Windows 7 No D: drive and will not load USB flash drive

[life2590]

I would like to avoid reverting back to XP but this system originally had XP when i installed. Worked for a while then for some reason after installing and using DAEMON TOOLS, MAGIC DISK, and ALCOHOL 120% i have had some explorer.exe errors. Their is also CD/DVD drive that should not exist on my PC but it is their anyway. Every time i right or left click it explorer crashes and restarts. I was going to revert back to windows cause stuff has slowed down too. But for some reason It takes forever to see that my 8GB flash drive is plugged in and when it is i cant open, manage, or transfer anything too it, i have a couple games that i would rather not lose and if i can grab the saves off the computer then ill be fine and restart everything. Again i cant get anything off if the PC wont recognize the USB. Any advice greatly appreciated

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you are experiencing multiple issues on your system related to CD/DVD drives, explorer.exe errors, and trouble with USB flash drives. Here are some steps to address these problems:

Dealing with CD/DVD Drive Issues:​

• Uninstall Virtual Drive Software: Since you mentioned issues started after installing DAEMON Tools, Magic Disk, and Alcohol 120%, try uninstalling these software programs. They might be conflicting with your system.
• Remove Phantom CD/DVD Drive: To address the phantom CD/DVD drive, you can try the following steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type "diskmgmt.msc" and press Enter.
3. Look for any phantom drives listed, right-click and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths."
4. Remove the drive letter or disable the drive.

   Fixing Explorer.exe Errors:​

   • Run System File Checker (SFC): This tool can scan and repair corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command:

      sfc /scannow

     Troubleshooting USB Flash Drive Recognition:​

     • Check USB Ports: Try plugging the flash drive into different USB ports to rule out port issues.
     • Device Manager: Check Device Manager to see if the USB drive is listed under Disk Drives. If not, there might be an issue with the drive itself.
     • Driver Update: Update the USB drivers in Device Manager.
     • Disk Management: Sometimes the USB drive might not have a drive letter assigned. You can check this in Disk Management:
   []Right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management. []Look for your USB drive, right-click, and assign a new drive letter.

   Recovering Game Saves:​

   • Game Save Locations: Game saves are typically stored in specific directories on your system. Look for the game folders in your Documents or AppData folders.
   • Backups: If you have backups enabled, your game saves might be backed up in a cloud service or a backup utility.

   Data Backup Strategy:​

   • Data Backup: It's crucial to have a backup strategy in place to prevent data loss. Consider using external drives, cloud storage, or backup software to regularly back up important files. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the issues with your system, address the recognition problem with your USB flash drive, and potentially recover your game saves before deciding on a system reset.