Windows 7: USB stick doesn't work

Hey there, I've been having this problem for a long time and finally decided to look for help. Basically, I bought a new USB stick and plugged it in. My computer would search for windows updates, but it would never find the ones required, and the USB wouldn't install. When I unplug the USB and plug it back in again, the computer doesn't even recognize it, and nothing happens.



Currently, my computer is not updated, so that's one thing I won't try. I've installed windows 7 updates numerous times in the past, and every time I did, my computer would have problems starting up (i.e. my desktop would be a black screen when it starts and I can't do anything, or the place where I enter my password to log in doesn't load at all). I'm tired of doing system restores to fix this problem.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hi smugleaf and welcome to the forum.
Sounds like a faulty stick. First though what USB port are you plugging it in to? Have you tried another one preferably not in the front of the PC but in the back panel?

Have you tried other USB devices in those ports, or taken your USB stick to another computer?
Windows Updates are extremely reliable, and should not be skipped. While not impossible, the likelihood of the updates causing issues is smaller than ever. If you have had repeated problems with them, you may have a corrupt Windows 7 install, or a hardware issue, such as a faulty motherboard or memory. You should address this issue first, because you are missing out on performance, efficiency, and security fixes.

Agreed with the Guy above me. Sometimes new sticks and others devices requires faster USB. Try to plug in to the back side of the computer.
If its new harddrive sometimes its find it and doesn't show the letter of the drive. If that the case.
Try to right click on my computer and manager. Then disk management.
Hope that will answer all.

mitchell65: thank you. The stick itself is fine. I plugged it into my other computer and it works just fine there. I should have specified, but the computer I'm having trouble with is a laptop. I tried plugging it in all 3 locations, and neither one works.

DeaconFrost: unfortunately, I don't have the expertise to make the updates work properly. They worked up until a certain point last year, and I really have no clue what went wrong.

This is a different topic, so maybe we can start it as a new thread, but there's no expertise to running Windows Updates. You basically choose to apply them automatically, or to prompt you when they are ready to install. If they've stopped a year ago, or you haven't run them in a year, that should be addressed, for your system's benefit.

You're probably right, in that this issue should have priority. I know how to apply windows updates. When I said I didn't have the expertise, I meant figuring out how to get them to work without making my laptop unusable was beyond me (but I suppose that's what these forums are for).