Disagree, see below. This is a known Windows Problem with long discussions found at
www.microsoft.com... and elsewhere on this forum.
I may not have this exactly right from memory, but close enough to help.
This is a known difficulty with Windows XP, reportedly caused by <Windows Explorer> not recognizing some drives and assigning letters. The problem is found in all versions.. WXP Home, WXP Professional, and WXP 64 bit.
See this explanation for one view:
It is helpful to review a Windows XP manual chapter on Drive Management.
http://www.universalsmartdrive.net/standard/troubleshooting.htm
See this report at the Microsoft site.
3.2.4.2. Drive letter for new device in Windows XP
In these cases, the drive doesn’t sho up in Windows Explorer, but it does show up in <Computer Management> (Local) under Storage ->Disk Management
As I understand the problem, the mounting manager which has the job of assigning drive letters to “volumes.” Does not recognize the drive (networked drive) and assigndes the next drive letter that is available… and there instantly becomes a conflict between drive assignments.
Sometimes you can assign a new drive letter for the drive (removable device) that is listed…
Resolution - To resolve this behavior, specify a different drive letter for the Removable Device:
Then click <START>, then <My Computer> and then click <Manage> to manage the drive.
Click on Disk Management in Computer Management
You click on Change Drive Letter and Change Paths, however it iw worded.
Choose <Change> in the available drop down box, and specify a new drive letter for the USB drive that you are certain has not been listed or mapped.
After that, click <OK> when given the choice, then<OK> again.
What happens is that you are updating Windows Explorer, so be sure to read up on that, as it shows both the <Mapped Network Drives> and the Removable drive you have been trying to install.
You can also do a search at the
www.microsoft.com website, as Microsoft has officially listed this as a problem.
I am not sure I quite have it correct, as I don’t have my Windows XP manual handy, but that gives you the flavor…
The main point is that your drive is not defective, and can be made to work again, if you spend some time wallowing around in the helps sites.
A fellow tech on this site, Looking Around, had a very helpful description and suggestion recently... at least I think that was his post.