USB devices not accessible using Explorer

[mats.hogberg]

Have for quite some time (always?) been having this problem:
When I plug in some kind of USB connected "mass storage device", like the phone, a memory stick, an USB HDD, an MP3 player - Explorer doesn't list it! In the "Safely remove..." thingy in the system tray, it's listed as N:, I can access N: from DOS and copy/move/delete and everything, but Explorer - No way. Even if I type N: in the address bar it just says "N: doesn't exist". 3rd party file explorers like FileAnt works nice - Just not Explorer! Anyone with an idea as to why? (I'm on XP SP2)

/Mats

[xzarkad]

Hi,

this can happen when within windows the drive letter which would be default for a mass storage (like N in your case) was already reserved for another device.
I must have been ages ago since I have done this, but go to start, settings, control panel, system. In the hardware section select your USB device (must have it connected) and assign a drive letter to it.....like for example the "Z". It should pop up again in explorer. I hope it works for you.

Regards,

[mats.hogberg]

Thanks - I'll give it a try! Tho I don't think N: was ever used for anything else.

/Mats

[mats.hogberg]

OK, I changed drive letter in the disk manager, and now it actually seems to work! I've plugged in and unplugged it several times and all works.

/Mats

[xzarkad]

Glad it is working fine for you