USB flash drive help

Factual Questions
1

I put my USB 2.0 flash drive into the laptop at work, and it doesn’t show in windows explorer. Windows swears it’s working properly, but it’s simply not there on the left side window to work with. It’s running Windows XP, so the driver shouldn’t be any problem, plus it says the drive is functioning, and it makes a beep when you take the drive out.

I’m at a loss.

2

What is the “left side window”?

Can you see the drive in My Computer?

3

Duh I realize now you mean by the left side window. I was confused because windows explorer actually encompasses the whole desktop, taskbar, etc… not just a folder with with the side bar enabled.

4

Which USB thing is it, make & model?