Cannot access USB files, 'safely remove hardware' only shows 3 dots (...)

[PriideHD]

Hi, I have been using my USB stick for a while now and it was working great just as I expected it to until I came across a problem.

This morning, I wanted to put a file from my PC running Windows 7 to my USB flash drive. I connected my USB by plugging it in to one of the USB ports and my USB started to light up to show that it's working. When I clicked on Computer, I couldn't find my flash drive there. Then, I checked the 'Safely remove hardware' icon and it showed only three dots. I cannot access my USB files even though it's connected (it says in Device Manager 'USB Mass Storage Device').

Things I have tried:
- Plug in at the back of PC.
- Tried to change drive letter but the option was greyed out.
- Tried to update driver software via Device Manager but it stated my USB was up to date.
- Restarting the computer.

Please help, feel free to give any other suggestions that I could try!

 

[pm4]

Hi, I have been using my USB stick for a while now and it was working great just as I expected it to until I came across a problem.

This morning, I wanted to put a file from my PC running Windows 7 to my USB flash drive. I connected my USB by plugging it in to one of the USB ports and my USB started to light up to show that it's working. When I clicked on Computer, I couldn't find my flash drive there. Then, I checked the 'Safely remove hardware' icon and it showed only three dots. I cannot access my USB files even though it's connected (it says in Device Manager 'USB Mass Storage Device').

Things I have tried:
- Plug in at the back of PC.
- Tried to change drive letter but the option was greyed out.
- Tried to update driver software via Device Manager but it stated my USB was up to date.
- Restarting the computer.

Please help, feel free to give any other suggestions that I could try!

If you got multiple USB slots try to use those too. For example at back of PC. Also if you got option try to test it in different PC. I'm afraid that USB devices sometimes act like this 🙁. In case that you will be able to get it working in another PC you can try to backup all your data and format USB flash in that 2nd pc, it may start working again.

This happend to me on one of my older corsair usb. It suddendly stopped showing when I plugged it in, after format in another pc it worked again. Bad news were that about 5 months later it happend again but this time on all PCs. Hope it won't be your case.

 

[PriideHD]

Thanks for answering.

I did use all USB slots and unfortunately they didn't work. I was lucky, though, to find that the USB worked on my Mac.

I will try format it later, thanks.

 

[PriideHD]

Thank you so much!

I plugged my USB onto my Mac and I had to erase it using Disk Utility. After erasing/formatting it, I plugged it in my PC and it worked!

 

[pm4]

Glad that it helped .
I'm afraid that sometimes drivers or something for USB gets corrupted. I think OS keep record about each USB device you plug in for future use so it won't need to install drivers again and these sometimes just broke, dont know why but as I wrote even those like corsair or wd external drives sometimes act up like this.