Member Avatar for heartsocean

I have a Paviion a6120n running Vista Home Premium. I cannot seem to find my drives. All I am now shown is (C), (D) and (E). Although the iPods will charge and are able to be used, my MP3 will not charge and isn't even recognize. Computer is not reading my camera card either. Can anyone help with technology for dummies??????

Thanks.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by A1 data nz

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Practical, step-by-step troubleshooting for missing drive letters and USB/device recognition on Vista/7 — complementary to points made by , and . The approach below separates quick checks from safer system fixes and highlights low-risk workarounds that preserve data.

Start with basic hardware checks and isolation:

  • Try a different USB cable and different ports (use rear ports on a desktop). Devices that charge but are not recognized often have a data-line fault or insufficient power.
  • Test the device or memory card on another PC or with an external USB card reader. A working result there narrows the problem to the original PC or its reader.

Check Windows device and disk state:

  • Open Computer -> Manage -> Device Manager. Look for unknown devices or yellow triangles under USB controllers or Portable Devices. Right-click to update the driver, or uninstall the device then re-plug to force redetection.
  • Open Disk Management (Computer -> Manage -> Disk Management). A card or reader may appear without a drive letter (assign one), show as offline, or be unallocated. Assigning a letter is non-destructive; formatting erases data.
  • Under Universal Serial Bus controllers, uninstall USB Root Hub/Host Controller entries and reboot so Windows redetects them. Update motherboard/chipset drivers from HP or the chipset vendor if available.

Device-specific notes and safe workarounds:

  • iPods and some MP3 players require vendor software or a specific USB mode (MSC vs MTP). Older iPods often need iTunes/Apple Mobile Device Support or “disk mode.”
  • Cameras frequently have a selectable USB mode (PC/Mass Storage vs PTP). Using the camera’s SD card in an external reader bypasses camera drivers entirely.
  • If the built-in reader never appears in Device Manager, the reader can be physically disconnected or dead; an inexpensive external USB card reader is a reliable workaround.

Caution: avoid formatting if data recovery is required. The most reliable fixes are checking Device Manager/Disk Management, trying a known-good cable/port, and using an external reader before attempting any destructive steps.

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Member Avatar for mjdodd

Wow!
Normally any 2000/xp/vista will recognise devices such as cameras, memory sticks, drives, Cds; dvds, hard disc etc as long as the drivers foir such devices are instlled or are normal microsfot recognised drivers;

If you have special units such as memory sticks tht at not recognised you may need to install thier drivers; (they may come on enclosed CDs etc)

Items such as mp3 players and ipods etc may need theor own driver software that comes with them... this may be why your machine cna't see them.

BOL.
M

Member Avatar for A1 data nz

Vista sucks for older cameras and phones etc, the driver support is just not there.

Google each brand indivually
e.g. "ipod (your specific model) vista driver"
So on and so forth.

I have to transfer my photos onto xp then over to vista via portable drive, simply because vista does not support the driver my camera requires, Pretty S#@t really. Bring on windows 7!

Member Avatar for caperjack

Bring on windows 7!

it will not be any better! for older stuff ,it doesn't recognize my ATI Readon 9200 series agp video card ,or my Intellienet wireless usb device ,+ a lot of software i tried to install ! but thats what i expect ,because it for the new age of computing .

Member Avatar for A1 data nz

it will not be any better! for older stuff ,it doesn't recognize my ATI Readon 9200 series agp video card ,or my Intellienet wireless usb device ,+ a lot of software i tried to install ! but thats what i expect ,because it for the new age of computing .

Lets not forget though, vista never took so all the little coders stayed in their warm and cozy xp dens!

If 7 takes then the support will grow!

And from what I've been hearing around the town, 7 is striking all the right notes.

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