Computer help - insert flash drive, can't find files

Hello all!

I'm needing some help. When I insert my flash drive, nothing pops up on the screen (it does make a noise acknowledging it's there). I've inserted this flash drive before and it always works. When I go to "My Computer", I can't find the drive there either. I think another user of this computer changed it's default route to somewhere else, yet despite my being a computer science major, I can't figure out where. 

A similar problem is occurring when I plug in my music player. It should open the folder with its music so I can add audio files, but it's not. (It's not an iPod, so no iTunes). I also can't find it when I click on "My Computer." This is odd.

Any ideas? Thanks!

what os are you using (windows?)

Yes, Windows.

hhmmmm it may be the drive - do others work also?

I'm not sure how to check these things in windows - I guess try a Google search.

Unfortunately sometimes these usb's just burn out.  The one I had in my camera did the same thing-didn't register---nothing!  That's why backing up data is such important advice.

Try a different port; maybe go way the the back, it's a pain but it sometimes work.

WIndows sometimes gets confused about drive letters - if you plugged and unplugged several devices (e.g. camera, USB sticks) - so that they turn up on different drive letters each time. Try plugging ADDITIONAL devices in BEFORE the flash drive - or unplugging other removable devices.