USB Devices not recognized

[headless chicken]

Hey all,

I've been plagued with this problem for months. One day, my laptop stopped recognizing all USB connected devices (ie. printer, flash disk, ipod) on all 5 of its USB ports.

I get this message; "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it." Only none of my USB devices have malfunctioned. They work on the ports of other computers. I went through device manager, removed all USB ports and restarted, and that didn't solve the problem. Anyone have any clue what's wrong here, and what I can do about it?

[Krell]

Go to device manager, Start > Run > devmgmt.msc . . . .and right click on all the USB device entries, and REMOVE > YES

SHUT DOWN

Insert flash disk

BOOT

When windows loads, you wait and watch as it discovers new devcies such USB HUB etc etc . . and see if it says USB Removable media etc

When finished, use EXPLORER and see if your thumb drive is listed.

If not, check device manager again for any conflicts

report back

See you in 10 minutes

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[headless chicken]

Hi Krell,

I did as you said (I've tried this tactic before at the behest of the Gateway tech people). The PC found new hardwear upon reboot, but none of the USB devices are recognized. I have 4 Intel Controllers, 4 USB root hubs, and 3 unknown devices (flash disk, printer, ipod) listed under "USB controllers" in device manager. The Intel Controllers and the USB root hubs all say "This device is working properly."

I don't know what you mean about conflicts, but there are no ?s or !s next to any of the listed devices, only USB icons.

[Krell]

Ahhhh . . ok . . so you have USB root hub recognized . . and the other 3 just say "unknown device"

1) To ensure you have the correct base chipset drivers, download and run the INF Update Utility (http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Detail_Desc.aspx?strState=LIVE&ProductID=816&DwnldID=9589&agr=N&lang=eng&PrdMap=816)

This should take about 2 minutes. Unplug all the USB devices attached to your system, also . . 2) are these connected via an external USB HUB that you bought?

You know that one of the devices is an Ipod, so lets work on that one first.

3) Lets clarify, you run XP?
4) What is the size of your Ipod?



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[boogiedan]

thx 4 all the help
i had - more or less the same problem

[headless chicken]

Hi again,

Did as you said, downloaded and installed the chipset drivers. Still no change in USB recognition after reboot.

I'm running XP, and I have a 4GB ipod mini.

I also found another solution on the net yesterday; you're supposed to remove your battery, unplug your laptop from any power source and let it sit for 30 min or more. This has corrected this problem for several people, but did not work on my system. I have no idea what is going on.

[Krell]

That solution assumes that it is a BIOS level problem.

Im still not clear about how you connect these, do you go directly in to the USB ports on the laptop?

Start > Run > services.msc and set the Plug and Play, Removable Storage and Shell hardware Detection are all set to Auto and make sure they are started.

If you know how to get in the BIOS configuration screen at boot, check to see if the USB and Plug and Play are enabled.


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[headless chicken]

Removal Storage was set to manual, and stopped so I changed those settings. I plugged in my flash drive (yes, I connect directly into the USB ports on my laptop. I have no additional external unit). I no longer get the error message, but the device is still not being recognized.

I will attempt to check the BIOS settings now, and report back shortly.

[Krell]

To reiterate, make sure that all 3 services are set to AUTO and that they are STARTED



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[headless chicken]

I modified the services so that each one is set to auto and started. However, I'm having a bit of difficulty finding the Plug and Play related options in BIOS. I see "Removable Devices," but I can't make any alterations or open that category.

[Krell]

Shut down, restart and plug in a USB device and tell me exactly what happens




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[headless chicken]

The error message is poping up again.

[Krell]

Shut down the laptop

unplug the power adapter

Press the boot key and run off the battery . . while you still have a black POST screen, pull the battery out.

If you possibly can, remove the CMOS battery from the MB

Let this sit a while and go see a movie etc.

Reseat the CMOS battery, add the main battery, add the power adapter, then boot.




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[headless chicken]

What's the difference between the battery and the CMOS battery? (What is a CMOS battery?) I only have one battery, it's a longish one on the bottom/back of the unit. Everything else on the back of the laptop is screwed in place.

[Krell]

The CMOS battery will be under a small plate, prob 2 screws, and is a small round 3.25v battery, you need something small like a jewlers screwdriver or pin to carefully unseat it.


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[headless chicken]

Did as you said, although I'm not sure what the black POST screen is. I let the laptop run on battery till it ran out of power, and then removed the battery. I couldn't remove the CMOS battery because I don't have a screwdriver small enough here at college.

I did not get an error message after I plugged the flash disk in to the USB port, but the device is still not recognized.

[Krell]

Well youve certainly given this a valiant effort.

Is this under any warrenty?

Do you have the ability to perform any type of restore from a disk etc?


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[headless chicken]

Yeah, it's still under warranty. I tried rolling back the drivers and the system to an earlier time when this first occured, but I was not able to. The Gateway tech people told me I would have to reformat the hard drive which I was unwilling to do. But there's only so much you can do with a PC with no functional USB ports. Thanks for all your assistance thus far. I appreciate it.

[Krell]

How long have you had that system?

How much stuff on that hard drive do you need to save?


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[headless chicken]

I've had it for a little over a year. I've got it almost to full capacity of 80 GB between documents, applications, media, etc. My home PC blew a capacitor in January (also a Gateway) before this unit started malfunctioning, and the hard drive was corrupted so I lost all my files there. I don't think I can go through that agony again. I have a DVD burner, but it would be quite laborious to save everything to DVD--esp programs which I've installed and no longer have installers for, etc.

[Krell]

So you are using the laptop to post here and is your single computing option at this time?

answer . . .


wait


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[headless chicken]

Yep, this is it. I have a new Intel iMac at home, but I've got to make do with this dud for now. I can't afford to send my laptop away for repair because
1) they reserve the right to reformat/strip all info without notice
2) i can't be without it for even a few days due to all the stuff i have on it that i'm constantly accessing

I'll have to wait until the end of the semester before I can send my computer away for service, should it need servicing.

[Krell]

Next question, you can burn CDs right?

If you can burn a CD, and can boot to a CD, then you can run an alternate OS

If you can run an alternate OS, then you can test the USB functionality from other than your copy of XP.

If in an alternate OS you still can not gain USB functionality, then you may be more sure that it is a hardware problem.

If it is hardware, then you send back with another used HD off ebay

If it is your OS, you buy a new drive and removable storage . . then you put the NEW OS on the NEW HD . . when the USB ports are working again, you put the OLD HD in the removable storage for permanent use and access.


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