USB Device problems - Help!

-TangleFoot-

If I could actually see what was going on I'd probably have a better answer for you, but as it is there's not much else I can think of: uninstall the drivers for your 'problem' devices, then unplug them. Wait a few moments, then plug one of them back in.

What happens?

bobthedambuilder

Did that, unplugged all 3 problem devices, waited and reconnected the webcam which had never been a problem before. It was recognized, but the New Hardware Wizard reported "There was a problem installing this hardware. An error occurred during the installation of this device. The data is invalid"

-TangleFoot-

Do you have a Linux live CD to hand? At the very least you should be able to rule out the possibility of hardware failure. Personally, I'd have given up and reinstalled Windows by now.

bobthedambuilder

I was starting to think that maybe I have a hardware problem. However I know that the USB devices work fine elsewhere, so if there is a hardware problem, it must be internal. Then why has the computer recognized some USB devices?

I don't have a Linux live CD - in fact I know nothing about Linux except that it's an alternative OS.

I'm wary about reinstalling Windows - I've heard that this can erase other software and saved data. What will be the benefit of this? I have the reinstallation CD that came with the computer when new - it's XP Pro SP2 (the full software was pre-installed).

I'll have to do a lot more reading before I go this route.

-TangleFoot-

bobthedambuilder wrote: »

I'm wary about reinstalling Windows - I've heard that this can erase other software and saved data.

This article outlines a procedure by which Windows alone is replaced, leaving everything else intact. It's not without risk, but nothing is truly risk-free.

Before you even consider that, you'll need to determine whether your 'reinstallation CD' is the real deal and not a self-contained recovery system which almost certainly will wipe everything.

Out of interest, why haven't you installed SP3 yet?