Windows 10 Not "Seeing" my USB Stick


  1. Posts : 159
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 Not "Seeing" my USB Stick


    I've been backing up my data to a USB stick for some time.
    In order to have the process go faster I found articles on the web on how to do so,.
    One said to change the device properties form 'Quick Removal' to 'Best Performance.'
    When I do that WIndows locks up.. I see nothing or that an hour glass and 'not responding' in the caption bar.
    Now, when I insert the USB stick I get nothing and it doesn't show up in Explorer.

    My other USB stick works ok.

    Any ideas?
    James
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,117
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    Hi James

    Please insert your USB key and then open Disk Management. (Right click Start > DIsk Management)

    IS USB key showing there. You may just have to assign a drive letter.

    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 159
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    It doesn't show up there either.

    As I said my other stick shows up fine.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 30,117
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #4

    Do you eject your keys before removing?

    Have you tried key on another computer? (isolate if this is a PC or USB key issue.)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    Try Ken's suggestion to see if the stick works in another PC. If it is OK, you can make your PC 'forget' the USB stick. The next time you insert it the PC will behave as if it's a new device it has never seen before.

    Open Device Manager. On the View menu, select 'Show hidden devices' (this will show all devices, even the ones that at not connected at the moment). Now look for your USB stick under 'Disk Drives'. Right-click on it and uninstall it.

    Now try plugging the USB in.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 2,715
    Windows 10
       #6

    Cheap USB memory sticks are limited by their slow Flash Memory and Controller chips, also the size of files, small ones are much slower than very large files.
    There is nothing Windows can do to speed them up.
    Write caching won't do anything, you then have to make sure you safely remove it on the Windows notification. If you don't then there is the potential to corrupt the drive.

    99% of googled tips are useless.

    As above, delete any signs of the drive in the Device Manager and then plug it back in.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 159
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I do eject them before removing them. But, even with he one that worked ok, I don't get that message telling me it is safe to remove. After selecting eject, 10 or 15 seconds later the selection for ejecting the usb is no longer there so I assume it's ok to remove. It was ok before.

    I'll uninstall the driver and reboot to see if that helps.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    JamesJoey said:
    I'll uninstall the driver and reboot to see if that helps.
    A reboot won't do any harm, but it shouldn't be necessary.
      My Computers


 

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