R51e won't recognize thumb drive-evolving issue

[swhatifg]

I just purchased a new PNY Optima Attache 2g High Speed USB 2.0 thumb drive.
When I plug it in, the "Install New Hardware Wizard" comes on asking me to insert the proper disk, etc. There is no software for this. The laptop doesn't seem to want to recognize the drive as a drive, only as 'new hardward'.
Any ideas on why this is happening?
The drive is "enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost", but does not seem to contain any software or anything else (or at least nothing shows).
I'm running XPproSP2, & using lenovo's automatic updates to keep drivers up to date.
Same issue with a recently purchased 4g drive.
However, an older 2g drive, which I've lost, seemed to work fine.
Could it be a USB issue (nothing seems wrong on device manager)? A drive format issue ("Properites" indicate FAT)?
I desperately need to remove larger files from the laptop...

Just changed drive format from FAT to NFTS. No change.
Noticed that when the device is installed, Device Manager shows a "?" under Other Devices and an "?!" on "USB Flash Memory", which doesn't make sense to me.

Any help, suggestions, etc. would be appreciated.


Scott Goddard
Boulder, Colorado

[Kyocera]

Can you see it in Disk Mgmt? If you can try changing the drive letter or format it from there.

[swhatifg]

The thumb drive is recognized in other computers that I have (one older, using W2K and a new Dell, using WXP. It's only the lenovo think pad that has a problem.
I changed the format by reformatting in a different computer.
Not sure how to access "disc management".

[Kyocera]

control panel > admin tools > computer mgmt > disk mgmt

[90base]

Sounds as if you are having some major software issues if nothing else you may just have to reformat and start from there if it is THAT important. YOu would lose all files that you wanted to save, unless you say burnt them to a disk. But at least your JJ would work then.

THanks
Brandon