re-enable usb ports?

[jubilee]

Well, my question is rather techie..as all of my usb ports have stopped working. I switched on and got a message "new hardware detected" . Haven't got any new hardware. Mouse wouldn't work. Switched off, switched on. Mouse wouldn't work. Found out that all USB ports not functioning. Dug out old ps/2 mouse, which works. Googled re-enable usb and found the text below.. wonder if it is safe to try!!! Otherwise, calling out the local guy is £25 minimum... sigh.

To re-enable a disabled port:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\UsbStor
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, type 3, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

[deecree]

Right-click My Computer.
Select Properties.
Select the Hardware tab.
Click the Device Manager button.

Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controller
Expand the menu.

Here are your USB ports. I assume they are crossed out, and right clicking and selecting Enable will solve your problem.

If they don't appear in the Device Manager, the card/ports on the motherboard are broken

[jubilee]

Many thanks. Had already looked in the device manager thingy and all of the USB ports there say they are enabled and OK. In the power management tab, I unchecked the box about allowing the computer to turn off the device to save power. That didn't make any difference so I have rechecked it again. Wondered about changing everything in the device manager to disable the device then change back to enable, but it seems that the router/internet connection is still working and I don't want to mess that up and make things any worse than they are at present! For the moment, I am saved by an old ps/2 mouse; but at some point will need to get back on with memory stick/Ipod etc...
Anyway, MANY THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION

[deecree]

You might want to try restarting your machine and entering the BIOS, by pressing Del, F2 or whatever it asks for.

Have a look around (every PC is different) and see if there are any settings for the USB ports.

If not, exit the BIOS and Windows will start normally.
If so, and it says something about enabling, do it, and exit.
If so, and it is something you don't understand, exit without changing it.

[greytop]

If the internet is working on a USB port then it's likely you have a faulty mouse. Have you tried any other USB devices such as the memory stick? If they work then it's the mouse. (Which is, of course, firmly plugged in ;))

There may also be more than one USB controller, to serve back or front panel sockets for instance - a quick look inside will let you see where the wires come from and if plugs are fully engaged with sockets.

[deecree]

There may also be more than one USB controller, to serve back or front panel sockets for instance - a quick look inside will let you see where the wires come from and if plugs are fully engaged with sockets.

If Windows is detecting new hardware, it not working, detecting it again etc, greytop might be right.

[jubilee]

Many thanks for all of your great advice. Memory stick, ipod etc not recognised, so don't think it is the mouse. Have unplugged everything restarted everything, scanned for new hardware etc. Haven't had any repeat of the new hardware message. No joy. Couldn't get into the bios. At least with the ps/2 mouse I can do most things I need to do. Thanks again. Feel bad having a thread going here with just a personal problem which probably won't affect anyone else! So, I'll call the guy out next week. Appreciate all of your input verymuch

[Juanjo]

Many thanks for all of your great advice. Memory stick, ipod etc not recognised, so don't think it is the mouse. Have unplugged everything restarted everything, scanned for new hardware etc. Haven't had any repeat of the new hardware message. No joy. Couldn't get into the bios. At least with the ps/2 mouse I can do most things I need to do. Thanks again. Feel bad having a thread going here with just a personal problem which probably won't affect anyone else! So, I'll call the guy out next week. Appreciate all of your input verymuch


At the risk of teaching you to suck eggs, have you tried turning your machine off, including removing the power plug from the back of the machine, and leaving it off for an hour or more so that the machine can reset itself when it powers up again? [This process cured an intermittent BIOS problem and USB problemI was experiencing recently.]

Another approach is to use a "fix-machine-problems" kind of software- I use System Mechanic- to check for broken shortcuts and registry links.

¡Suerte!

Juanjo

[deecree]

If you have a CD burner and an hour to spare, I'd suggest you download and burn something like Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download). Once burnt on the CD, insert it in the drive, reset and boot from it (Choosing the very first item from the list that includes Install, Memory Check etc).

You will now be running linux off the CD (not off your hard disk, you have not installed it). Now plug something into the USB port, something simple like a mouse.

If it works.... restart and reinstall Windows (repair install?)
If not... broken hardware, get on ebay.

[jubilee]

Well, have deliberately disabled and re-enabled everything in the device manager, managed to get into the BIOS and restarted from last known config that worked, and done just about everything else I could think of (thanks for the running from Linux CD tip but that is a bridge too far for me..) so, I called the guy. He said I had done everything he would do, so basically it's broke. Quite old so he said can't get motherboard for it now and best thing to do is get a new computer... Sigh. Am out-of-date so have to start the process again of learning about the options, deciding what we want, comparing prices, etc. Well, I guess we got our money's worth out of it. bought second hand 3-4 years ago. Can't get very excited about a new one though because of all I have to learn first!
thanks again. Definetly the end of the road.

[greytop]

Unless you're up to spending 10€ on a new USB card .....

[deecree]

Unless you're up to spending 10€ on a new USB card .....

Indeed.

Jubilee,

Open the case of the PC and check if you have a free PCI slot (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pci+slot&btnG=Google+Search).
If yes, buy a card from ebay or somewhere.
Slot it into this PCI slot. (after disconnecting the power)
Restart the machine.
Windows will detect the new hardware and it will be ready to use.

[jubilee]

OK, thanks

[jubilee]

Asked the techie guy why he thought I needed a new computer rather than a new USB card. Here is the answer he gives..

Regarding the USB Card, I would not recommend it partly due to the age of the PC and the fact one of the chips is dying, secondly these cards and the drivers for them integrate with existing USB ports and further instability can result if the onboard are not working correctly, BIOS on/off is only a software change not a hardware change. I would also be concerned with the power drawn by a new card on the old board.

[greytop]

Aha - boards have obviously evolved since you got that one ;)
Go for it and join the technological revolution. Sorry we couldn't help.

[deecree]

Asked the techie guy why he thought I needed a new computer rather than a new USB card. Here is the answer he gives..

Regarding the USB Card, I would not recommend it partly due to the age of the PC and the fact one of the chips is dying, secondly these cards and the drivers for them integrate with existing USB ports and further instability can result if the onboard are not working correctly, BIOS on/off is only a software change not a hardware change. I would also be concerned with the power drawn by a new card on the old board.

I agree with getting a new PC - you can't go wrong.

But... if you would prefer to put off getting a new PC for 2 months to a year... get the card. If the PCI slot is there you are almost certainly not using the available power. The card isn't going to break, and if somehow the board starts to die... you are just back to square one- buying a new PC.

[jubilee]

Aha - boards have obviously evolved since you got that one ;)
Go for it and join the technological revolution. Sorry we couldn't help.


jejeje. I think I had better stick to learning Spanish. I get into too much trouble elsewhere.

[gastephen]

I agree with decree - it could be worth trying a cheap PCI card first.

A colleague's PC's power supply blew up recently, which either caused or was coincidental with a power spike that knackered an external USB hard drive connected to my work PC and had the side effect of busting all the PC's USB ports. A PCI USB card solved problem. Be aware that its ports will then be at the back of the machine - I also got a little USB hub to bring access round to the front.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[jubilee]

Fair enough. I'm going to try the USB card route tomorrow afternoon.
Once again, thanks again for all the good advice.

[jubilee]

the good news:

Lots of space in the case, so was easy to fit in the new card.
4 new USB ports working :)
thanks for helping me find this solution!

the less good news:
Ipod no longer recognised in itunes ? wierd. (Is recognised in windows)
:confused:
Have spent a couple of hours doing things suggested in the apple help pages, stopping and starting ipod services in the device manager, uninstalling, re-installing itunes, downloading windows installer cleanup thingy, uninstalling and reinstalling itunes again. etc, etc etc. Have decided that i really have to do other things which are more important than getting my ipod working again!!! O well. Mainly good news.
thanks again for a basically happy solution!

[Juanjo]

[quote=jubilee;56511]the less good news:
Ipod no longer recognised in itunes ? wierd. (Is recognised in windows)
:confused:

Try Resetting the Ipod itself (hold centre button and Menu down together for 6 seconds or so). Screen will darken to a faint Apple logo and then go back to normal.

[jubilee]

Cue: funeral march... Really is the end of the road. New USB card is causing conflicts and a 5 year old motherboard doesn't seem to like it at all. No sound will work, so couldn't have my spanish skype lesson yesterday, audacity not working etc. Called the techi guy out and he tried hard to resolve things but eventually had to give up. It was well worth a try. Will probably get new system built by someone local.

[deecree]

Cue: funeral march... Really is the end of the road. New USB card is causing conflicts and a 5 year old motherboard doesn't seem to like it at all. No sound will work, so couldn't have my spanish skype lesson yesterday, audacity not working etc. Called the techi guy out and he tried hard to resolve things but eventually had to give up. It was well worth a try. Will probably get new system built by someone local.

The next step might be to find some kind of shaman to lift the curse the machine has on it.

[gastephen]

The next step might be to find some kind of shaman to lift the curse the machine has on it.

Ooof! I like the idea of that: technoshamanic exorcism.