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Windows 10 does not see USB flash drive, but Linux does

This PC is six years old and otherwise runs Windows 10 okay. But it has an annoying problem with USB flash drives. When I insert one, I see the blue (it's a SanDisk Extreme 3.0) light on it, but Windows never shows it in explorer. At first I thought it was the hardware, so I switched the internal cables from one USB port to another, but that made no difference. I tried it on ports in front and on the aluminum I/O plate, but nothing worked. Then I tried booting Linux from a LiveUBS (a different USB flash drive), with Linux recognizing the original USB flash drive immediately. Both USB flash drives work on all of my other PCs. If Linux didn't work, I would have blamed the hardware. Am I missing an update?
Hi,
may be logical structure of USB drive is damaged. Windows is stricter than Linux in such cases. Please look at this flash in Disk management - does it appear as a disk. If yes, copy all files and reformat it in Windows.
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Is it empty ????

Is it formatted FAT ????

Is it formatted at all or is it RAW ???

Did you restart PC after connecting it  ?????

Did you use it for a back up from a 3rd party app ????

Try setting up like this. And maybe even try the show Hidden files, folders and drive as I am not on my photo.

File explorer options>>View tab

RESTART PC

Did it load the driver. Just because drive has power, which it will, it still needs to install the driver. Restart PC and look in THIS PC

Enter your BIOS and look in USB settings. It could be disabled.

Look in your advanced power settings in Control Panel.

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Thanks for the reply. I don't think I explained things very well.

This USB 3.0 flash drives works in all other PCs, Windows and Linux. It has lots of files on it and is formatted FAT-32. When I insert it into this PC, it does not appear in Windows Explorer (ThisPC) or Disk Management. Nothing in BIOS looks amiss.

I also realize it could be a hardware problem, even though it appears in Linux but not Windows on the same PC.

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3.0 Flash drive.

OK, are you plugging it into a USB 2.0 on the PC ???

This could be the reason.

Then there is USB 3.1 and Type-C.

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I surfed around and found freeware USBoblivion (https://sourceforge.net/projects/usboblivion/) which removes all traces of USB stuff from the registry. I ran it and voila, I was able to insert the USB flash drive and have it immediately recognized. I do not pretend to understand why Windows 10 got confused, but I will remember this one.

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Last updated October 19, 2024 Views 19,959 Applies to: