Computers do not recognise USB

[derrynoose]

I have data created on my laptop (Vista) and saved on my USB.
When I insert the USB into any other computer, it is not recognised and therefore unusable, although it displays and works perfectly well on the laptop.
There is plenty of free space.
What has happened? is there anything I can do?

[AlBags]

I presume it's a USB stick? (pen drive, showing as a 'removable disc')?
How many other PC's have you tried it in?
It's not a U3 drive is it?

[derrynoose]

Hi, al
It's a pen drive that I have used regularly on various computers before with no problem. I have tried it on 3 other computers.

[AlBags]

Are you sure they are not locked down .. or no autorun for pen drives? Easy to do.

[galeck1947]

Check the format of the usb stick it should be NTFS or EXFAT these are the two supported formats that Vista or Windows 7 support. The old FAT32 format is not supported much in anymore in the modern computers. This could be an issue but also if the autorun is turned off which is a security measure introduced a few years back by Microsoft in their updates could make it unuasable unless you start it manually.

[AlBags]

Autorun is for drives .. which some USB pens replicate .. so they will not run.
Pens can be locked from running separately.
All USB pens are delivered FAT32 and are recognised by any recent OS.
Autorun is not disabled by default by any update .. but has a big habit of getting the registry corrupted. That is why there is a repair tool available.
http://www.microsoft..../details.aspx?id=2648
or try TweakUI (also Microsoft)

[derrynoose]

Thank you both - sorry for the late response, but I was away all day.
I will certainly try what you suggest.