Using flashdrives in computer classrooms
To use USB flash drives (also called "jumpdrives" or "thumbdrives" in our computer classrooms, follow these directions in the order they are presented here. Please note the extra steps for removing your drive!
Accessing your flash drive
Double-click on “My Computer.”
Insert your USB drive into the USB slot on your computer. In Simpkins 309 and 319, USB ports are on the front of the computer. In 321, they are on the left side of the monitor.
If your drive does not appear within a few seconds under “Devices with Removable Storage,” click on the “View” menu and pick “Refresh” (or press the F5 key) to refresh the list of drives.
Refreshing "My Computer" to load flash drive. Click image for a larger view.- Wait a few moments. Your USB flash drive should
appear under the “Devices with Removable Storage” title. Your drive name and the letter may differ from that shown here. (If the drive does not appear, remove
the drive, reinsert it, and try this step again.)
"My Computer" with flash drive loaded. Click image for a larger view. You may use the drive as you do any other disk drive.
Removing your flash drive
When finished, make sure to close out the drive before removing it. You can do this by shutting down the computer, or with these steps:
Close all the files you were working with which are on your flash drive. (You can do this by quitting all of the programs you are using.)
Open “My Computer.”
With the right mouse button, click on your flash drive. A menu will come up.
Choose “Eject.” Wait a few moments for the drive to disappear.
Ejecting the flash drive with the right mouse button. Click image for a larger view.You may now safely remove your USB flash drive.
If your flash drive does not work, ask your instructor for help. She or he will report the problem so it can be corrected.
