I have 2 Gateway computers and the same behavior happens on both. They have 5 USB ports - 4 on the rear and 1 on front. If I plug something into the front USB, one device on the rear USBs gets dropped - become unidentified. I haven't been able to establish a reliable pattern yet, but usually rear top right. The device manager lists the following: Intel 8280 1DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD followed by 3 listings of Intel 8280 1DB/DBM USB Universal Host controller - for 24C2, 24C4 and 24C7. Should there be 5 controllers since I have 5 USBs? I have experimented with a bunch of USB devices including: 2 scanners, a printer, 2 flash drives, and an external harddrive. The devices all work on other computers and are fine on the Gateways unless I plug something into the front USB port. Can anyone please help me? Thanks!!!! PS: Since I have a 3-year hardware support contract, I called Gateway. I am not that knowledgeable about computer hardware, but it sure felt like I got alot of smoke blown in my eyes. The first person said that the issue was not hardware related but that I could pay an extra $200 for technical support. When I argued the point, she rudely transferred me to a support person. The support guy's first suggestion was that I pay Gateway $80 for upgraded USBs. I said that I just wanted the ones that came with the machines to work. He then suggested that I pay Gateway for a USB hub. I asked for the specs on that so I could look at Walmart, but he didn't want to do that either. At the time of my support call, I mainly wanted my printer to stop getting bumped. But I also explained that the same thing was happening to the external harddrive on the other machine. He suggested that we go into device manager and delete each controller and reboot, one by one. We did that and the controllers reinstalled on reboot, but the printer kept getting bumped off. His final suggestion was that I buy an new printer. Needless to say I was miffed. I countered with a request that Gateway replace the faulty USBs. He said that the USBs were integrated into the motherboard and that Gateway wouldn't replace the motherboard since my issue was just a faulty printer.

Hi, Not familiar with 5 ports. Mine has eight ports. Ports are handled in pairs and there is one driver for each pair. That is 4 sets of drivers. Hope this helps a little. Good Luck, Jim