Hi guys! I'll try to keep this as short and accurate as possible. I'm trying to hook up a USB cable for my regular digital camera to transfer pictures to my computer. However, when Windows detects the "new hardware" after plugging the USB cable in, it shows up in the device manager as "Unknown device" and "No drivers installed". The USB cable's driver *is* properly installed, but device manager still does not recognize the device.
Here's a short run-down of things I've confirmed...

* Digital camera's USB driver for the cable is properly installed.
* Computer's USB driver(s) are installed (I even re-downloaded/re-installed it from the eMachines website to make sure)
* USB is enabled in BIOS
* Attempted to do it manually with "Add New Hardware".

I know that it's not a defective cable or anything since it seems to work fine on my other PC. In fact, all my other USB devices work fine on my other PC in being properly detected.
On this PC however, I'm at a total loss as to why NONE of my USB devices are properly recognized even when their drivers are installed. How frustrating this is, indeed! Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this; and better yet, any suggestions to remedy the problem? Thank you so much in advance. :(

~~ Sarah

Your OS is win98... are you installing 98 or XP drivers??? There is a difference.

Them why is this question posted in XP Forum?

i_XpUser

Haha... no, that OS info part is a mistake. :) I tried changing it at my account page, but for some reason it didn't change when I posted that earlier topic. I'm using XP Pro on a 1.7ghz / 256mb system. :)

~~ Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Maybe try using other usb device, like usb mouse or keyboard. Or try the other usb ports.

Hi Sarah,

I ran this by a friend of mine who has a digital camera to get his opinion. He aksed me to ask you, what brand digital camera do you have? Did you install the drivers that came with it, or are you using the drivers built into XP? From what I read in your question, it appears that you did install the drivers that came with your camera, but he seemed to think you didn't. Let me know and I will run it by him.

Thanks,
Veets

Hi Veets!

Yes, the digital camera's drivers were installed per manufacturer's instructions. My camera is a Fuji S7000.

I'm beginning to think it's a larger problem than I first expected? I've tried installing different USB devices on all 6 USB ports on this computer, but none of them are being properly recognized. The odd thing is that Device Manager either shows that the various devices are working properly (but nothing works, of course), or show that no drivers are installed for the specific device (though I *DO* have the proper drivers installed). There are none of those yellow "exclamation" marks either in the list.
USB in enabled in my BIOS, and eMachines USB controller driver is installed (up to date).

When I try those various USB devices on my other XP computer, everything works fine and dandy with no problems at all. Hmmm, I wonder if the USB portion of my motherboard is messed up? I'm actally pretty good when it comes to figuring out basic PC problems, but this one has me stumped. :(

~~ Sarah

Sarah,

Hang in there. Let me run this by my friend tonight and as soon as I talk with him I will post again.

It's amazing how we can have a bad day at work, at home, but how a computer can just make us go, GRRRRRRRRRRRR. LOL!! I've been going GRRRRRRRRRRR since 1992!! Talk with you soon.

Veets

Hi Sarah,

I spoke with my friend he said at this point is can be several things. One thing he asked was if you have ever done a format in the past or did you have anything added in the system that would have played with the USB Ports? As we discussed this, I inquired about USB 2.0. When I set up my Intel board for the first time, I had to install the 2.0 drivers. But XP's later updates disabled 2.0 and used their own version.

He said that another thing might be if the Operating System became corrupted, the last resort might be to format and re-install XP. I hate that option.

Let me pose this question to the group. I am thinking if you removed the USB ports from XP and uninsatalled the drivers, and rebooted, and then started from scratch if that might work?

I just went to Device manager and I see that I am can choose to disable or uninstall the USB ports. Let's see what thr group says. My friend thinkgs the solution would be to format because he feels that you tried everything possible. I'd hate to have you erase everything.

One other question, did you test your USB devices on another computer?

Veets

Hiya Veets...

As I already mentioned twice, the various USB devices were tested on my other XP comupter at my work office and they worked fine 'n dandy. They're just not working on this XP computer at home.

I deleted and re-installed USB 2.0 drivers just to make sure I had the latest drivers for my system; yet, none of my USB devices seem to work (tried it on all available USB ports).
When I plug in a device (such as my digital camera USB cable) I keep getting messages like "Device not recognized", "No drivers installed" etc., but my device's drivers ARE installed... and the weirdest part is that when I open up Device Manager to check the list of connected USB devices, there are NO yellow "exclamation" marks to indicate that anything is wrong? How weeeeeird! :(

~~ Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Man this is perplexing. At least we know the devices are ok. I'm wondering if maybe this is a hardware problem on your board, or maybe my friend is correct to think that the Operating system might be corrupt. I have never done a system restore on my XP, but that might be an option. I'd hate for you to format.

I just had a thought. I take it your USB ports are integrated into the board correct? If you have a free open slot, maybe you can try adding a usb port? I have one that you pretty much take out what of the tabs on back of the board, slide the usb port in and then connect the ribbon cable onto the board. This way we can test and if the device works at that point, then you know it's the integrated usb ports that are bad. I mean what are the odds that all the ports are bad.

Sorry I can't be of much help. Keep me posted.

Veets

I've been hammering away at this dilema for the past several days with no positive results. I'm preparing my system for a full OS reinstallation either this weekend or next. If that doesn't solve the problem, I'd assume that the motherboard is starting to crap out on me. Thanks very much for your insight and suggestions!

~~ Sarah

Hi Sarah,

It;s probably your best bet at this point. I know you know this, so this is just an fyi. Make sure you back up your important things such as documents, spreadsheets, etc. I formatted a few times and realized that though I backed things up, there were a few things that I forgot to back up.

Good luck. Please keep me posted when you are all set up again.

Veets

Well, I did a clean sweep and totally reinstalled my Windows XP, but the problem still exists. Everything in Device Manager "appears" to be working fine, yet, none of my USB devices work. I plug it in, Windows "plug 'n play" does it's detecting thing, then quickly displays a message saying that it can't be recognized / no drivers for the USB device installed, etc.

The USB device drivers *ARE* installed, USB *IS* enabled within my BIOS, USB portion in Device Manager shows the root hub, etc. is working *FINE*... yet, none of my USB devices are properly detected (these devices work fine on my other computer).
Aaaaaaaah!!... this is driving me nuts.

I did a search here within the forums and Google, and noticed that tons of people have experienced similar problems, many of which seemed to have cropped up after a re-install of XP. I've tried nearly every recommendation that I had come across to no avail. In fact, I've noticed that all the other folks who've had this problem never responded to whether they got the problem licked or not?... which leads me to believe that they never found a solution at all? This is ridiculous! :(

~~ Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I am sorry that the clean install didn't fix it. Let me check a few things and I want to get some different opinions. We ruled out the Operating system at this point. If it were hardware, you'd have exclamation points in Device Manager, I would think. Don't get mad at me for asking this next question. Did you run all the critical updates and service packs? Let me know.

We'll figure this out.

Veets

Hi Sarah,

I spoke with my friend and he suggests that you try one more thing to rule out the motherboard. Try installing an internal USB PCI card and the drivers that come with the internal USB card. If that works, then you know the USB ports you have on the board now, are bad. Let me know.

Veets

All Motherboard drivers installed?
Newer version of drivers from board manufactuers website installed?

KPACHbIЙ OKTIABR

Hi Sarah,

I reposted the question in a new thread and referenced the link to your original question. Let's see if anyone has any other advice as to what you might try.

Veets

Hi Sarah,

Here is the new link I posted.

http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/139067.html

So far one person replied and said that if you are not getting the yellow question marks in Device Manager, then it may mean the usb ports are bad.

Sorry I wasn't able to provide more help to you.

Veets