Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 10 - 06:01 PM

If it was working before, wouldn't a "system restore" get you back there?

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: pavane
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 03:25 AM

Another reason to stay away from Vista then.

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 06:43 PM

You should be able to download the drivers from Belkin. They're pretty good at having what you need, so far as I've found.

The problem of USB pollution has been of some significance for about two years now, especially with Vista. Microsoft offers no help for "anything Vista" other than "check out the user web sites."

I've found more than 80 separate threads there about what amounts to fouled data in the USB .dll. There are answers posted in about 12 of those threads, all OBVIOUSLY WRONG with a couple apparently being deliberate attempts to get others to completely screw their computers.

A couple of threads have "answers" from people who claim Microsoft credentials; but there's no way I know of to verify that they really are Microsoft people, and on this subject their suggestions don't help.

There is an old Microsoft KB article Q310575. You'll likely get a "popup wizard" that claims it will fix your problem. It doesn't work (for me).

The article suggests disconnecting all USB devices and then go into Control Panel and disable all USB devices there. Reboot, and connect the devices back, one at a time, to let the system recognize them again. Further advice, if that doesn't work, is to delete the data table. The data table should rebuild itself when you reboot, and then you need to go through the one at a time connections as above.

The article SPECIFICALLY STATES that this is for WinXP only and advises me against using this method in Vista. (The "data table" that you're instructed to delete if you have to go that far (that supposedly will rebuild itself at the next boot), doesn't appear to be in the same place in Vista as in WinXP, among other things.

I've tried everything suggested short of "reinstalling the OS," despite the warning that the KB article applies only to WinXP. My computer still tells me that I have a G:\ drive that doesn't exist, and every time I boot it attempts to install a driver for my camera, even though no camera is connected. The ONLY camera ever connected doesn't require a driver (according to Canon, the manufacturer). The camera driver installation that Vista wants to do always fails, in which case I get a suggestion that I visit the Microsoft Support Site, which of course tells me nothing except go chat with the idiots at the user site.

Note also that the KB article tells you to disable all USB devices and then reboot. Since virtually nobody still has either mouse or keyboard that isn't USB (which you just disabled if you followed the instructions) figuring out just how to do a "standard shutdown" isn't a trivial task. If you just use the BRS, of course you don't get a normal boot when you restart, and the OS quite probably will look for a prior version in System Restore - - - which should turn all the USB devices back on before you can do the one at a time reconnect.

The apparent cause for this rather widespread complaint is that Microsoft Security Updates have created a requirement for BIOS (and/or driver) changes in many USB devices. Any device more than 3 months old may not be updated by the device maker, and lots of the cheap ones don't even have an identifiable maker.

Microsoft apparently decided that too many people thought it was "too difficult" to consult the Knowledge Base, so they just quite putting anything there when Vista appeared.(?)

John

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 05:38 PM

Hi, Dave-
I wonder if Belkin has the drivers you need here (click).
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 04:57 PM

If it's a plug-in PCI card, try removing it (after powering down, including pulling the plug from the wall), power up, give it adequate time to decide it isn't there any more, power down, replace the card and power up again.

If the problem persists, you've got a duff card.

If it's an external hub, power down including pulling the plug from the wall, then power up again.

If the problem persists, you've got a duff hub.

Unless you're running Windoze 98, the install CD isn't necessary.

Subject: RE: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 04:41 PM

Okay, I've got egg on my face.

I just found the little pamphlet that came with the Belkin USB board, and it says that the package included an installation CD. I don't remember it, but that proves nothing at all.

I'm still puzzled why the USB board was suddenly, for no apparent reason, uninstalled. But that was then; this is now, and I need those USB ports.

I still don't find that CD. What, if anything, can I do now? Hopefully, short of buying a new USB card.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Tech: 'New'USB ports recognized, won't install
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 04:09 PM

I'm being driven crazy(er)!

Whenever I boot, I get a message to the effect, "New Equipment Detected", and citing USB 2.0.

This 4-port USB card has been installed and successfully rant for at least a year or so, since I installed it. I have no idea why they are suddenly seen as "new equipment".

A window comes up, with a choice of automatic installation or browsing and choosing. Choosing automatic results in failure. The text refers to "If the new equipment came with an installation CD" etc. I don't find an installation CD in the box where I keep such things, and I don't believe that there was ever one supplied.

Since the USB ports don't install, my external harddrive is not accessible to back up, and that's nervous-making!

Any ideas?

Dave Oesterreich