My thumb drive does not work in this computer Did in my old one

[Daffy66]

I have a thumb drive that's not uploading on this computer but did work on my old computer

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Daffy66 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

If your thumb drive is not being recognized or is not uploading on your HP 17 Laptop PC with Windows 11, here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot the issue:

Check Physical Connection:

Inspect the USB Port:

• Ensure the USB port is clean and free from debris.
• Try connecting the thumb drive to a different USB port on your laptop.

Test Different Devices:

• Connect the thumb drive to another computer to see if the issue persists. If it works, the problem may be with the laptop's USB ports or settings.

 

Check Device Recognition in Windows:

Device Manager:

• Press Win + X and select "Device Manager."
• Look under "Disk drives" and "Universal Serial Bus controllers" to see if the thumb drive appears. If there’s a yellow exclamation mark, it could indicate a driver issue.

Update or Reinstall USB Drivers:

• In Device Manager, right-click the USB drive under "Disk drives" or "Universal Serial Bus controllers."
• Select "Update driver." If no updates are found, you may choose “Uninstall device” and then restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

 

Check File Explorer:

1. File Explorer Access:
   • Open File Explorer and check if the thumb drive appears under "This PC" or "Devices and drives."
   • If it appears but you cannot access files, the drive may need to be repaired.

 

Disk Management:

1. Access Disk Management:
   • Right-click the Start button and select "Disk Management."
   • Look for your thumb drive. If it appears as "unallocated" or "not initialized," you may need to format or initialize it.

Warning: Formatting or initializing the thumb drive will erase its contents. Ensure you back up important data if possible.

 

Troubleshoot Hardware Issues:

1. Check for Physical Damage: Inspect your thumb drive for any signs of physical damage that may prevent it from connecting properly.
2. USB Power Settings: Under "Settings" > "Power & sleep" > "Additional power settings," ensure USB settings are not disabling your USB ports to save power.

 

Additional Checks:

1. Scan for Malware: Sometimes malware can prevent devices from functioning correctly. Use a reliable antivirus program to scan your laptop.
2. HP Support Assistance: Use HP Support Assistant to check for any system updates or drivers that might be related to USB functionality.

Let me know what you observe during these steps. If the drive still won’t upload, I can help explore formatting options or alternate transfer methods. 

You're doing the right thing by digging into it—let’s get it working.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye