Solved Windows 7 will not read data on USB drive

[Carolyn MO]

The USB itself is recognized in the device manager. It is a Lexar and shows that device is working properly. The driver is up to date. However, it shows there is nothing on the drive. It was saved with XP and I can read it on my laptop which has Vista. I tried it in another port and got the same thing. At this point I don't know what to do. It was a new flash drive when I saved info from XP.

 

[Frozwire]

Hi,

Does your flash drive appear in My computer? And have you happened to check its properties? (e.g used space and free space).

 

[Carolyn MO]

At first the flash drive does not show up in my computer and then does show up. It shows there is nothing on the drive. I got a graph with no available space, but then there is nothing there. It was a little confusing. I needed to do something, so had to connect the other computer to work in one of the programs, so can't look at it right now. It didn't show any files that were saved.

 

[Frozwire]

Try running chkdsk to check and fix if there is a possible file system corruption on that Flash Drive.

 

[Carolyn MO]

If that is the case, why would it work in my laptop with Vista? Also, when it showed up in my computer, it didn't say it was a Lexar, just usb storage. Is that the way it shows up in Windows 7? I did not try any other flash drive I have, which I should also do. In the bar on the lower right corner, it came up as Lexar. I will run the chkdsk on it. I only have one monitor and am still connected to the other computer, so it will be a little later before I reconnect the Windows 7 computer. I appreciate your input.

 

[jumanji]

Does your Lexar pen drive come with some security software preinstalled?

Would appreciate if you can specify the exact model number and capacity of the drive.

 

[Carolyn MO]

I ran the chkdsk in the XP and Vista computers. There were no problems. Adding to the above reply; also in the device manager it came up as Lexar.

 

[Carolyn MO]

I still have the package. It is a Jumpdrive 550 with 16GB capacity. I have no idea about preinstalled software. I know software was installed when I inserted it according to bar in lower right. Device manager says it is working okay. I also checked the drivers and they are up to date. Can it be the computer itself, instead of Windows 7? Drive system requirements are Windows 7/Vista/XP.

 

[jumanji]

You have to check and tell us whether any other pen drive works OK on your Windows 7 PC.

Also if your Lexar pen drive shows up in Windows Disk Management, post a screenshot of the same.

( I shall see your answers my tomorrow morning. In the meanwhile some of those on your timeline may go ahead in helping you if they have some ideas based on the above information.)

 

[Frozwire]

Is there a drive a letter assigned to your flash drive when you plugged it in to your Win7 computer?

 

[Carolyn MO]

Yes, but I don't remember what it was.

 

[Carolyn MO]

I reconnected the Windows 7 computer and put in a Verbatim flash drive. It read it just fine. I then put the problem flash drive in and it read it just fine. I thought I had restarted my computer when I had the problem. For some reason, turning it completely off and then on again helped. Thank both of you for your input.

 

[Carolyn MO]

I reconnected my Windows 7 computer and inserted a Verbatim flash drive. It read it just fine. I then inserted the problem flash drive and it also read it just fine. Apparently, turning the computer completely off and restarting it helped. I had thought I had restarted when I had the problem. Thank you both for your input.

I didn't see this being posted the first time and posted it again.

 

[jumanji]

Glad your problem is resolved.

Most of the time power cycling the PC - that is turning off the desktop, plugging out the mains power cable and leaving it in that condition for about 10 minutes or more to completely shed all charge in it - helps resolve some quirky problems.

Actually it would help if you periodically shed the charge like this.