i have a rebuilt compaq deskpro en with winXP home. everything works great except the 2 usb ports. i cant find them anywhere on the device manager. if i try to plug something in, the computer does not even recognize the new hardware. also, i cant figure out for the life of me how to open it up either??? ugh! just trying to make a simple computer for my son to use.

Have a look in the BIOS. There may be a setting for USB in there. Tapping F2 or Delete when the computer first boots should get you into the BIOS. Look in all the options for USB Support and enable it, save changes and restart. Word of warning, don't change anything you're not sure of. It could possibly be a fault on the mother board, but lets hope not! Computers... designed to entertain,help with work but most of all to frustrate you!

... download manual http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc... ... or google for c01125905.pdf . . ... Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/... Grrrr... ....more

thank you - but under BIOS where should the USB settings be? I can't find anything listed for USB in teh BIOS Utility Manager?

The motherboard drivers have to be installed, if they haven't. Hopefully the HP/Compaq web site will have them for the model that you have.