format to FAT32. Do not forget to first copy the information from it to another medium, for example, to HDD PC.
• Scan the media with an antivirus program.
• Check it for file system errors. To do this, you can use the standard Windows tool (the chkdsk utility, which is used to find and fix disk errors): open the properties of the drive in Explorer, go to the "Tools" tab and click "Check". In the next box, check "Automatically fix system errors" (by the way, in Windows 10, auto-correction of errors is enabled by default, so this box does not appear).

• If the probable cause is a failure of the proprietary software (firmware) of the flash drive, in some cases it can be restored using service software, which can be found on specialized web resources. However, after this procedure, no data will remain on it. In addition, in case of unsuccessful firmware, the drive may completely fail.

If the phone is the likely culprit:

• Check for mechanical damage to the memory card slot or USB socket.
• If the slot has not been used for a long time, dust may have accumulated in it. If possible, remove it with a brush or dry cotton wool wrapped around a toothpick. If the slot contacts are accessible, remove the battery from the phone and clean them with alcohol.
• Disconnect all external devices from the phone, except for the problematic drive, and restart the system. If after that it is normally defined, the reason is in something from the disabled one.
• Scan your phone for malware infection.
• Remove apps that you installed shortly before the crash.
• Temporarily uninstall your antivirus (it may block removable media).
• Do a factory reset.
• Reinstall your phone's operating system.

If the likely culprit is not identified, use the recommendations from both groups that best suit your situation.

Over the past few years, flash media have become very popular and are used by us, literally, daily, due to its advantages over disk media. It is hardly possible to overestimate its usefulness of a flash drive, because you can quickly write information on it or count it, it does not take up much space in a briefcase or bag, and the price segment is pleasantly pleasing.

Despite all the positive points, sometimes there are situations when it is impossible to read the data due to the flash drive itself or the computer. After all, at the most important moment you can lose access to the stored files, and in order to quickly return everything to normal, you need to have certain knowledge. In this article, we will analyze all possible problem situations and find solutions to why the computer does not see the USB flash drive.

The most common problems why the computer does not see the flash drive:

Flash drive not working

This is the worst scenario for a person whose documents are stored on a flash drive, because it is almost impossible to bring it back to life. You can disable a USB flash drive by mechanical action on the device chip or its controller, by closing the electrical circuit, or by damaging the contacts on the USB board. This is what a flash drive looks like after an electrical circuit is closed or moisture gets inside the drive.

Determining if this happened to your drive is easy enough. The very first thing to do is to check the flash drive for mechanical damage, chipped cracks, etc. If it is completely broken, you can look for a replacement in a computer peripherals store. If you doubt its inoperability, you can check it with a practical method.

Connect the USB flash drive to the USB connector of the computer, if the LED on it lights up and you hear a sound on the computer that is typical for connecting a new device, then everything is in order, it makes sense to look for the problem further. If this does not happen, most likely the flash drive is no longer suitable for use.

You can try to take the flash drive to a service center, where the master will try to solder the contacts or replace the controller, but it will be very expensive, and this action will be justified only if you have important documents stored on it. If no fatal malfunction was found and the flash drive shows signs of life, try the methods to restore its performance, which will be described below.

The USB port on the front of the computer is not powered.

This issue is very common among desktop users. Most computer owners are accustomed to plugging a flash drive into the front USB ports because it's fast and convenient.

But there is a situation when, for some reason, during the assembly of a PC, the front panel is not connected to the power system, usually this happens due to the forgetfulness of the computer wizard. Accordingly, your flash drive will not be displayed, despite its full serviceability.

This problem can be solved in two ways. If you urgently need to use information on removable media, you can plug it into the back of your computer. The front connectors will still remain inoperative, but you will get access to documents. It is impossible to call such manipulations a full-fledged solution, so we will consider the second option.

Method number 2 involves connecting the power cable on the motherboard to the front panel of the computer. Depending on the model of the computer case, the connectors for connection may differ. But do not be afraid, they all have markings and you will not be able to connect the wrong connector due to design features. The most common wire types are "VCC", "D-", "D+" and "GND". Moreover, the color marking of the cable and the connector on the motherboard match, but it's better to keep a guide on the inscriptions.

The first step is to gain access to the motherboard, to do this, unscrew the mounting bolts on the case and remove the cover. Locate the cable that leads to the front panel and find the same connector on the motherboard. In the image below you can see what the connector should look like.

It is not recommended to connect on your own, it is better to call the wizard. If you connect the cable and connector incorrectly, you can burn these contacts and even devices. If you decide to connect the front USB connectors, then it’s better to tell us the model of your case and motherboard, and we will show you how to do it correctly and explain what the connector and cable look like.

Faulty or disabled USB port on the computer

Sometimes the problem of unreadable information on removable media is not related to the problem of the flash drive itself, but to the connector into which it is connected. A certain USB port may be inoperative, and this condition can be caused by simple damage to the connector pins. Then not only the flash drive, but also other USB devices will not work in this port.

You can solve this problem by armed with a conventional soldering iron and minimal knowledge of circuitry. If there is no such knowledge, skill and equipment, then this can be fixed at the nearest service center for a low fee.

However, if there is no reaction to connecting a USB device on all connectors, then the problem may lie deeper. Ports can be disabled in BIOS settings.

In order to connect ports in the BIOS menu, you need to get there initially. To enter the BIOS in the first seconds of booting the computer, you need to press the corresponding key on the keyboard, which is responsible for calling the menu. Most often, the F2 or Del key is set by default, but depending on the motherboard brand and BIOS version, it may be different. On the first image that pops up when loading, it is indicated.

Once you have entered the BIOS itself, we need to follow the following route: “”.

Find the line “ USB controller"So that you are allowed to use the ports, opposite should be the value" Enabled".

After you have enabled the USB ports on your computer, press the F10 key. This will save your settings and exit the BIOS.

USB port dirty

A flash drive is a mobile storage device and therefore is often worn in pockets, briefcases or as a keychain. Due to such operating conditions, dust and small debris can accumulate in the connector. This does not happen often, but it can cause the flash drive to fail. Dust and small debris collects on the contact and prevents connection from the contacts in the port on the computer. Such a flash drive may not only not be displayed at all, but also freeze, slowly transfer or read information and be determined not the first time.

To clean the USB connector of a flash drive, arm yourself with a match and a cotton swab. Wielding a match, remove all debris from the connector, and then moisten a cotton swab with alcohol and wipe the contacts of the flash drive. So you save it from debris and oxidation.

Virus infection

Nowadays, the issue of storage device security is becoming more and more urgent, because viruses are in full swing. You can visit your usual social networking site on the Internet and get infected, not to mention downloading files from unverified sources.

Modern computer viruses can also multiply, no matter how strange it may sound. They infect files on your flash drive or computer hard drive, and their number grows exponentially.

Very often, the problem of the inoperability of a flash drive is virus infection. The drive is detected by the system, you can hear the characteristic sound of the device connecting to the system, but when you try to read the information, you will see the message “” or “ Application not found».

Before solving this problem, it is worth installing antivirus software on your computer and conducting a complete file diagnosis. To access the data on the drive, we need to delete the virus file and scan it. To do this, go to the Start menu and enter the following phrase "" in the search box.

Click on the found element with the left mouse button. You will see a window called " Folder Options", here you need to do the following:

• Uncheck the " Hide protected system files»
• Check the box ""

After that, be sure to press the key " Apply"And only after that" OK», otherwise the changes will not take effect. It should look like this.

After that, go to "My Computer" and go to the folder of the drive itself. There you will see the “Autorun” file, you need to delete it, and check the flash drive for viruses with one of free antiviruses, the Dr.WEB Cure It utility can handle this perfectly.

Now you can fully use the flash drive and no problems should arise. If nothing has changed, then the problem is the lack of drivers, we will analyze it below.

Crashing drivers or using outdated drivers

A very common problem is when a computer does not want to display a USB flash drive due to outdated drivers or their system failure. The failure may be due to a power surge or an unexpected shutdown of the operating system. Or, older computer models may not work with 32 GB or larger drives. We can say one thing, the problem is solved only by updating the drivers.

First of all, you need to go to "". You can do this in several ways, for example, through " My Computer", Or you can find this section in the system search, as we will do.

We go into this menu, after which we connect the flash drive to the computer, after which we open the sub-tab "USB controllers". Select the line " Memory device", By right-clicking the mouse opens the system menu and click" Delete".

Such manipulations allow you to remove the driver installed in the system for your storage device. As soon as you remove it, feel free to remove the USB flash drive from the computer and connect it again. Then the driver on the flash drive will be installed again and the problem will be solved.

If the problem persists, you may need to update the driver for all USB chipsets, this is quite easy to do. You can use the special disk that came with the motherboard, it contains all the necessary drivers. If you do not have it, download the DriverPack program, it will automatically select all drivers for which there is an update and carry out this procedure after your agreement.

Moreover, most users have doubts about the correctness of their actions when they learn about different USB formats. Don't be scared!

Drivers for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 are installed according to the same principle. And the only difference between the ports is the maximum speed of reading and writing information.

File system errors

The computer may also not recognize your flash device due to file system errors. Let's check if this is so, go to "", how to do this was described above. Now you need to open the sub-tab " Disk devices", if you see your flash drive there, then it is working, and the file system does not perceive it as it should, and, accordingly, does not display it in Explorer. In my case, the flash drive was displayed, which means it is working.

To fix this problem, you must format your flash drive, but this action has several nuances, so we will consider this process in the next paragraph of the article.

If you do not see your drive there, then the problem lies in the malfunction of the flash drive itself, which means that either the controller burned out or the contact soldered off. Specialists in service centers can try to bring it back to life. However, this is an expensive exercise, it is easier to buy a new one, of course, if important information was not recorded on the faulty one and you need to restore data on a flash drive.

File system conflict

Quite often, the contents of the flash drive are not displayed due to a conflict between the file systems on the computer and the removable media itself. For example, if a computer operates on the NTFS file system and FAT32 is used on a flash drive, a conflict situation is not ruled out. Moreover, this problem is common not only in the Windows environment, but also in Mac OS. For example, if you format a flash drive on your Mac device to ExFAT or the standard Macbook file system, then the flash drive is unlikely to be readable on Windows devices.

The very first thing to do is find a computer that uses a different file system, open the flash drive and save the information that is important to you, because after formatting it will be lost.

To solve this problem, we need to carry out the process of formatting the flash drive. First you need to find out what file system is used on your computer. Go to " My computer", right-click on the hard drive, open the submenu and select the item " Properties".

In the window that opens, you will see information about the free and used disk space, as well as find out what file system is used. In my case, the NTFS system is used.

After you know the file system of the computer, we need to format the flash drive into the same system. To do this, right-click on the flash drive and open the Format tab.

In the tab that opens, select the file system into which we will format, put a tick in front of the attribute " Fast"And click" Start".

A few words about why we use the Fast attribute. Firstly, formatting a flash drive will happen much faster. But there is another side of the coin. If there were any documents on the flash drive, then only with a quick format you can restore this data using special utilities. If you did not check the box, then the information that was on the flash drive for you will be lost forever.

Flash drive is not formatted

A fairly common problem is when you insert a flash drive into a computer (mostly a new flash drive and its first use), and the operating system gives you a warning that says that the removable drive needs to be formatted before use. And if the flash drive was used earlier and data is recorded on it, then it will not be possible to access them. Moreover, the volume of the flash drive becomes 0, i.e. as if there is nothing at all, not even a drive.

If you have already used a flash drive and this is not its first connection, then try connecting it to another computer, the problem may go away and you can save the data. But in any case, the flash drive must be formatted. How to do this was discussed in detail in the "File system conflict" section.

But I would like to draw your attention to two points. To avoid problems with the file system (FS) after formatting, find out which FS is used on the computer and install the same for the drive. And secondly, if the flash drive had the information you needed, then be sure to use the “Quick” attribute, so the flash drive will be formatted only by the table of contents, and the lost information can be returned using special utilities.

A problem with a partition or flash drive is automatically assigned a busy letter

There are situations when the operating system incorrectly detects your removable media. Everything seems to be fine, the device connection is displayed and the flash drive icon appears in the tray, but it cannot be used for its intended purpose.

The problem may be that the system has not assigned a letter to the partition under which the removable drive will appear, or it has assigned it, but this letter is already taken, and this results in an address conflict.

The solution to this problem will be the forced assignment of the partition letter that we choose, everything happens in manual mode. So let's get started.

First of all, you need to hold down the key combination " Win + R", A window with the name "Run" will open in front of you.

In the line we need to enter a simple command diskmgmt.msc, which will take us to the disk and storage management section.

In the storage media manager that opens, we need to define our USB device. You can do this simply, disconnect the USB flash drive and reconnect it, the partition that first disappears and then appears is what we need.

In my case, the flash drive is a drive called "20151114_17", you can also identify it by a special icon. Now you need to right-click on it, and in the menu that opens, select the item " Change letter».

Now another additional window will open before us, a smaller one. In it, you must click on the button " Change"And" Ok».

Now another auxiliary window will open where you have to select any letter English alphabet, and after clicking on the button " OK", the letter will be assigned to the section.

It is worth paying attention to one important point! When choosing a letter to assign to a partition on your flash drive, look at what letters are already in use by the system. This is very important, because we may not fix the problem, but leave it. This will happen if you, for example, designate a partition of a flash drive through the letter “D”, which is already assigned to a local disk.

Faulty power supply or excessive current overload of the USB portal

This problem is very common nowadays. The fact is that the computer may simply not see the USB flash drive due to a malfunction of the power supply. Let's figure it out in order, the power supply consumes electrical energy from the network, and then converts and distributes it to all computer nodes. It has a power limit, for example, a 400W power supply will not be able to give you 600W. This means that the consumption of the entire system must be balanced.

Such a problem may appear if you have recently replaced some important node in the system, let it be the processor. Now it consumes much more energy than in the past, which means that it simply does not reach somewhere, and in this case, this "somewhere" is the computer's USB network. Accordingly, the energy consumption parameter must be calculated in advance, and if such a situation has already occurred, you will have to replace the PSU with a more powerful one.

Moreover, the problem may lie in a malfunction of the power supply, it can produce much less power potential than stated and than it gave out before. You will not be able to solve such a problem, since you risk the performance of the entire computer. The only solution is to replace the power supply.

There is another feature of this issue. Recently, USB devices for computers have become very common, for example, such devices are now powered: a cup warmer mat, a table lamp, a wireless mouse, a removable hard drive, and in addition, a smartphone is also charging. And you still want to connect a USB flash drive, but that's bad luck, the computer sees it. The fact is that there was an overload on the current on the USB ports. Those. all your devices are already consuming the maximum amount of current and you will not be able to connect one more. Therefore, in order to use a flash drive, you need to disconnect several devices from the USB ports of the computer and then the problem will disappear.

If the computer does not see the USB flash drive in Windows XP

Has a variety of reasons why a flash drive may not be detected in Windows system xp. Moreover, the problem can lie both in the operating system itself, and in a malfunction of the flash drive, and even in the hardware of the computer.

If the problem is related to the operating system, then it can be eliminated only by making additional changes in the settings, it is best to do this manually, despite the abundance of special utilities that can help in this matter.

However, if the drive itself is faulty, then the only thing left for you is to try to save the data recorded on it. And after that, purchase a new and more reliable device.

If your computer cannot detect the flash drive, then it notifies the user with the following signals:

• Your flash drive is inserted and you are trying to access the data on it, the message "Insert disk" pops up.
• The system notifies you that the drive must be formatted for further use.
• Errors pop up about the impossibility of obtaining access to data.
• The system may freeze as soon as you plug the flash drive into the computer's USB port.

In this section, we will look at all the most common causes of non-functionality of a flash drive in Windows XP and give practical recommendations for solving them. Carefully read the description of the problem, if it is not similar to yours or its solution did not help you, go to the next paragraph until the problem goes away. The first thing to do is to try to determine if the flash drive is working. This is signaled by a light indicator located on it. If you connected the drive, and it blinks or lights up, then the flash drive is working and the problem lies either in the system or hardware of the computer.

Try changing the port into which you connect the flash drive or even the computer, perhaps only the port or the entire system is faulty, and on another PC the flash drive will work properly. For example, if you see a complete system freeze when connecting a flash drive to a port, this means that this port is faulty and it is better not to use it.

If you are using USB hubs or extension cables and the flash drive is not displayed, the problem may lie in the device itself, and not the flash drive. If this turned out to be the case, you can take the hub to a service center or try to repair it yourself. To do this, you need a soldering iron, solder and a little experience, because most often you just need to solder one or two contacts and everything will work as expected.

Perhaps the problem lies in the lack of electric current in the USB port system. To check this, you need to disconnect all USB devices on the computer (camera, printer, lamp, etc.), leave only the keyboard and mouse. If after such manipulations the flash drive is displayed in the system and you can access it, then the problem lies in a weak power supply. This problem can only be solved by replacing the power supply with a more powerful one, but using a USB hub with its own power source will help to delay the purchase of a PSU.

However, if the problem persists after disconnecting all other devices, there may still be an actual problem with a lack of power supply power and an outdated USB port. In other words, on older laptops, you won't be able to open a flash drive of 36 GB or more. It will not work here to solve the problem, you can only buy a more modern laptop or computer.

A very common situation is when a user plugs a USB flash drive into the front port of a PC, but the system does not see it. This means that either the ports are not connected to the power supply on the motherboard, or too little power is being allocated to them. You can connect the front panel yourself using the instructions located above in the section of the same name.

Does not see the flash drive due to Windows XP errors. Troubleshooting

The flash drive may also not be detected due to operating system errors. For example, Windows XP SP2 lacks updates and software packages that ensure normal operation of USB devices. Moreover, it is possible that only a few USB devices can work in one port.

The solution to this issue will be updating the system to SP3 and installing the necessary updates. Even a new user can do this, since we only need a couple of clicks, and the system will automatically download, install and launch the update. So, let's get started, we can move in two ways - this is the official download from Windows Update or installing SP3 from a disk or flash drive. The first step is to check which package you already have installed.

Click on the icon " My computer"Right-click and select" Properties». The following window will open in front of you, where information about your system will be indicated.

To install SP3, we need to allow the operating system to search for and update the computer's system. To do this, just go from the control panel to Windows Update.

As soon as you do this, the system will start searching for updates, after which you will be prompted to update all at once or select only the ones you need. If you do not understand which update changes what, then it is better to let the system be updated completely.

After downloading all the updates, the operating system will require you to restart your computer in order to apply the new settings. Click OK and wait patiently. That's all, now you can connect the USB flash drive and use it.

If you decide to choose the updates that should be installed, and not download them all automatically, then here's a guideline that will help improve the perception of USB drives by the system.

Driver conflicts in Windows XP

There is also the issue of driver conflicts. The fact is that some already outdated drivers can cause errors at the system level, moreover, they can interfere with the normal operation of new drivers. A striking example of such a problem is the situation when a user inserts a USB flash drive into a computer, tries to access the data on it, and the system immediately knocks out an error message asking to insert a disk. Or, the system just freezes, and even assigning an existing letter to a flash drive partition is real.

The reason for such errors is as follows. Let's say you have two flash drives, you connected one of them to the system. In automatic mode, all the necessary drivers for this device are immediately installed. You have done the necessary manipulations for writing or reading files and pulled out the drive. After that, you insert a second flash drive, which is fully functional, and one of the above errors pops up. This means that the system is trying to use the already installed driver from the first flash drive to start the second one, but they are not compatible.

Reinstalling Windows XP Drivers for USB Devices

This problem can be easily fixed in several ways. Reinstalling drivers automatically or manually. Let's analyze a little theory, the driver from one USB device can be mistakenly used by the system to start another USB device. To eliminate these problems, we need to first remove all available drivers for USB drives, and then reinstall them.

Such a problem may display the message “USB device not recognized”, or inexplicable processes occur at the system level that block access to data or cause the system to freeze.

Remove via DriveCleanup

You can effectively remove all available drivers for USB devices using the DriveCleanup utility. Its advantage is that it searches the entire system for installed drivers and only then removes them.

First of all, turn off the computer, disconnect all USB devices from it in order to avoid conflict situations while the program is running. We turn on the PC, go to the official website of the program and download the executable file. The utility is compatible with any version of Windows, including different bitness. When uploading, pay attention to the file version.

Automatic installation

You have removed all drivers from your computer. In order for the device to function normally, the operating system must have drivers for it. The process of automatic installation of the driver is incredibly simple, you just need to plug the USB flash drive into the USB port, after which the installation will begin immediately. A window will pop up that will display the progress of the installation, on some systems this may occur in a mode invisible to the user. Within one or two minutes, the installation will complete and you will be able to use the device.

Manual installation

Manual installation means installing drivers indirectly from the storage medium itself. We can also install drivers for a flash drive from third-party Internet resources, but in order to avoid conflict situations, we will install drivers for a flash drive using another computer.

So, we take our problematic flash drive, insert it into another computer, where it is recognized. A prerequisite for this process is that the versions of Windows on both computers match. We use system searches and find two files.

By any means, we transfer them to the problem computer, whether it be sending by mail or using other removable media. You need to place these files in a folder with the same path that was on the first computer and confirm the replacement when the corresponding window pops up. We restart the computer and enjoy its performance with FLASH disks.

We have considered only the most common reasons why a flash drive is not displayed on a computer. In fact, there are many more. Moreover, there are problems that are expressed by other system messages, and their solution is already described in the paragraphs of the article.

The message "Insert disk" appears even if the USB flash drive is already connected to the USB port

This system error takes place if the drivers overlap and interfere with the normal functioning of USB devices. In order to fix this error, you need to uninstall all USB device drivers and reinstall them. This process is described step by step in this article.

Disk formatting message

This message appears if you are using a USB flash drive for the first time or if a system failure has occurred in it. In addition to the message, you can make sure that it is not usable, because it does not display either free space or occupied space. The solution to this issue is described in detail in paragraphs 8 and 9.

Data error message

This problem pops up in 3 cases. This is a conflict of drivers, a conflict of file systems and a failure of the flash drive itself. It is solved by reinstalling the drivers, if it didn’t help, then a quick format to save the possibility of recovering data on a flash drive. Step by step instructions are above.

Complete system freeze immediately after connecting the flash drive to the computer

This issue has already been discussed in the article, but I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this error can occur for two reasons:

1. Driver conflict.
2. Bad port.

It is easy to check what problem you have, insert the USB flash drive into another port, if the freeze repeats, then it means a problem with the drivers. Instructions and tips for reinstalling them were given as part of this article.

Why does the computer not see the flash drive when the indicator on it is lit

Possible damage to the contact on the flash drive, which is responsible for the transfer of information. A driver conflict and the assignment of an occupied letter to the partition are not ruled out. If the problem persists, after connecting the flash drive to another computer, try checking the accessibility of the partition. If everything is in order here, then reinstall the drivers and the flash drive will work.

Error 43 / Error 43

This error immediately stops reading information from a removable device, which means that we will not be able to immediately access the data. There are several problems that can cause Error 43.

• A malfunction of the device itself is the first of them. Check on another computer if this situation happens again.
• Driver conflict - the solution is described above.
• Updating the hardware configuration - just roll back the driver version in the Task Manager.

conclusions

We have studied in detail the reasons that may prevent the computer from reading the flash drive and the information on it. Described solutions with step by step instructions will definitely help you to get rid of this problem. The unreadability of a flash drive can only be a sentence if the flash drive is faulty. In other situations, this is an easily reversible process. If you have any questions or you could not find a solution to your problem in the article - leave comments, we will try to clarify the situation together.