no usb on pc, how do i get drivers

silkyuk9

daughters got a pc, but nothing plugged into usb ports work, never get messages telling us that hardware has been found.

so how do i download usb drivers for the pc.

ive been to device manager but cant find any drivers to uninstall incase there is a error somewhere.

this is a dell computer using windows xp if any help

cheers.

fwor

You shouldn't need any drivers - they are built into Windows from XP onwards.

Two things to try which normally help:

First try powering off the PC, unplugging at the mains and leaving it for 10 minutes for the power supply to discharge, then power it up and testing.

If that doesn't work, go into Device Manager and remove all of the USB devices (hubs and ports - usually up to 8 in total), then reboot for the hardware to be detected and re-installed.

(The first sounds like bullsh1t, but it does actually work sometimes, because in most PCs the USB chipset is powered all the time, so a reboot doesn't always help if it's not working properly)

silkyuk9

the problem is i cant find anything in device manager to suggest ubs ports, otherwise i would do the above. i cant find anthing that says usb. also done the other suggested thing.

silkyuk9

the only thing in device manager is 'ports com and LPT'

davb

USB can sometimes be disabled in the BIOS - not normally the default, but if someone has been tweaking... worth checking.

silkyuk9

davb wrote: »

USB can sometimes be disabled in the BIOS - not normally the default, but if someone has been tweaking... worth checking.

how do i check that

davb

When the PC is turned on usually a key F2 or DEL, it should say on the display

silkyuk9

davb wrote: »

When the PC is turned on usually a key F2 or DEL, it should say on the display

then what am i looking for

davb

Something that mentions USB with a setting of enabled or disabled - could be under something like integrated devices, but they are all different. Be careful what you change in there, or you could do bad things.

silkyuk9

espresso wrote: »

I find that hard to believe!

Do you have Universal Serial Bus controllers listed in Device Manager?

there is nothing in device manager to suggest that.

however, i think ive solved it in the bios. the usb was turned off, turned on and restarted pc, the usb was detected and installed. thanks for help.

Mista_C

silkyuk9 wrote: »

the only thing in device manager is 'ports com and LPT'

espresso wrote: »

I find that hard to believe!

Do you have Universal Serial Bus controllers listed in Device Manager?

It won't be in Ports either. It should be listed right at the very bottom of the Device Manager listing.