Some more info. Having the y chord with both computer ends plugged into the computer does not help as the USB drive just vanished from Windows explorer and windows gave a message saying either the drive has malfunctioned or can not be recognized. There is a light on the drive at the back which is on. So as usual I unplugged it and plugged it back in and it now recognizes it.

For now I have decided to continue with my strategy of having it unplugged when not in use. If the drive completely dies and can not be recognized in other computers I will replace the drive. I suppose I could put the drive in another computer and leave it there all day to see if it eventually fails to recognize it in that computer as well. In that case it is the drive for sure.

Last edited by bowlesj; 01/23/19 08:56 AM.
John Bowles
My playing in my 20s:
https://www.reverbnation.com/johnbowles