apart for these devices, do your usb ports function normally?

without any extra info, I suggest you look in device manager and see if there are any error messages or exclaimation marks associated with usb.

if it all looks ok and you are sure the "suspect" devices do actually still work then you could try uninstalling everything under usb in device manager and reboot your laptop.

at restart, window should re-enumerate all your usb hardware and hopefully it may restore functionality of your devices.

thanks so much, and i did exactly that, and my laptop reintstalled usb function and it still does not work...it seemed like such a good idea!  I have rechecked three devices, and all don't work with their respective programs...seems like i am at solution end.  Any other thoughts?

 

Steve

Hi, and thanks...I am not particularly computer 'advance', but I believe the answer is yes, as when the technician plugged in one of those 'flash' devices, it shows it.

Steve

Have you physically checked to see if the USB ports are clean and there are no flecks of dirt or dust
on the contacts ?

thanks for your response....ports appear to be clear....both respond to flash memory inserts....any other thoughts?

Hi Steve:

 

I have the exact same problem.  An Inspiron 600m that all of a sudden doesn't recognize my USB flash drives under My Computer with an assigned drive letter.  The computer acknowledges when I plug it in but then I can't get to it. 

 

A while ago I found a way to access (open) the USB and get the data but now I've forgotten how.  I just wish I could plug it in, open My Computer and just click on it like I do with other computers and did in the past with this one.

 

Have you found any solutions?

 

Jodie