Hello, Since lexmark support is baffeled by this problem so far I thought I'd give this a go. Running win2k fully updated with two USB devices attached. A logitec quickcam and a lexmark Z43 printer. Direct connect, no hubs installed. A few days ago I swicthed the ports they where plugged into by the back of the computer so I could take advantage ofa USB extension cable I have. The printer has not worked since. - I have completly removed the driver from the system and repeatedly reinstalled it with no luck. The lexmark program claims it cannot communicate with the printer. I suspect that somehow it is pointing the driver to the wrong USB port though I have no option to change it in the printer driver itself. So I did some registry hacking and found this in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB. I've attached the output to the very end of this post to avoid confusion. Windows is 'not' removing these now absent devices from it's USB hub list. It's probably expecting the user to insert the device once again and by keeping the registration you're not asked to "add a new device" each time. However in my case there is an error and the printer is now somehow bound to both USB ports. Which is what I think is causing the confusion. The simplest thing to do would be to delete the entrys BUT the registry editor won't let me. So my question is, How can I delete protected entrys in the registry? Thanks. Peter Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\4&15736a3f&0] "Capabilities"=dword:00000080 "UINumber"=dword:00000000 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,52,00,4f,00,4f,00,54,00,5f,00,48,\ 00,55,00,42,00,00,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,4f,00,54,00,48,00,45,00,52,00,\ 5f,00,49,00,44,00,00,00,00,00 "Service"="usbhub" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000 "ParentIdPrefix"="5&b114931&0" "ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}" "Class"="USB" "Driver"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}\\0001" "Mfg"="(Standard USB Host Controller)" "DeviceDesc"="USB Root Hub" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\4&15736a3f&0\Device Parameters] "SymbolicName"="\\??\\USB#ROOT_HUB#4&15736a3f&0#{f18a0e88-c30c-11d0-8815-00a0c906bed8}" "FailReasonID"=dword:00000005 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\4&15736a3f&0\LogConf] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\4&15736a3f&0\Control] "DeviceReference"=dword:81668f10 "ActiveService"="usbhub" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_0000&Pid_0000] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_0000&Pid_0000\5&b114931&0&2] "DeviceDesc"="USB Device" "LocationInformation"="USB Device" "Capabilities"=dword:00000004 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,55,00,4e,00,4b,00,4e,00,4f,00,57,\ 00,4e,00,00,00,00,00 "CompatibleIDs"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,55,00,4e,00,4b,00,4e,00,4f,00,\ 57,00,4e,00,00,00,00,00 "ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}" "Class"="USB" "Mfg"="(Standard USB Host Controller)" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000040 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_0000&Pid_0000\5&b114931&0&2\LogConf] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053\5&b114931&0&1] "DeviceDesc"="USB Printing Support" "LocationInformation"="Lexmark Z42-Z43" "Capabilities"=dword:00000084 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,\ 00,33,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,30,00,35,00,33,00,26,00,\ 52,00,65,00,76,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,30,00,30,00,00,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,\ 00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,00,33,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,30,00,35,00,33,00,00,00,00,00 "CompatibleIDs"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,37,00,26,00,53,00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,\ 00,30,00,31,00,26,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,74,00,5f,00,30,00,32,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,37,00,26,00,53,\ 00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,37,00,00,00,00,\ 00 "ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}" "Class"="USB" "Driver"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}\\0003" "Mfg"="Microsoft" "Service"="usbprint" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000 "ParentIdPrefix"="6&a99779f&0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053\5&b114931&0&1\LogConf] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053\5&b114931&0&2] "DeviceDesc"="USB Printing Support" "LocationInformation"="Lexmark Z42-Z43" "Capabilities"=dword:00000004 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,\ 00,33,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,30,00,35,00,33,00,26,00,\ 52,00,65,00,76,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,30,00,30,00,00,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,\ 00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,00,33,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,30,00,35,00,33,00,00,00,00,00 "CompatibleIDs"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,37,00,26,00,53,00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,\ 00,30,00,31,00,26,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,74,00,5f,00,30,00,32,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,37,00,26,00,53,\ 00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,30,00,37,00,00,00,00,\ 00 "ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}" "Class"="USB" "Driver"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}\\0002" "Mfg"="Microsoft" "Service"="usbprint" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000 "ParentIdPrefix"="6&1d532844&0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053\5&b114931&0&2\Device Parameters] "SymbolicName"="\\??\\USB#Vid_043d&Pid_0053#5&b114931&0&2#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_043d&Pid_0053\5&b114931&0&2\LogConf] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&1] "DeviceDesc"="Labtec WebCam" "LocationInformation"="Camera" "Capabilities"=dword:00000084 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,\ 00,36,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,38,00,37,00,30,00,26,00,\ 52,00,65,00,76,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,30,00,30,00,00,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,\ 00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,00,36,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,38,00,37,00,30,00,00,00,00,00 "CompatibleIDs"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,\ 5f,00,66,00,66,00,26,00,53,00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,\ 00,66,00,66,00,26,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,74,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,26,00,53,\ 00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,00,\ 00 "ClassGUID"="{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}" "Class"="Image" "Driver"="{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}\\0001" "Mfg"="Labtec" "Service"="QCDonner" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&1\Device Parameters] "SymbolicName"="\\??\\USB#Vid_046d&Pid_0870#5&b114931&0&1#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&1\LogConf] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&1\Control] "DeviceReference"=dword:811f90d0 "ActiveService"="QCDonner" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&2] "DeviceDesc"="Logitech QuickCam Express" "LocationInformation"="Camera" "Capabilities"=dword:00000084 "HardwareID"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,\ 00,36,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,38,00,37,00,30,00,26,00,\ 52,00,65,00,76,00,5f,00,30,00,31,00,30,00,30,00,00,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,\ 00,56,00,69,00,64,00,5f,00,30,00,34,00,36,00,64,00,26,00,50,00,69,00,64,00,\ 5f,00,30,00,38,00,37,00,30,00,00,00,00,00 "CompatibleIDs"=hex(7):55,00,53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,\ 5f,00,66,00,66,00,26,00,53,00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,\ 00,66,00,66,00,26,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,74,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,26,00,53,\ 00,75,00,62,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,55,00,\ 53,00,42,00,5c,00,43,00,6c,00,61,00,73,00,73,00,5f,00,66,00,66,00,00,00,00,\ 00 "ClassGUID"="{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}" "Class"="Image" "Driver"="{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}\\0000" "Mfg"="Logitech" "Service"="QCDonner" "ConfigFlags"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&2\Device Parameters] "SymbolicName"="\\??\\USB#Vid_046d&Pid_0870#5&b114931&0&2#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB\Vid_046d&Pid_0870\5&b114931&0&2\LogConf]

In order to gain permission to muck with certain reg keys, you need to run regedt32. You need to be administrator or have administrative rights (which you will if it's your own computer) to do this. As you expand keys, you will see greyed-out keys where permission is restricted. Select the desired grey key, and click on Security>>Permissions... on the menu. You can assign yourself permission from there, though you may have to hit the Advanced... button to do the deed. You sound pretty registy-savvy, so I guess you already know about backing-up and exporting the key settings. I hope that's the cause of your problem. Cheers