First, determine if the port is alright.
Go to Start
Settings
Control Panel
System
Hardware
Device Manager
Right click on the appropriate drive and click Properties
You will be told if it is working properly and given the option to update the driver.
Assuming the drive is alright, be aware that if you previously had another device in that port, like a flashdrive, and you did not "safely remove" it with the icon in the lower-right corner, you will have trouble using another device until you reinsert the device in the port, go through "safely remove," then try it.
Sometimes, I have had to "safely remove," then Restart to be able to use another device in a USB port.
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Plug & Play Problem
- With Windows Plug & Play feature, Windows is supposed to recognize any device plugged into a USB port -- the problem is after it recognizes something once, Plug & Play will never again try to install that device. You need to erase all memory of the device (printer etc) from the computer.
- Right-click on My Computer, cl Properties, click Hardware, click Device Manager.
- Click on the plus sign next to “Universal Serial Bus.” Look for the problem device’s name and right-click. Now Remove. Restart and reinstall.
Source: Article by James Coates, Chicago Tribune.
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Personal Notes:
1. I found that if I did not go through the “safely remove” procedure before unplugging a USB device, the computer did not recognize another item. I had to reinsert the first item, “safely remove,” then plug in another item. This must be like shutting down for USBs.
2. Some flashdrives are to be removed at shutdown, and reinserted after startup. This is stated on the literature that accompanied my SONY 1G flashdrive. I do not recall seeing this instruction for my Cruzer 1G, but I suspect it is the same. I found that if I leave it connected, I cannot access files. After removing it and reinserting, files are there. A couple other smaller flashdrives do not seem to have this problem.