Windows Server 2012 not automatically assigning a drive letter to my external HDD

Seth Weber 46 Reputation points
2020-08-07T17:18:29.96+00:00

Issue:

My Windows Server 2012 instance will no longer automatically assign a drive letter to my external HDD when I connect it via USB. When I connect it, it notices it being connected and puts the little eject icon in the systray, but I have to go into Disk Management and manually assign a drive letter.

Instance Details:

OS: Windows Server 2012 R2

Type: VMware Virtual Machine

Thing's I've Tried:

  • Removing the Virtual CD/ROM Drive from the virtual machine and re-adding it.
  • Using the external HDD on another computer - it works there, so the problem is isolated to this specific machine.
  • Setting the Auto Mount Drive setting in Diskpart.
  • Setting the Virtual Disk Service to Automatic in the Services MMC.
  • Following instructions in these posts:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-doesnt-assign-drive-letter-automatically/582da71d-caac-489a-a6c7-723c50256288

http://woshub.com/windows-doesnt-assign-letters-to-external-and-usb-flash-drives/

If you need more information, please ask. Thanks! :)

Windows Server Storage
Windows Server Storage
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Storage: The hardware and software system used to retain data for subsequent retrieval.
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  1. Xiaowei He 9,891 Reputation points
    2020-08-10T06:52:42.61+00:00

    Hi,

    --Using the external HDD on another computer - it works there, so the problem is isolated to this specific machine.

    What does the work computer, is it a physical machine or another VMWare VM?

    Have you checked if the HDD could be assigned drive on other VMs on the VMware? I am assuming if the issue exists on all VMWare VMs.

    If we insert the USB on the VMWare host, it will be a pass-through device for the VM, maybe there are some compatibility issues on the VMWare pass-through disks.

    If the reply could be of help, please help to accept it as an answer, thanks for your cooperation!
    Thanks for your time!
    Best Regards,
    Anne

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