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USB Problem?

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Learner_Saver
Learner_Saver Posts: 16 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
My PC seems to have a problem with its USB ports. None of the USB enabled ancillaries (i.e. printer/camera/scanner) work via the USB ports. Fortunately the printer has a parallel port via which it works fine. However, even though I have installed the drivers that came with the items, I cannot get the scanner and/or camera to communicate with the PC. Can anyone please pass on any tips or a simple method of checking the USB ports before I go to the expense of taking the PC to a repair shop.

:'(:'(:'(
Treat everyday as your last one on earth! and one day you will be right.

Comments

  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Assuming you have XP go to start>control panel>system>hardware>device manager to check if usb in there and without an exclamation mark. If it has an exclamation mark click on usb, right click,select properties, check that it is enabled down the bottom of the box-if not click to enable.That might well do it.
    Its possible the driver is corrupted in which case delete the driver and then go to start>control panel>add new hardware. let windows select new driver and install.
    Hopefully its now working.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • Learner_Saver
    Learner_Saver Posts: 16 Forumite
    Peter,
    Treat everyday as your last one on earth! and one day you will be right.
  • Learner_Saver
    Learner_Saver Posts: 16 Forumite
    Peter,
    Thanks for your reply to my problem. I am running Win 98 but have investigated as per your advice.

    There are two USB controllers; 1 is "Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller". 2 is "USB Root Hub". Neither of these controllers displays an exclamation mark. Both have the box "Exists in all hardware profiles" ticked. and both say that "this device is working properly".

    That is as far as I have gone for now. I am reluctant to start deleting my USB drivers just yet, in case that advice only referred to Win XP.

    Regards
    YB

    ???
    Treat everyday as your last one on earth! and one day you will be right.
  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I can't think of any logical reason for this not to apply to 98 however It might be wise to wait on more expert advice. I can't test it out as my 98 machine is so old it does'nt have USB.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • woo
    woo Posts: 1,226 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    could it be that although the USB ports can be seen by windows they are not activated in the bios?

    yorkie boy would you now how / feel confident looking in your bios? sure i had something along those lines with an old pc of mine.
    Ever stop to think and forget to start again?
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