Need help reading USB thumb drive

[Slickone]

My new PC at work (Dell) came with no floppy drive, so now I planned to use my Sandisk Cruzer Micro 512MB thumb drive to carry mainly text files to and from home. Used to use my floppy to do it. But I can't read the thumb drive in Windows Explorer on the work PC. I don't have admin rights, but when I insert the drive, it does install, and appears in device manager. Going to Admin Tools/Services/Removable Storage, it's set to Manual type. I can and have Started the service. Shouldn't that do it?

 

[corkyg]

Why not check with your IT tech? They may have their computers generally blocked for security purposes. He/she can fix that for you.

 

[Slickone]

Because they're busy and will just say I don't need to.
How are they able to block it if I can start the removable drive service and get the drive to show up in Dev Mgr?

 

[Peter]

There's still access rights and file system drivers above the pure hardware detection and driver.

 

[Slickone]

So I guess no possible work arounds to access it myself?

 

[Jeff7]

There might be something in gpedit.msc that is set to prohibit adding new drive letters.
It can be done though, but probably at the administrator level. My college has front USB ports on all their PCs, and they encourage use of thumbdrives, so apparently they have a way of securing the PCs while still allowing for thumbdrive use.

Some day, maybe I should get a job in IT to see how busy those people really are. Anyone want to bet that they say they're busy, then immediately go back to ATOT to complain about how they constantly get bothered at work?

 

[Slickone]

Hah. I doubt they go back ATOT, but they probably go somewhere. But we don't have a very large support group. And the guy that would have done it for me just went to another position.

I didn't look 100%, but didn't see anything right off in gpedit.msc.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Slickone
Hah. I doubt they go back ATOT, but they probably go somewhere. But we don't have a very large support group. And the guy that would have done it for me just went to another position.

I didn't look 100%, but didn't see anything right off in gpedit.msc.

In gpedit, maybe check Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options.
There are a few settings there for "Devices:"

Also check diskmgmt.msc - see if the device appears there.

Just note though, futzing around with this kind of stuff might not be entirely ok with the IT folks there, but that of course depends on how well they know you.

 

[Slickone]

Well I can't even get in either one at work. I was on my home PC when I was looking through it. Crap.

 

[corkyg]

Yep! Unless you have Administrator rights, you are sort of behind the power curve. Take your IT tech to lunch and try schmoozing your way to success.