How to Make Windows Detect a USB Flash Disk

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Many people are making the switch to USB flash drives. These small devices can store tons of information and lets you free up space on your computer. When you need anything that’s saved on the flash drive, you just enter it into the USB slot on your computer and you have instant access to that information. At times, though, you may discover that your computer refuses to recognize that drive. Changing it from a removable disk to a local disk will solve that problem.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

USB flash drive
Computer
Internet access
Notepad++
USB_LocalDisk.zip

Step1

Download the following two programs to your computer: Notepad++ and USB_LocalDisk.zip, and make sure both are installed on your computer. You’ll need both of these installed before you can continue. Once they’re installed, place your USB flash drive in the correct slot on your computer.

Step2

Open the "US_LocalDisk.zip folder" on your computer, and look for the "cfadisk.inf" file. Right-click on the file, and choose to open it with the Notepad++ application. Go down to the 26th line of the file that opens to the "device_instance_id_goes_here" and then leave the file open on your computer.

Step3

Select your "Start Menu" and then "Run." In the window that opens, type "devmgmt.msc" and press "Enter." This opens your Device Manager and places it in a new window. Find the icon labeled "USB Flash Device," and push the "Details" option. From here you’ll need to copy the information listed under the Device Instance ID.

Step4

Paste the information onto the 26th line of the file you left open on your computer and save the file. Open your Device Manager again, and right-click on the USB button so you can change the driver. Do this by choosing the Update Driver option that appears.

Step5

Choose to Install from a list or specified locations option from those that appear on your screen, and then choose "Have Disk." Open the "cfadisk.inf" in this location. Continue to press "OK" and "Yes" when prompted. Once the driver is updated, your computer will now recognize the flash drive as a regular drive whenever you insert it into the computer.

Tips & Warnings

Make sure you’re using the USB port on your computer and not one of the other ports. Your computer won’t recognize the USB flash drive unless you’re using the right port.
Alternatively, you may be able to download a driver from the manufacturer of your USB flash drive. Visit their website to see if they have drivers available, and download them to your computer. This forces your computer to recognize the new hardware when you insert the USB drive.