usb and other issues...with Win8

Margo

New Member
Messages
16
Hi,

I put my thumb drive into computer. I heard a noise that it recognized something. Then I saw a small green graph kind of thing that I assumed was the computer reading my thumb drive, but then nothing popped up, there was nothing on the app page, I had no idea how to find it.

I also have a 250gb simple tech external hard drive that I used on my old computer and my new computer won't recognize it.

TIA
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Margo, do you know whether your USB port is a 2.0 or 3.0 port (if 3.0, it will have a blue piece sticking out)? Also, is your simple tech external drive a USB 2.0 (since you were using it on your old computer)? When you're title says Win8, do you mean Windows 8.0 or 8.1? Please do the following:

1. look in Device Manager to see if there are any errors
2. look for and start up Disk Management and see if it shows your thumb drive or external drive when they are plugged in

Report back here what you find

Frank
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS CM6870-us012s
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3770
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK CM6870 Rev. X.0x
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 at 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT630 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2207 22" LCD monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    1 Toshiba 2 TB, SATA 6GB/s
    16-1 Card Reader:
    Compact Flash USB Device
    MS/MS-Pro Device
    SD/MMC Device
    SM/xD Picture Device
    PSU
    350 W Peak
    Case
    ASUS
    Keyboard
    IBM PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Infrared USB
    Internet Speed
    12 Mb down, 1.5 Mb up
    Browser
    IE 11, FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avast - Free
    Other Info
    Blu-ray Disk Combo
    2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0 front; 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 back
    Video output: 1 DVI-D, 1 HDMI-Out, 1 VGA (D-Sub)-Out
    LAN: wired (10/100/1000) and wireless (802.11 b/g/n)
Frank,
My port is 3.0 I did not see any errors when I looked in Device Manager. I do believe this is 8.1
Soooo, since my simpletech external HD is so old...is there no way for me to get all my stuff off of it, and on to this computer?

Thank you in advance.
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Margo, I upgraded from Windows 8 (in which everything was running perfectly well) to Windows 8.1 (many problems, including USB 3.0 ports working strange). I also have a thread on this "Drivers and Hardware" section and, like you, when I plug in my external drive to a USB 3.0 port, I hear a noise that it registered a PnP event, but no drive letter is assigned, nor does the external drive appear in File Explorer!

I did find that my external drive appeared in Disk Management, but without any letter assigned. Someone suggested that I click on the drive and then choose "Action/All Tasks/Change Drive Letter and Paths" and give it a drive letter. I did that and it now registers in File Explorer - still don't know what in Windows 8.1 is causing it, but at least I can access my external drive.......maybe this will help you get your stuff off your older drive......

Frank
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS CM6870-us012s
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3770
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK CM6870 Rev. X.0x
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 at 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT630 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2207 22" LCD monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    1 Toshiba 2 TB, SATA 6GB/s
    16-1 Card Reader:
    Compact Flash USB Device
    MS/MS-Pro Device
    SD/MMC Device
    SM/xD Picture Device
    PSU
    350 W Peak
    Case
    ASUS
    Keyboard
    IBM PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Infrared USB
    Internet Speed
    12 Mb down, 1.5 Mb up
    Browser
    IE 11, FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avast - Free
    Other Info
    Blu-ray Disk Combo
    2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0 front; 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 back
    Video output: 1 DVI-D, 1 HDMI-Out, 1 VGA (D-Sub)-Out
    LAN: wired (10/100/1000) and wireless (802.11 b/g/n)
Frank,
I added another thread where I was wrong, I do only have 8.0, I might try what you said anyway. I am computer challenged and that makes me leary to change things..but no guts no glory right?
Thanks again.
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hello Margo,

In addition to all of fallen's help thus far, I can only offer this additional information:

When you plug in you usb or external drive, the best place to look is in the Explorer view toi see if it has been recognized.

extdrv.jpg

Note that you do not have to assign a drive letter as Win 8.1 will do that for you; however, there is an option to assign a drive leete if you wish to do so.

Once recognized, you can access the drive from Explorer and copy what you need to another location.

extdrv2.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Reply to My2cents

I have another thread in this "Drivers & Hardware" entitled "USB 3.0 Not Working in Windows 8.1, but it's Different
in which my USB 3.0 ports give the sound of registering a device, but the external WD drive never gets a drive letter - that is why I suggested to Margo that if she didn't see a drive letter assigned in File Explorer, she could assign it in Disk Management. This was purely a way for her to get stuff off her drive......

Frank
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS CM6870-us012s
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3770
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK CM6870 Rev. X.0x
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 at 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT630 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2207 22" LCD monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    1 Toshiba 2 TB, SATA 6GB/s
    16-1 Card Reader:
    Compact Flash USB Device
    MS/MS-Pro Device
    SD/MMC Device
    SM/xD Picture Device
    PSU
    350 W Peak
    Case
    ASUS
    Keyboard
    IBM PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Infrared USB
    Internet Speed
    12 Mb down, 1.5 Mb up
    Browser
    IE 11, FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avast - Free
    Other Info
    Blu-ray Disk Combo
    2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0 front; 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 back
    Video output: 1 DVI-D, 1 HDMI-Out, 1 VGA (D-Sub)-Out
    LAN: wired (10/100/1000) and wireless (802.11 b/g/n)
I have another thread in this "Drivers & Hardware" entitled "USB 3.0 Not Working in Windows 8.1, but it's Different
in which my USB 3.0 ports give the sound of registering a device, but the external WD drive never gets a drive letter - that is why I suggested to Margo that if she didn't see a drive letter assigned in File Explorer, she could assign it in Disk Management. This was purely a way for her to get stuff off her drive......

Frank

Hi Frank,

I acknowledged your suggestion but I thought she might need a few pictures to provide some additional clarity. That was my only intent. Your suggestions were valid and I am sure they were appreciated by the OP as well.

UPDATE: I just gave you a rep for your efforts as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I really appreciate all the help and information. I went out and bought a magnifying glass just so I could see the picture. I'm just going to lay it on the line. I am a computer idiot and I don't even know how to get to that page. So I guess I will have to pay someone to help me. Seriously though..I do appreciate your attempts.

Have a good one!
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Margo, all you had to do was double-click that picture and it would have enlarged the image.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
USB est

See what I mean about now knowing anything. Thank you, you learn something new every day...now I will do that and see if I can see what is on the screen.

Thanks Again!!
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
REply to Margo

Margo, can you tell me whether you are starting from the Windows 8 tiles (the "new" Windows) or the older Desktop - depending on that, I can put together a series of pictures in a PDF to get you where you need to go......but I need to know where you are starting from.

Frank
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS CM6870-us012s
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3770
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK CM6870 Rev. X.0x
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 at 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT630 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2207 22" LCD monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    1 Toshiba 2 TB, SATA 6GB/s
    16-1 Card Reader:
    Compact Flash USB Device
    MS/MS-Pro Device
    SD/MMC Device
    SM/xD Picture Device
    PSU
    350 W Peak
    Case
    ASUS
    Keyboard
    IBM PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Infrared USB
    Internet Speed
    12 Mb down, 1.5 Mb up
    Browser
    IE 11, FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avast - Free
    Other Info
    Blu-ray Disk Combo
    2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0 front; 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 back
    Video output: 1 DVI-D, 1 HDMI-Out, 1 VGA (D-Sub)-Out
    LAN: wired (10/100/1000) and wireless (802.11 b/g/n)
I am starting in windows tiles the "new" windows. I hit the windows button and it brings up what I believe they are calling the new start menu.
Thank you in advance!!! I have been working a bunch of OT and have not been able to try to tackle this thing! After today I go to a regular schedule.
Thanks again so much.
Margo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
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