The usb storage device does not work. USB device not recognized: what to do? File system conflict

These days, a computer has several USB ports to which you can connect a keyboard, mouse, and other USB devices. You can also connect a USB flash drive or external HDD. After connecting a flash drive/USB drive, you may receive the following error message: “ USB device not recognized." In it Windows time, shows a message that the USB device is not recognized as a pop-up notification in the panel area Windows tasks. Windows shows an error message due to an unknown problem with the Windows operating system, which results in USB not being recognized and an error. What would you do in this case?

Error says:

In Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 -
The latest USB device is not properly connected to this computer and Windows cannot recognize it.

or, in Windows 7

The USB device is not recognized, or one of the USB devices connected to this computer is not working properly and Windows cannot recognize it. For help with this issue, click this message.

When an error occurs, Windows cannot show the USB mass storage device under 'My Computer' in the explorer area, and if you can take a look at Device Manager in Windows, then you will find a yellow triangular alert icon next to this device, which is not visible in Windows. The yellow triangular logo helps you locate the device in the Device Manager list. The photo below shows if you have never seen such an error.

The error is very common and has been discussed by everyone through web portals and forums for years. No matter which Windows OS and which OS version (it can be Windows 7 OS, Windows 8 OS, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10) you are using, you can certainly get the USB not recognized message more than once in your life, by inserting a USB flash drive or an external USB drive into your PC. In fact, there is no exact and specific reason for getting this error message. So, we have to identify the problem of such an error and try to fix it manually step by step for troubleshooting. Removing a USB device is not always safe and can cause problems, there may also be another problem related to windows drivers or similar ones that cause the device not to be recognized by the system. Most of the time, users using USB and Windows virtual operating systems get an error message, but quite a few cases I have had myself when I plugged a USB flash drive directly into the My Computer window.

How to resolve and fix ‘USB device not recognized’ error in Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7

There are probably several reasons that cause Windows to not display the device and it is not recognized causing an error, so of course there are several possible solutions. Here, follow the guide to get rid of this error. This doesn't mean you won't get the same error soon. Since there are many reasons for causing external drive its not recognizing, so you can get the same windows errors anytime you plug in a usb device to a windows usb port.

Step 1: Disconnect the USB device and plug it back into the same port

After you receive an error notification, simply remove the USB device and insert it again. Try this same method two or three times. If you're lucky, you might be able to get rid of the Windows error that's preventing you from accessing a particular USB device. If this tool works for you, then it could be a problem loading the device driver in Windows at the time you introduced the external USB to your PC.

Step 2: Disconnect the USB drive and re-insert it into a different USB port

Try a different USB port while you keep getting the error message. There may be a problem with the USB port. The USB port can be mischievous or have mechanical problems over time. Therefore, try to use a separate USB port to solve the problem, if this helps, then this is probably a problem with the USB port. Replace the USB port immediately so that you don't get any more errors in the near future for the same reason.

Step 3: Restart your computer to fix the problem

When you start turning on your PC, all programs, drivers, processes, services start automatically in background. But, if any important process or driver fails to load at startup, your computer may be behaving badly, and as a result, a “USB device not recognized” error may occur.

Step 4: Troubleshooting Windows Device Manager and Usb Drivers

This step is the most important. Majority Windows users who receive such an error can fix it using the dispatcher Windows devices. In Device Manager, you can find all connected devices on your PC, including processors, printers, hard disks(internal and external), etc. So, how to find and fix the problem of recognizing a connected external USB device using Device Manager? Follow the steps as described below:

1. Press Windows+R and open the Run window, in the window run the following command devmgmt.msc to open Device Manager in a Windows window.

When the scan is completed, the program will automatically download usb driver. If the USB device is not recognized and fixed, then, of course, this is a problem in the synchronization of the driver for Windows.

A USB device that is not recognized by Windows is marked as 'Unknown device'. You can update drivers in Windows right click in context menu. You need to select an unknown or unrecognized device from the list in Windows Device Manager and right click on it. Select "Update Driver".

After a successful update, you should no longer receive an error message with USB devices. If the error persists, you can disable the unknown device driver for a while and let it work around this error. But, if the message is still there, it is better to uninstall the device driver and reinstall latest version Internet drivers.

Now select the USB Root Hub - Properties and under the 'Power Management' tab you will find the option "Allow the device to turn off to save power". Uncheck the box and see if that helps or not.

Step 5Disable USB - Selectively Pause Setup

Your computer's control panel has various options nutrition. Select "change plan options" of your running plans and click on the option "change Extra options nutrition”. Now scroll down to USB settings>> USB Selective Suspend >> Install and force it to shut down. Notebook users should select the battery option and then do disable.

Step 6: Change the registry to 'enhancedpowermanagementenabled' to fix the problem with the USB device

Many Windows 10 PC users may encounter the same problem. In addition, when connecting a device using USB cable, the device remains disabled. When you connect a USB device to a PC with a USB cable, the device is charged by the PC. In this case, for Windows 10 users, when you plug the device into the USB port, the device gets a charge, but the PC does not display the device in File Explorer. Sometimes, users get “USB Not Recognized” error message. The troubleshooting procedure is described below.

Open device manager and go to USB device properties which shows errors.
Switch to the ‘Details’ tab and select the path to the device instance from the drop-down menu.
Be aware of the appropriate instance ID.

Now open the registry editor and navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\(Device Instance Path)\Device Parameters

On the right side of the device parameter, change the value of 'EnhancedPowerManagementEnabled' to '0'.

Restart your computer to get the error fixed message.

Step 7Remove Existing Hidden Devices

Windows Device Manager does not show all devices in the list. It only shows the devices connected to the PC. Devices that were previously installed and are not connected to the PC right now do not appear in the Device Manager list. For example, a USB scanner after installation on a PC and if it is no longer turned on, then it will not be displayed in the Device Manager list. However, some hidden devices can create problems for modern devices USB and an error message will appear as a result.

Now, let's see how to show hidden devices and remove them to avoid any conflict between them.

Open command line as administrator and run the following commands:

Set DEVMGR_SHOW_DETAILS=1 set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1 start devmgmt.msc

After Device Manager loads successfully, in the top navigation select View >> Show Hidden Devices.

Now, find and manually define the list of unused drivers and remove them. You can check unknown devices, USB controllers, etc.

New devices can now work just fine after uninstalling old devices and drivers. Thus, we hope you find a solution to fix “USB Not Recognized” in Windows.

Step 8: Try the USB Port to Troubleshoot the Application

If the above methods did not work and the device still does not work for you, you should try the 'fix' applications from Microsoft. There is also another useful tool from Microsoft to get the job done. The tool known as ‘ Fix It‘. Download links are below.

DriverFinder other third party application, which can fix Windows devices that are not recognized and an error occurs on your PC. Just install the DriverFinder software and scan all applications installed on your computer. This useful application finds all new drivers for your PC. This way, all USB devices, including printers, will be correctly recognized by your PC, laptop, etc.

Step 9: Other Possible Remedies

In the above steps, I have mentioned all possible solutions“USB device not recognized” problems for Windows 10, 8.1, 7 users. If the problem occurs due to software or problems with operating system, then, of course, following the methods described above, you can solve the problem.

If the problem persists, then there will certainly be hardware problems. Either the USB devices are damaged or the USB port may not work properly. So, first plug another USB device into this port to make sure everything is ok with the port. Then plug the USB device into another computer and check if it works or not. If you still get the same error again, then there is a serious problem in the USB drive. You can try a different USB connector.
Connect the USB flash drive to another PC and remove it if the problem occurs as a result of a sudden drive ejection.
Turn off the PC and unplug the power cable completely for 5 minutes. This USB hub reset motherboard can help solve the problem with the driver. If you are a laptop user, remove the battery for at least a few minutes to reset the USB hub on the motherboard.
Update the BIOS and try fixing problems in Windows.

I hope this article will help you fix the USB Device Not Recognized error in Windows and you should now be working fine with your USB device. Most errors - USB device not recognized - can be resolved by one of the above solutions. If you have any other solutions, or a USB problem that these tips don't solve, please leave a comment!

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 to 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. Indeed, 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 flash drive by mechanical action on the device chip or its controller, by shorting electrical circuit, damage to 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.

Plug the flash drive into 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 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.

Decide this problem You can, 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 no response to USB connection device is not observed 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

The flash drive is mobile device storage of information 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 site social network on the Internet and get infected, not to mention downloading files from unverified sources.

Modern computer viruses can also reproduce, 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. Before you will be open window with the name " 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 to 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 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 afraid!

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 the faulty one was not recorded important information and you need to restore the data on the flash drive.

File system conflict

Quite often, the contents of the flash drive are not displayed due to a conflict 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 widespread not only in Windows environment but also 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, perhaps the problem will 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 formatting of the flash drive will take place 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 lie in the fact that the system did not assign a letter to the partition, under which the removable drive will appear, or it 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 we have another one additional window, slightly less. In it, you must click on the button " Change"And" Ok».

Now another auxiliary window will open, where you must select any letter of the 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 compared to the past, which means that it simply does not reach somewhere, and in this case this “somewhere” is USB network computer. 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. IN Lately USB devices for computers have become very common, for example, now the following devices are powered: a mat for heating a cup, desk lamp, wireless mouse, removable HDD, and in addition, the smartphone is also on charge. 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 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

There are a number of reasons why a flash drive may not be detected in Windows 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 in the 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 you connect a flash drive to the port, this means that given port defective and should not be used.

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 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, it may still be actual problem with a lack of power supply 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 provide normal USB operation 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 which updates to install instead of downloading them all to automatic mode, then here is a guideline that will help you improve your perception USB drives system.

Driver conflicts in Windows XP

There is also the issue of driver conflicts. The point is that some outdated drivers can cause errors at the system level, moreover, they can prevent the new drivers from working properly. 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 the assignment is already existing letter section of the flash drive 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. Process automatic installation the driver is incredibly simple, you just need to plug the USB flash drive into the USB port, after which the installation will immediately begin. 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

Under manual installation the installation of drivers is implied not directly 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 a coincidence Windows versions on both computers. 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 of them. 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 occurs when 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 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 does not help, then quick format to save data recovery on the 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.

Today, USB is one of the most common protocols for transferring data between a computer and a connected device. Therefore, it is very unpleasant when the system does not see the devices connected to the corresponding connector. Especially a lot of problems arise if on a PC via USB there is an interaction with a keyboard or mouse. Let's see what factors caused this problem, and determine the methods for its elimination.

In this article, we will not analyze the problems with the visibility of the device associated with its inoperability, because in this case, this equipment should be replaced or repaired. The article will deal with cases where the problem is caused by malfunctions or wrong settings system or PC hardware. In fact, there can be many reasons for such a malfunction, and for each of them there is its own solution algorithm. ABOUT specific ways troubleshooting and discuss below.

Method 1: Microsoft utility

In many cases, a utility from Microsoft, specially created for this purpose, can solve the problem with the visibility of USB devices.

Method 2: "Device Manager"

Sometimes a USB hardware visibility problem can be solved by simply updating the configuration in "Device Manager".

1. click "Start". Click "Control Panel".



2. Come in "System and safety".



3. Now open "Device Manager" by clicking on the corresponding inscription in the block "System".



4. The interface will start "Device Manager". The problematic device in the list can either be displayed in the block "Other devices", or absent altogether. In the first case, click on the name of the block.



5. A list of devices will open. Problematic equipment can be indicated there both under its real name, and appear as "USB mass storage device". Right-click on its name ( PKM) and select "Update Configuration...".



6. Device search will be activated.



7. After it is completed and the configuration is updated, it is quite possible that the system will begin to interact normally with the problem device.

If the desired equipment is not displayed at all in "Device Manager", click on the menu item "Action" and then select "Update Configuration...". After that, a procedure similar to the one described above will occur.

Method 3: Update or reinstall drivers

If the computer does not see only a specific USB device, then there is a chance that the problem is related to incorrect driver installation. In this case, they need to be reinstalled or updated.

If this option does not help, then there is another method.

1. Click in "Device Manager" by device name PKM. Select "Properties".



2. Go to tab "Driver".



3. Click on the button "Rollback". If it is not active, click "Delete".



4. Next, you should testify your intentions by clicking the button OK in the dialog box that appears.



5. The procedure for uninstalling the selected driver will be performed. Next, click in the horizontal menu of the window by position "Action". Select from the list "Update Configuration...".



6. Now the name of the device should again be displayed in the window "Device Manager". You can check if it works.

If the system could not find the appropriate drivers or the problem was not solved after installing them, then you can use the services of specialized programs to search and install drivers. They are good because they will find matches on the Internet for all devices connected to the PC and perform automatic installation.

Method 4: Set up USB controllers

Another option that can help in solving the problem under study is to configure USB controllers. It is carried out in the same place, that is, in "Device Manager".

If this does not help, then you can reinstall the drivers for the above group elements "USB controllers" using the same methods as described in the presentation Method 3.

Method 5: Troubleshooting the port

It is possible that your computer does not see a USB device simply because its corresponding port is faulty. In order to find out if this is the case, if there are several USB ports on a stationary PC or laptop, try connecting the equipment through a different connector. If this time the connection is successful, then this means that the problem is in the port.

To fix this problem, you need to open the system unit and see if this port is connected to the motherboard. If it is not connected, then connect. If there has been mechanical damage or other damage to the connector, then in this case it is required to replace it with a serviceable version.

Method 6: Static Relief

In addition, you can try to remove static voltage from the motherboard and other PC components, which can also cause the problem we are describing.

There is also a possibility that the computer does not see the hardware because there are already many USB devices connected to it. The system just can't handle the load. In this case, we recommend that you turn off all other devices, and connect the problematic equipment to the back system block with the appropriate connector. Perhaps this recommendation will help solve the problem.

Method 7: "Disk Management"

The problem with the visibility of the connected USB device, in this case only a flash drive or external hard drive, can be solved using the system's built-in tool "Disk Management".

1. Click Win+R. Enter in the field of the appeared shell:

   Apply by pressing OK.



2. Tool interface starts "Disk Management". It is necessary to trace whether the name of the flash drive is displayed and disappears in the window when it is connected to the computer and disconnected. If nothing new visually happens at the same time, then this way will not work for you and you need to solve the problem in other ways. If changes occur in the list of connected drives when a new media is attached, then you can try to solve the problem with visibility using this tool. If opposite the name disk device there will be an inscription "Unallocated" then click on it PKM. Next choose "Create a simple volume...".



3. will start "Master of Creation simple volume…» . Click "Further".



4. Then a window will open where you need to specify the size of the volume. Since in our case it is necessary that the size of the volume be equal to the size of the entire disk, then click here "Further" without making changes.



5. The next window requires you to assign a drive letter. In the corresponding field, select a character that is different from those letters that are already assigned to other drives in the system. Click "Further".



6. The following settings window opens. Here in the field "Volume Label" you can enter a name that will be assigned to the current volume. Although, this is not necessary, as you can leave the default name. Click "Further".



7. The next window will provide a summary of all the data entered in the previous steps. To complete the procedure, just click on the button "Ready".



8. After that, the volume name and status will appear opposite the media name. "Fixed". Next click on it. PKM and choose "Make Section Active".



9. Now the computer should see the flash drive or external hard drive. If this does not happen, then restart the PC.

There are situations when, when opening a tool "Disk Management", the volume that belongs to the flash drive already has the status "Healthy". In this case, you do not need to create a new volume, but you need to perform only those manipulations that are described starting from point 8.

If, when opening the tool "Disk Management" you see that the disk is not initialized and has a single volume that is not allocated, this means that, most likely, this drive physically damaged.

Method 8: Power settings

You can solve the problem with the visibility of USB devices by making some manipulations in the power settings. Especially often this method helps when using laptops that interact with the connected equipment via the USB 3.0 protocol.

1. Go to "Control Panel", and then to the section "System and safety". How to do this, we discussed in the analysis Method 2. Go to position here "Power".



2. In the window that opens, find the current power plan. There should be an active radio button next to its name. Click on position "Setting up a power plan" near the named position.



3. In the shell that appears, click "Change advanced options...".



4. In the window that appears, click "USB settings".



5. Click on the inscription "Pause option...".



6. The specified option will open. If there is a value "Allowed", then you should change it. To do this, click on the indicated inscription.



7. From the drop-down list, select "Forbidden", and then click "Apply" And OK.

Now you can check if USB devices will work on this PC or if you need to move on to other ways to solve the problem.

Method 9: Eliminate the virus

You should not exclude the possibility that the problem with the visibility of USB devices arose as a result of a virus infection of the computer. The fact is that some viruses specifically block USB ports so that they cannot be detected using an anti-virus utility connected from a USB flash drive. But what to do in this situation, because if the regular antivirus missed malicious code, then it is now of little use, but you can’t connect an external scanner for the above reason?

In this case, you can make hard check disk with an antivirus utility from another computer, or use a LiveCD. There are quite a few programs designed for these purposes, and each of them has its own nuances of operation and management. But it makes no sense to dwell on each of them in detail, since for the most part they have an intuitive interface. The main thing when detecting a virus is to be guided by the tips that the utility displays. In addition, on our website there is a separate article devoted to such programs.

There are quite a few ways to restore the visibility of USB devices in Windows 7, but this does not mean that all of them will be effective in your particular case. Often you have to try many options before finding a suitable way to solve a problem.

If when connecting a flash drive, external hard disk, printer or other device connected via USB in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (I think it applies to Windows 10) you see an error saying that the USB device is not recognized, this instruction should help solve the problem. The error may occur with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices.

In this part, we will talk about how to fix the error The USB device is not recognized in the device manager of Windows 7, 8 or Windows 10. I note that these are several ways at once and, as I wrote above, they may or may not work specifically for your situation.

So, first of all, go to Device Manager. One of quick ways do it - press windows keys(with emblem) + R, enter devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

Your unidentified device will most likely be located in the following sections of the manager:

• USB controllers
• Other devices (and be called "Unknown device")

In the event that an unknown USB device with exclamation mark is displayed in the "USB Controllers" list, try the following two things:

Another way, the performance of which happened to be seen in Windows 8.1 (when the system writes error code 43 in the description of the problem USB device not recognized): for all the devices listed in the previous paragraph, try the following in order: right-click - "Update drivers". Then - search for drivers on this computer - select a driver from the list of already installed drivers. In the list you will see compatible driver(which is already installed). Select it and click "Next" - after reinstalling the driver for the USB controller to which the unidentified device is connected, it can work.

USB 3.0 devices (flash drive or external hard drive) are not recognized in Windows 8.1

On laptops with operating Windows system 8.1 usb error device not recognized quite common for external hard drives and USB 3.0 flash drives.

Changing the laptop's power scheme settings helps to solve this problem. Go to panel Windows controls- power options, select the power plan you are using and click "Change advanced power settings". Then, in the USB settings, disable temporary disabling usb ports.