Can't see my thumb drives

M

mpqualdie

I service equipment that uses Windows XP computers to operate. Due to the old electronics the machines don't communicate well with newer operating systems like Windows 10.
Each computer has a hardlock thumb drive dongle (license key) that the software needs to operate properly. In the past, if a computer failed, I could just get a different XP computer, put the license thumb drive in a usb port and download a software backup, and it would take off running.
Now, for some reason, the refurbished XP computers I've purchased can't (or won't) see the dongle. I can see it in the device manager, but even after installing a driver I know works, I can't see the dongle in the "my computer" page where you can see the C drive and such.
I'm getting desperate and I can't go to the manufacturer because the software has been "end of lifed" I am an expert on these machines and the software, but not so much with the XP. Ty in advance for any ideas or help.
 

above says go to disk management and change the drive letter

USB showing in Device manager but not in My Computer SOLVED!!

I have recently been repairing a laptop that wasn't recognising any usb device in the laptop. After a bit of messing in Device Manager i have managed to sort this and wanted to post to help others. When i connected a device (flash drive in my instance) it would show as Mass Storage in Device...
forums.tomshardware.com forums.tomshardware.com

below is from the above link

When i connected a device (flash drive in my instance) it would show as Mass Storage in Device Manager but would not pop up in My Computer.

I booted up into safe mode with networking and when in Device Manager i went down to the bottom into the USB section.

From there i uninstalled every device including all the controllers.

When Windows reinstalled all of them i put my flash drive back in and windows installed the generic drivers for the flash drive and that was that.

It now recognises all USB devices.
 
Elizabeth23 said:

above says go to disk management and change the drive letter

USB showing in Device manager but not in My Computer SOLVED!!

I have recently been repairing a laptop that wasn't recognising any usb device in the laptop. After a bit of messing in Device Manager i have managed to sort this and wanted to post to help others. When i connected a device (flash drive in my instance) it would show as Mass Storage in Device...
forums.tomshardware.com forums.tomshardware.com

below is from the above link

When i connected a device (flash drive in my instance) it would show as Mass Storage in Device Manager but would not pop up in My Computer.

I booted up into safe mode with networking and when in Device Manager i went down to the bottom into the USB section.

From there i uninstalled every device including all the controllers.

When Windows reinstalled all of them i put my flash drive back in and windows installed the generic drivers for the flash drive and that was that.

It now recognises all USB devices.
Click to expand...
I will try this . TY so much!
 
I see the problem now, I believe. The advice above is the issue. The dvd drive is labeled drive D and the license dongle is also trying to use that letter. I remember this being an issue a few years ago, but don't remember how it got fixed. When I follow the directions above it won't allow me to select the DVD drive to change the letter of it.
Also the Bios set up in this particular computer looks different. So I'm not sure how to boot in "safe mode with networking" to follow the other instructions.
 

Attachments

  • 20250419_102818.jpg
    20250419_102818.jpg
    254.7 KB · Views: 8
to get to the advanced boot menu on my pc I select F12, some pcs use delete or esc to reach the advanced boot menu.

if the dvd is integral to the pc, you cannot change it and should change the dongle instead.
 
mpqualdie said:
I see the problem now, I believe. The advice above is the issue. The dvd drive is labeled drive D and the license dongle is also trying to use that letter. I remember this being an issue a few years ago, but don't remember how it got fixed. When I follow the directions above it won't allow me to select the DVD drive to change the letter of it.
Also the Bios set up in this particular computer looks different. So I'm not sure how to boot in "safe mode with networking"
Click to expand...
I'm just to the point of figuring that the license dongles are the issue. Anything else I plug in I can see and use, but those dongles won't show up in the My Computer screen, no matter what I do. I'll keep plugging away, I heard of an "Aliadin Monitor" that can be used to see the status of a Hardlock key, so I'm wondering about that. TY for the help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top