📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses a Windows 10 issue where external drives are recognized with a sound but do not appear in "This PC" or auto-play, specifically on a Toshiba laptop compared to a working HP machine. The original poster receives advice to uninstall and reinstall USB controllers via Device Manager, which resolves the problem by reassigning drive letters in Disk Management. Overall, the conversation suggests that Windows updates can sometimes cause external drives to malfunction or not display correctly, but solutions like reassigning drive letters can fix the issue.
Hermitkrab

Hermitkrab

Extraordinary Member
Member details
Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
284
Thread Author #1
Toshiba laptop, W10 Home, Ver 1803

I have 2 external hard drives. When I plug either of them into a USB port I hear the normal beep sound, indicating they've been recognized but they don't automatically play, even though auto play is enabled . They don't even show up in "this PC", as if they don't exist. Funny thing is, when plugged into my HP machine, running same OS, they show up OK. Both laptops are fairly new, so I don't know why the HP acts differently than the Toshiba. BTW, I'm pretty sure at one time the Toshiba was able to read the external drives OK. Maybe an update messed something up?
 

Solution
nmsuk
Right click and uninstall.

An image from 'My Computer Doesn't 'See' External Hard Drives'. Device Manager showing Universal Serial Bus controllers with a context menu on a USB controller.
Sort by date Sort by votes
nmsuk

nmsuk

Essential Member
Member details
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
4,328
#2
remove the usb controllers through device manager and then reboot. Similar thing happened on my system after a windows update.
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
Hermitkrab

Hermitkrab

Extraordinary Member
Member details
Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
284
Thread Author #3
How do I remove "USB controllers"? When I right click on it, I get no option for removal. Thanks.
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
nmsuk

nmsuk

Essential Member
Member details
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
4,328
#4
Right click and uninstall.

An image from 'My Computer Doesn't 'See' External Hard Drives'. Device Manager showing Universal Serial Bus controllers with a context menu on a USB controller.
 

Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 1 Downvote
Solution
Hermitkrab

Hermitkrab

Extraordinary Member
Member details
Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
284
Thread Author #5
Thanks, Msuk.
, I've got it working. I opened Disk Management and found the external drive there, but it had no letter assigned. I labelled it F, which was the original letter when it was working. I suspect a recent W10 update may have caused the glitch.

Does that ever happen? LOL
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
nmsuk

nmsuk

Essential Member
Member details
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
4,328
#6
Yes had that also happen a couple of time. Just had it happen to my phone.
 

Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.