So these instructions are for Windows 10, but may work for Windows 8.1 too
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html
---------- Post added at 13:37 ---------- Previous post was at 13:32 ----------
Thinking about it as well, there is something 'sticking' in the system somewhere, so you may get some mileage is uninstalling the USB drive in device manager too when it's connected.
So that all references to the hardware ID are forgotten by Windows so that next time you connect it, it sees it as a brand new device.