Flash Memory Cards and USB Flash Drives

[whyme]

I cannot recall where I purchased this little Gizmo (I think it's a Gizmo - not sure) but it had no instructions with it whatsoever.  It says JDOD4GB-00-5005-REV E on it.   I plugged it in and it showed up on E drive, I loaded some stuff on it for safekeeping, but I haven't seen it since.  When I plug it in, nothing happens - no E drive - nothing!  My laptop makes the little beep beep sound that something has been plugged in to the USB, but then it quickly makes the sound like something has been unplugged from the USB - like it recognizes it at first but then changes its mind! 

What do you suppose I should do with this little thing?  Is there any way I can make it work or at least retrieve the things that are on it?

I also have a D-Bay Removable DVD ROM, but that wouldn't interfere with the USB flash drive, would it?

Thanks for suggestions!

[Crucial_Katana]

The laptop may not provide enough power to the USB ports when on battery power, or when the removable DVD drive is plugged in. Test the drive again, with nothing else plugged in to the USB ports and with the laptop on AC power. Also, if you are able, test the drive on a different computer.

Once we know the outcome of the above, we can proceed from there.

[whyme]

OK - that worked for a minute! In the past while trying to make it work, I had been on AC power with no other USB devices connected, but this was the first time I had removed the D bay drive. It worked long enough for me to open the E drive and catch a glimpse of the files that are on there, which is farther than I've been thus far, but then it went away again before I could open anything. Just as I was about to remove it, the beep sound indicated it was back on, but then it went off as quickly as it came on. I don't have another computer to try this on, but maybe you could suggest more ways to eliminate power consumption. Does this thing really take that much power?? I plug my big HP 950 all-in-one printer to the USB with no problems. As a matter of fact, I've had two HP printers connected via USB at one time without any issues. Thanks for your help!