Help - Older Flash Drives - libraries unresponsive -- Windows 7 - 64 bit.

LindaEllis · February 01, 2016, 12:32:36 AM

Hi,

I have a problem using older flash drives on my Windows 7 64 bit computer. Using the newer flash drives, I don't have this problem.

(I am also a long time Windows XP user), I tried to use some older flash drives that I have had for awhile on my Windows 7 64 bit computer (it is a refurbished computer) and they either go into that "autoplay" where they are stuck in that or just are unresponsive and you see the floating hourglass until I pull it out of the computer. Also, I note that when this happens none of the libraries open up at all and if you do a control alt delete you see that libraries are unresponsive.

I remember with Windows XP, if you had a faulty flash drive in the computer, only that drive did not work/open up, but you could still use other flash drives or the main "C" drive.

So, is there some setting or workaround for this problem? I appreciate your help, and thank you all so much for your help here. Otherwise, I have a lot of flash drives that I won't be able to use on my computer.

plodr · February 01, 2016, 02:06:17 AM

Modify autoplay.

I just put 41 USB sticks in my Win 7 computer on Friday to check how all were formatted.
Some of these are old, based on the fact that they are only 256MB or 512MB in size! The computer had no trouble with any of them.

Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, and then AutoPlay. Or Control Panel then AutoPlay depending how Control Panel View is set up.
Scroll down to Mixed Content. I assume your sticks have different types of files on them and select Ask me Every time.
Click Save.

LindaEllis · February 01, 2016, 02:58:39 AM

Hi Plodr.

Thank you. I went through those steps, and the "ask me everytime" was checked. So, what else can I do?

plodr · February 01, 2016, 02:33:03 PM

At this point I don't have an answer.

I'll have to do some search but I'll be out for a good part of the day so it won't be until late this afternoon that I have time.

LindaEllis · February 01, 2016, 03:27:22 PM

Hi Plodr. Thanks so much. I guess you are the go-to expert here since no one else has any suggestions thus far. Thanks for your help!

plodr · February 01, 2016, 09:18:28 PM

See if this works. Plug in the USB stick then right click on Computer and select manage then disk management, you should see your flash there.
Change the drive letter assigned to it. Reboot and see if it is now read.

v_v · February 02, 2016, 01:13:00 AM

Linda,

I have very little constructive to offer, having no relevant experience with this myself. However you may wish to examine the following thread from Microsoft to see if any ideas/answers might apply to your situation: " http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/usb-device-not-recognized-in-windows-7/8106a712-a13e-4ca5-b82e-c3961cc254b1 ".

v_v

LindaEllis · February 04, 2016, 01:57:28 AM

Hi, I apologize as I didn't realize I had replies here. I am down to just one Flash Drive that won't work in my Windows 7 computer. Thankfully, I have an old Sony laptop sitting in the basement and it worked there. It is an XP computer. So, I started transferring some files from that drive to another one I plugged in and I will have to do it that way because these other options seem quite complicated to me. Thank you.

plodr · February 04, 2016, 05:06:54 PM

At least if one computer sees all your drives, you can get at the files and move them off the stick and onto something else.