Windows 10: When Exchanging two external USB drives that have been set to X: Windows changes them back...

When Exchanging two external USB drives that have been set to X: Windows 10 changes them back to I: Other USB devices that are not removed have taking up the previous letters. OK so to clarify and BTW I did search this for a current answer but nada, so....My client has two External USB drives that we use for backup and rotate them. Each drive is assigned the Drive letter X:When we remove either one and then attach the other The drive is assigned the Letter I:Frankly I have not seen that before. So I'm preplexed on WHY and is there something I can do to correct this issue Thank you to all. Mike

:)

 

What has happened to the additional drives that appeared in the Windows Explorer for external USB devices

Hi Alan,

Welcome to Microsoft Community. Your interest in Windows 10 is much appreciated.

For better understanding please answer the below questions:

• Does the USB drive shows in the Device Manager?
• Is the computer detecting the connected USB devices?
• Have you checked the USB drives on the different computers?

I would suggest you to try the below methods and check if that helps:

Method 1:

Check if you are able to see the USB External DVD drive in Disk Management. If you are able to see the USB External DVD drive in Disk Management, follow the steps to assign the drive letter:

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Disk Management.
• Right-click the drive that you want to change, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
  

Do one of the following:

• To assign a drive letter if one has not already been assigned, click
  Add, click the letter that you want to use, and then click OK.
• To change a drive letter, click Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the letter that you want to use, and then click
  OK.

Method 2: I would suggest you to un-install and reinstall USB controllers and check. This method resolves steps where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupted.

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Device Manager.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Right click a device and click Uninstall.
• Repeat for each device. Once complete, restart your computer.
• Your USB controllers will automatically install.

Keep us posted if you face any issues on windows in future. We will be glad to help you.

 

Windows 10 not reconizing seagate external usb drives

Thank you for sharing the solution with us for the benefit of others.

For other users who might be using other USB devices, you can try the following:

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog

Step 2. Type regedit and press Enter

Step 3. Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_Machine > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > USB

Step 4. If the USB key does not exist into the list, then create a new key USB under Services. Now create a new DWORD value under the key that you’ve just created

Step 5. Keep the USB key selected and right-click on the blank space at the right pane

Step 6. Select New > DWORD value from the context menu

Step 7.Rename this newly created DWORD value as DisableSelectiveSuspend

Step 8. Right-click on DisableSelectiveSuspend and select Modify

Step 9. Put 1 in Value data field and then click OK

Step 10. Reboot your PC

or

Check if the drive is assigned a drive letter.

Press Windows key + X

Click Disk Management

If you see your drive listed there, but no drive letter, right click it

Click Change Drive Letter and Paths

Click Add

Click Assign the following drive letter

Click in the Drive letter list box

Choose a drive letter - try choosing letters near the end of the alphabet

Click OK

Click OK again

If that does not work...

Press Windows key + X

Click Device Manager

Expand Disk drives

Right click the external drive

Click uninstall

Exit Device Manager, restart then check if its detected.

 

External Drive not visible in file explorer

Hi Josh,

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with External Drive.

This issue could be some issues with the USB device controllers.

Please assist me with the following information related to this issue:

• Did you try to connect the USB External DVD drive on a different USB port?
• Did you try to connect a different USB device to your computer and check if the computer recognizes the device?
• Did you make and changes to the computer prior to this issue? Please follow the methods mentioned below.
  

Method 1: Check if you are able to see the USB External DVD drive in Disk Management. If you are able to see the USB External DVD drive in Disk Management, follow the steps to assign the drive letter:

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Disk Management.
• Right-click the drive that you want to change, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
  

Do one of the following:

• To assign a drive letter if one has not already been assigned, click
  Add, click the letter that you want to use, and then click OK.
• To change a drive letter, click Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the letter that you want to use, and then click
  OK.

Method 2: Install the latest Windows Updates.

This method will install the latest device drivers for your USB external DVD drive.

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Control Panel.
• Click on Windows Update.
• Click Check for Updates. After the scan is complete, click
  Review optional updates.
• Click the check box next to the updates, then click Install updates. If prompted, review the license agreement, then click
  I Accept.

Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the updates. If prompted, reboot your computer.

If your problem still exits, proceed to Method 3.

Method 3: I would suggest you to un-install and reinstall USB controllers and check. This method resolves steps where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupted.

• Press Windows key + X.
• Select Device Manager.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Right click a device and click Uninstall.
• Repeat for each device. Once complete, restart your computer.
• Your USB controllers will automatically install.

Perform the troubleshooting and reply with the results, we are happy to help you further.

Thank you.