Can not access USB drive

[sscott008]

I can not access USB drives on my HP 15.6 inch Laptop PC 15-d5000 (4V9Y3AV). I get an "access is denied" message. I can not access FAT32 USB stick drive especially, same "you don't currently have permission to view this folder" error. I also can not access USB EHDD without having to change the drive letter. OS = Windows 11 Home - 23H2 - OS Build 22631.3880

[Raj_05]

Hi @sscott008,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're dealing with permission issues for accessing USB drives on your HP laptop. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue.

Check Drive Permissions

1. Right-click on the USB drive in File Explorer.
2. Select "Properties".
3. Go to the "Security" tab.
4. Click on "Edit" to change permissions.
5. Ensure that your user account has "Full control" checked. If not, check it and click "Apply".

Take Ownership of the Drive

1. Right-click on the USB drive and select "Properties".
2. Go to the "Security" tab and click on "Advanced".
3. Next to "Owner", click "Change".
4. Type your username and click "Check Names", then "OK".
5. Check "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" and click "Apply".

Check for Drive Errors

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. (Right-click the Start button and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)".)
2. Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the drive letter of your USB drive) and press Enter.
3. Allow the process to complete and then try accessing the drive again.

Update or Reinstall USB Drivers

1. Open Device Manager (right-click on the Start button and select "Device Manager").
2. Expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers".
3. Right-click each USB Root Hub and select "Update driver".
4. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software".
5. If updating doesn’t work, try uninstalling the USB Root Hub drivers, then restart your laptop. Windows should reinstall them automatically.

[Raj_05]

Try Accessing the Drive on Another PC

This can help determine if the problem is with the drive itself or the laptop.

Check for Windows Updates

Make sure your system is up-to-date:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Check for updates and install any available ones.

Use Disk Management to Change Drive Letters

1. Press Win + X and select "Disk Management".
2. Find your USB drive, right-click it, and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths".
3. Assign a different letter and see if you can access the drive.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support