Removable disk is not displayed - that's because
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If your removable storage device is not displayed, this can have several reasons. We show you how to solve the problem and thus access the memory again.
Removable disk is not shown - you can do that
The following steps will help you fix the problem.
- USB port: Connect the USB stick to another USB port. If it works here, the problem is only with the port itself.
- PC: Insert the USB stick into another computer. If it is detected here, the problem is with your computer. However, this can usually be remedied using the appropriate driver for the USB port.
- Driver: Open the Device Manager and click on the "USB controller" category below. Right-click on the device (USB mass storage device) and select "Deactivate", "Activate" and "Update" one after the other.
Resolve conflicts with removable media that are not displayed
If the letter of the removable disk is already being used by other hardware, Windows cannot work with the removable disk. But this problem can also be solved.
- Press the [Windows] and [R] keys simultaneously so that the "Execute" command opens.
- Enter "compmgmt.msc" here and click "OK". Then the computer management starts.
- Go to the "Disk Management" category on the left. If your removable disk is shown here, Windows can recognize it, but it cannot display it.
- Right-click the removable disk and select the "Change Drive Letter and Paths" option.
- Then click on the "Change" button and select a drive letter such as "T" that has never been used before.
- Close both windows with "OK", if the removable disk works again. Unplug it and plug it in again if necessary.
Format removable media
If the problem is still not resolved, you can try formatting. However, all data on the USB stick or SD card will be lost. We also show you how to restore the data afterwards. However, saving the data can go wrong, so you should carefully consider the step.
- Open the "Run" command again and enter "diskmgmt.msc". Then the "Disk management" starts.
- If the USB stick or SD card is recognized here, select it with the right mouse button and decide on "Format".
- Confirm the process and wait for it to finish. If the removable data carrier is recognized again, you can start saving the data.
- For this you need free software, for example Recuva.
