Computer only reads 1 USB device?

Question

I have always used my usb flash drive at work without any problems. I recently went to a conference where I was given a multi card reader (by a friend). I plugged the new device into my machine at work and now that's the only device it can read.

When I plug my usb flash drive in, it lights up and windows makes the sound that a device has been attached - but it doesn't show up in my drive list. The flash drive works fine in other computers.

The USB ports I have are USB 2.0 and I'm assuming that the card reader is only USB 1.1 - which is what's caused the problem.

Does anyone know how I can fix this?

The only Removable Device icon that shows up is the one for the card reader. If I click on it, it says 'Please insert a disk in drive E:\'

If I disconnect the card reader and attach my flash drive, there are no Removable Device icons available at all. I've even tried looking for it in Device Manager and still can't find it.

Answer 1

See if this information helps:

Problem With USB Port – Can’t Reinstall USB Device – Plug & Play Problem
- With Windows Plug & Play feature, Windows is supposed to recognize any device plugged into a USB port -- the problem is after it recognizes something once, Plug & Play will never again try to install that device. You need to erase all memory of the device (printer etc) from the computer.
- Right-click on My Computer, cl Properties, click Hardware, click Device Manager.
- Click on the plus sign next to “Universal Serial Bus.” Look for the problem device’s name and right-click. Now Remove. Restart and reinstall.

Source: Article by James Coates, Chicago Tribune.
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Personal Notes:
1. I found that if I did not go through the “safely remove” procedure before unplugging a USB device, the computer did not recognize another item. I had to reinsert the first item, “safely remove,” then plug in another item. This must be like shutting down for USBs.
2. Some flashdrives are to be removed at shutdown, and reinserted after startup. This is stated on the literature that accompanied my SONY 1G flashdrive. I do not recall seeing this instruction for my Cruzer 1G, but I suspect it is the same. I found that if I leave it connected, I cannot access files. After removing it and reinserting, files are there. A couple other smaller, older flashdrives do not seem to have this problem.
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Answer 2

It's probably accessing it but confusing you.
The multicard reader is likely a hub. The extra ports on the hub enumerate ( Take a drive letter ) called a removable drive. Same as your flash disk. Double click on all of the idle removable drive icons, you might just find your flash drive hiding behind one of them.

Answer 3

patrick is extremely proper, yet some usb instruments require specific courses for their content fabric to be study, besides the reality that the laptop ought to immediately understand the instruments, if it may no longer then you certainly've a controversy along with your laptop