Windows 10: Cannot open files on USB without changing Drive letter.

I have the EXACT same issue as this support post:


https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/cant-open-files-on-usb-without-changing-drive/b16b6230-120b-4088-9b88-046ec2bc09bc


I have tried every step recommended by Microsoft support and I still have the issue.


Review of the issue:

I can only access, open, and modify files on USB drives from my particular computer (The USB drives work fine on other computers) after manually changing the drive letter assignment from Disk Management.


Once the USB device has been safely disconnected, and reconnected, I have to repeat the entire process to access files again.


I have checked that my operating system files aren't corrupt via SFC /SCANNOW.


I know that the USB drives aren't corrupt since I can open them fine on other computers, and after changing the drive letter.


It seems like by changing the drive letter you are forcing the drive to mount and it doesn't do this automatically when the drive is auto-assigned by Windows.


I would appreciate any response with relevant suggestions on the issue.


Thank you.

:)

 

help. USB drive isn't assigned a drive letter.

Any usb flash drive I plug into my computer isn't assigned a drive letter. The physical drive shows in the "safely remove hardware" but it doesnt show up in disk management. I have tried to populate the volume thru the safely remove hardware properties window and it does pop up in the list but it doesn't stay there. This isn't a format or assign a letter problem. It's more complicated then that. Maybe one of the services needed for usb drive management was disabled? Suggestions needed. btw external usb harddrives work fine.

 

Can't open files on USB without changing drive letter

Thank you for providing us the screenshot. Permissions are rules that determine whether you can access or change files and folders. You have to make sure that
you are logged on as an administrator to change permissions on files and folders. Let us perform again the steps below:

• Right-click the file or folder, and then click Properties.
• Click the Security tab.
• Under Group or user names, click your name to see the permissions that you have.
• Click Edit, click your name, select the check boxes for the permissions that you must have, and then click
  OK.

We also suggest that you check whether the USB flash drive is shown in the File explorer and try to open the files from there.

Keep us updated with the result.

Thank you.

 

Can't open files on USB without changing drive letter

I attempted to move several files over to my new laptop this morning via USB (Windows 10). My laptop recognizes the USB, but I can't open any of the files on the USB drive. I keep getting errors that say I don't have permission. Eventually a Google
search turned up something about changing the USD drive letter. I did that, and it worked, but I have to keep changing the drive letter. For example, I changed the letter from D: to F: but then restarted the machine and was back to the same problem. Then
I would have to change it from F to M. Furthermore, I noticed that after the restart, when I would first go back to the USB drive and attempt to open file, say a JPEG, the actual JPEG would open and flash up for about a second, but then it would flash the
'don't have permissions error again'. Any idea how to fix this?