Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB device Jim In Minneapolis 6/10/2007 5:28:01 AM I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used for several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they suddenly stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are indicated to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so I have no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING I can think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. What can I do? Thanks. Jim

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB device Sharon F <sharonfDEL[ at ]ETEmvps.org> 6/11/2007 2:40:20 AM On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 22:28:01 -0700, Jim In Minneapolis wrote: [Quoted Text] > I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used for > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they suddenly > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are indicated > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so I have > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING I can > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. What > can I do? Thanks. Jim When the drives are showing in Disk Management but not Explorer, check that they have valid drive letters assigned to them. Also be sure that you are not hiding those letters with XP tweaking software - for example, TweakUI for XP is capable of hiding drives in Explorer. Other suggestions: Shut down. Disconnect the drives. Start the computer. Then hot plug the usb drives so that XP will remount them. Try to get them attached to the same USB ports you usually use and if that doesn't work, try different ports. Wouldn't hurt to try them on another XP computer as well to be sure that the drives and enclosures are working. It's very important with external drives to "safely remove hardware" before disconnecting. Powering down normally with them still connected works too but there will be extra time required at shutdown for XP to dismount them properly. -- Sharon F MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de Jim In Minneapolis 6/11/2007 3:28:02 AM Hi Sharon Thanks for replying. I'll respond to your suggestions below in brackets [ ] "Sharon F" wrote: [Quoted Text] > On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 22:28:01 -0700, Jim In Minneapolis wrote: > > > I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used for > > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they suddenly > > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are indicated > > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so I have > > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING I can > > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. What > > can I do? Thanks. Jim > > When the drives are showing in Disk Management but not Explorer, check that > they have valid drive letters assigned to them. [QUESTION: How do I do that?] Also be sure that you are > not hiding those letters with XP tweaking software - for example, TweakUI > for XP is capable of hiding drives in Explorer. [No. I do not have any such software.] > > Other suggestions: > Shut down. Disconnect the drives. Start the computer. Then hot plug the usb > drives so that XP will remount them. [I tried this again just now at your suggestion. Nothing changes.] > Try to get them attached to the same USB ports you usually use and if that > doesn't work, try different ports. [I have no more "spare" USB ports. I have plugged them back into the only 2 free ports] Wouldn't hurt to try them on another XP > computer as well to be sure that the drives and enclosures are working. [I don't have another computer.] > It's very important with external drives to "safely remove hardware" before > disconnecting. Powering down normally with them still connected works too > but there will be extra time required at shutdown for XP to dismount them > properly. > > -- > Sharon F > MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User >

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB device "Unknown" <unknown[ at ]unknown.kom> 6/11/2007 3:05:22 PM Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can you right click on them? "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used for > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they suddenly > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are > indicated > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so I > have > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING I > can > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. > What > can I do? Thanks. Jim

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de Jim In Minneapolis 6/11/2007 3:38:01 PM No, they do not. "Unknown" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can you > right click on them? > "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in > message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... > >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used for > > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they suddenly > > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are > > indicated > > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so I > > have > > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING I > > can > > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. > > What > > can I do? Thanks. Jim > > >

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de "Unknown" <unknown[ at ]unknown.kom> 6/11/2007 3:53:08 PM Have you tried removing both discs, power off then on, connect one of the discs to a USB port and go to control panel and click on add hardware?. "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:340E88CA-32D4-431B-AEF3-03349D5723ED[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > No, they do not. > > "Unknown" wrote: > >> Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can you >> right click on them? >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote >> in >> message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... >> >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used >> >for >> > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they >> > suddenly >> > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They >> > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are >> > indicated >> > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so >> > I >> > have >> > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING >> > I >> > can >> > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. >> > What >> > can I do? Thanks. Jim >> >> >>

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de Jim In Minneapolis 6/11/2007 6:25:02 PM Thanks for your help. Yes, I have tried that. No change. Windows Explorer does not find the drives. "Unknown" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Have you tried removing both discs, power off then on, connect one of the > discs to a USB port and go to control panel and click on add hardware?. > "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in > message news:340E88CA-32D4-431B-AEF3-03349D5723ED[ at ]microsoft.com... > > No, they do not. > > > > "Unknown" wrote: > > > >> Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can you > >> right click on them? > >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote > >> in > >> message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have used > >> >for > >> > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they > >> > suddenly > >> > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > >> > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are > >> > indicated > >> > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, so > >> > I > >> > have > >> > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried EVERYTHING > >> > I > >> > can > >> > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 drives. > >> > What > >> > can I do? Thanks. Jim > >> > >> > >> > > >

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de "Unknown" <unknown[ at ]unknown.kom> 6/11/2007 6:39:14 PM If you are sure you have power to the drives, can you try one of them in another USB port? "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:7FA476F0-4E75-425A-B529-5DE6D7CF540B[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Thanks for your help. > > Yes, I have tried that. No change. Windows Explorer does not find the > drives. > > "Unknown" wrote: > >> Have you tried removing both discs, power off then on, connect one of the >> discs to a USB port and go to control panel and click on add hardware?. >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote >> in >> message news:340E88CA-32D4-431B-AEF3-03349D5723ED[ at ]microsoft.com... >> > No, they do not. >> > >> > "Unknown" wrote: >> > >> >> Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can >> >> you >> >> right click on them? >> >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> >> >> wrote >> >> in >> >> message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... >> >> >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have >> >> >used >> >> >for >> >> > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they >> >> > suddenly >> >> > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They >> >> > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are >> >> > indicated >> >> > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, >> >> > so >> >> > I >> >> > have >> >> > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried >> >> > EVERYTHING >> >> > I >> >> > can >> >> > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 >> >> > drives. >> >> > What >> >> > can I do? Thanks. Jim >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de Jim In Minneapolis 6/11/2007 7:00:01 PM I've tried that. I appreciate your effort to help me. But at this point, I am going to call MS tech support ($40) and get this solved. Best wishes. Jim "Unknown" wrote: [Quoted Text] > If you are sure you have power to the drives, can you try one of them in > another USB port? > "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in > message news:7FA476F0-4E75-425A-B529-5DE6D7CF540B[ at ]microsoft.com... > > Thanks for your help. > > > > Yes, I have tried that. No change. Windows Explorer does not find the > > drives. > > > > "Unknown" wrote: > > > >> Have you tried removing both discs, power off then on, connect one of the > >> discs to a USB port and go to control panel and click on add hardware?. > >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote > >> in > >> message news:340E88CA-32D4-431B-AEF3-03349D5723ED[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> > No, they do not. > >> > > >> > "Unknown" wrote: > >> > > >> >> Do they (the drives) show up when you click start--my computer? Can > >> >> you > >> >> right click on them? > >> >> "Jim In Minneapolis" <JimInMinneapolis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> > >> >> wrote > >> >> in > >> >> message news:481326E7-4B72-43E8-96BF-787D8AD7BC26[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> >> >I have 2 USB "Storage Vaults" (external hard drives) which I have > >> >> >used > >> >> >for > >> >> > several months with no problem (Windows XP-Pro). 5 days ago, they > >> >> > suddenly > >> >> > stopped appearing as visible drives using Windows Explorer. They > >> >> > both,however, DO show up in Control panel/Systems . . and both are > >> >> > indicated > >> >> > to be "working properly." But, Windows Explorer does NOT FIND THEM, > >> >> > so > >> >> > I > >> >> > have > >> >> > no way to browse the contents, delete files, etc. I've tried > >> >> > EVERYTHING > >> >> > I > >> >> > can > >> >> > think of . . . but WIndows Explorer still doesn't find these 2 > >> >> > drives. > >> >> > What > >> >> > can I do? Thanks. Jim > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> > >> > >> > > >

Re: Windows Explorer does NOT find devices (but are working USB de Sharon F <sharonfDEL[ at ]ETEmvps.org> 6/12/2007 11:59:59 AM On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:28:02 -0700, Jim In Minneapolis wrote: [Quoted Text] >> When the drives are showing in Disk Management but not Explorer, check that >> they have valid drive letters assigned to them. > > [QUESTION: How do I do that?] In Disk Management, every drive that is displayed should also be displaying a drive letter. If it is not, right click on the drive and choose "Change Drive Letter." A new dialog appears where you can select a letter for the drive. Personally, I use this tool right after installing Windows to reassign the letters for my optical drives. I use M: and N: leaving a healthy stretch of available letters between them and C: and D: (my two hard drives) for anything that gets attached temporarily. -- Sharon F MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User