I have recently reformatted my computer. I have some USB hardware that I don't use all that often and haven't attempted to install it until now. My keyboard and mouse are wireless USB and so is my MP3 player. I installed those right after I reformatted, but today I tried to install my scanner and digital camera (An OLD Kidz Cam I will use for a Webcam), both USB, and I got a "Hardware Malfunction" ballon that appeared near the taskbar. There shouldn't be anything wrong with the hardware itself, but anything new, works fine. I have also tried installing another digital camera and that worked fine. Is the problem the scanner and Kidz Cam? Or is it the Windows Installation? P.S. I installed the scanner right after reformatt LAST time and it worked fine. The camera shows up in DEVICE MANAGER as UNKNOWN DEVICE and the scanner doesn't show up at all. William E C I AM WEC!!! "If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!" - Anonymous

Are the new devices connected to a hub, or directly to a USB port? Are you running the same service pack and using the same burner program as when the scanner worked? Look in device manager to verify all hardware is functioning properly, including USB controllers. USB controllers usually each support TWO USB ports. Try a different port for the added devices. Scanners and optical drives both use ASPI layer drivers. There are many versions of those and sometimes installing something like burning software can change the version of those drivers. Look at the link below for additional help. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315223

I actually don't have any burning software on my computer at this moment besides the "lite" version of Roxio built into Win XP. Come to think of it, I did just install a burning program, DeepBurner Free. I will try uninstalling this and seeing what that will do! William E C I AM WEC!!! "If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!" - Anonymous

"I installed those right after I reformatted" I'm sure you took other steps before installing these devices, like installing the chipset drivers, video drivers, sound drivers, etc? "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

This sounds like a software related issue. Make sure your device is plugged into a USB2.0 port with the drivers/chipset drivers installed correctly and that you aren't using a USB Hub. Also check you're using the same Service Pack as you were when you originally reformatted your machine. Are you using new security software which may be blocking changes to your system while upgrading drivers and/or software related to your device? Good luck =]

Okay, I uninstalled any CD burning software on my machine and uninstalled any trace of those two devices through Windows Doctor and Tune-Up Utilities. I reinstalled the drivers, then plugged the hardware in and it now works! I have no idea what I just did, but now it works. Also, I haven't been using a USB hub at all. This camera and scanner were made for Windows 98, so that may be the problem but I don't care if it is or not because it now works! Thanks for the help! William E C I AM WEC!!! "If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!" - Anonymous