"viewable via Start > computer."
Which opens windows explorer
Chris's instructions where not asking you to join another forum and pay anything, there are instructions there on how to uninstall any drivers for the stick so windows can install them again, it sometimes works.
If not, look in device manager and see if the stick is showing as a problem device, if it is open the properties and there will be a failure code for it, post back with that.
If it's showing in device manager OK then check in drive management to make sure it's showing as having an active, formatted, partition on it and it's allocated a drive letter.