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Resolved Question

I wasn't sure where to put this question

May 28, 2012 6:10AM PDT

Prior to doing a full system restore (factory settings) I could see my usb flash drives in my computer and now I can't. They are accessible but they don't show in my computer.

Norton Security Suite
Windows 7
6 gigs of ram

Gateway wants me to do another full factory restore. They don't think a driver installed properly. How can it be accessible but the driver installed wrong? They are on the computer. They just are not showing in my computer. How can it be a driver problem? Thank you.

Michelle

Discussion is locked

metmichallica has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
Did you try revealing them to Explorer?
Jun 1, 2012 8:49AM PDT

Best Answer

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Re: flash drive
Jun 1, 2012 5:59AM PDT

- What do you mean with "accessible, but they don't show up". How can you access them if you don't see them?
- Do other USB devices work (mouse, keyboard, external disk, printer)?
- Anything strange in Device Manager for the USB devices?
- Did you do anything (change a setting, install software) after doing that factory restore?

Kees

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I only
Jun 1, 2012 8:51PM PDT

installed Norton Security Suite and games from Bigfishgames and Gamehouse, but it was like that before I downloaded anything.

I didn't do anything and I had nothing downloaded. Factory restore did it.

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Answer
I mean they are on my computer
Jun 1, 2012 11:28AM PDT

the flash drives are even in device manager. For example if I go to my computer and hit E: which is one of the flash drives it tells me to put something in it. I have no flash drive to put in it and Gateway hasn't been any help and this computer is not even a year old.

What I don't understand is this I took the computer back to factory settings twice with both the same results and they have never been hidden before when I took the computer back to factory settings. Why would they be hidden now? Thank you.

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Re: flash drives
Jun 1, 2012 10:04PM PDT

Nothing wrong here. If there's nothing in a USB-port, nothing is shown in Explorer. That is a it should be. It's only a cause of concern if it doesn't get a drive letter (can be any drive letter Windows thinks useful) when you put it in.

And something to think about: how could a fresh install of Windows know that a previous install of the same OS assigned the drive letter e: to some flash-stick? Mine are g: (always in) and m: (if I put another one in).

Kees

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Thank you Kees
Jun 2, 2012 3:12PM PDT

So it's only a cause for concern if we put something in the drive and it won't work. I think I get you. Before I took the computer back to factory settings I could always see the flash drives and now I can't. I thought that meant something. Luckily I came here Gateway was trying to get me to use paid support for something that probably took a minute to fix. Then they were trying to get me to install drivers without directions. I am sorry but I am an average computer user I don't know how to install drivers and I have read that you shouldn't install drivers unless you have to. I like things where the computer does it. For example taking the computer back to factory settings.

Thank you for your help and have a nice weekend.

Michelle