Scenario:

User has inserted a USB drive and it says that the device has been detected, and/or there has been an audible indication of a USB connection; but there is no new drive in 'My Computer'.

User has a number of network drives in 'My Computer' with letters e.g. G: H: etc.

Problem:

The USB drive is being allocated the same letter as a network drive; and the network drive is hiding the USB drive.

Solution:

1. Right-click on 'My Computer'
2. Select 'Manage'
3. Under the 'Storage' heading; click on 'Disk Management'
4. In the upper half of the right hand panel one of the entries should be a USB mass storage device. This will have a drive letter the same as one of the network drives.
5. Right-click on the USB device in the list and select 'Change Drive Letter and Paths...'
6. Click on the 'Change...' button in the dialogue box which appears.
7. Select a free drive letter from the pull-down list beside 'Assign the following drive letter'
8. Click OK on 'Change Drive Letter or Path' window.
9. Click OK on the warning box.
10. Click OK on 'Changing Drive Letter and Paths' window.
11. The drive has now been changed;  Close the Computer Management window.
12. Verify the USB drive appears in your 'My Computer' window.