Problem with custom os and usb stick

[Vanguardx]

So the case is, that there is a linux x86 based custom os that I would need to use for education.For some reason the usb stick doesn't show up in the computer menu, but when I go into Devices then it shows the usb stick there. This happened after I installed the os on to the usb stick. This laptop also fulfills the minimum requirements of the os. Also when I tried to boot from it it threw me into a security mode. But I can't check if the files are in the usb stick, because i can't access them, because it doesn't show up. Oh and the specs.
Specs:
- Intel quad core processor N2940
- Intel HD Graphics
- 8 GB DDR3 L RAM
- 500 GB HDD
- Windows 8.1 with Bing 64-bit

 

[hilltopmonk]

if the disk is recognised but cannot be accessed its due to either corruption, or your AV software decided something was on it it didn't like and deleted it (looking at you, McAffee and Norton)

Try reinstalling it, and ensure that the disk is clean formatted first (FAT32)

EDIT: Oh just thought, did you install the OS to the disk from windows? if not, there are some formats that windows cant read without extra software

 

[Vanguardx]

if the disk is recognised but cannot be accessed its due to either corruption, or your AV software decided something was on it it didn't like and deleted it (looking at you, McAffee and Norton)

Try reinstalling it, and ensure that the disk is clean formatted first (FAT32)

EDIT: Oh just thought, did you install the OS to the disk from windows? if not, there are some formats that windows cant read without extra software

yeah that's what i did

 

[hilltopmonk]

1: do you have "show hidden files" selected?

2: as an alternative, rather than running it as the os on the disk, run it in VMWare https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/7_0|PLAYER-712|product_downloads
or VirtualBox https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
this will allow you to run it in a windowed environment - it will also allow you to not need to install it to a USB

3: have you tried the USB on another port? or another computer to see if it populates?
4: in case its formatted itself as a weird drive format from linux - see here http://www.pendrivelinux.com/access-ext2-and-ext3-from-windows/


hope this helps