USB problems *tears out hair*

[keithylishus]

OK, I'm insanely annoyed right now. I figured a computer-y person might be able to help.

I have a Dell Dimension 2350 (Yeah, I know -_-), and all of a sudden, my USB ports are not working. Opening up the device manager, I get nice things like this: http://www.thesilentoracle.com/stuff/usbevilness.JPG

I've contacted Dell support, who asked me if my USB ports are enabled in the BIOS thing (which, turns out, they are). Then they asked me to try to reinstall the drivers. I try that, but then I get "Access Denied" messages. That was two weeks ago, and still no new reply. I've posted on Dell forums, and no one there can help me. I even tried reinstalling Windoze XP! I really am tearing my hair out, right now

Any advice anyone can give would be very appreciated.

More than anything, I would like to be able to use my mp3 player again

 

[MsDe]

Have you installed anything lately? What is the exact text of the error message regarding Access Denied? And here's a weird question for ya: do you allow 3-5 seconds between unplugging and (re)plugging in your usb devices?

 

[keithylishus]

Have you installed anything lately? What is the exact text of the error message regarding Access Denied? And here's a weird question for ya: do you allow 3-5 seconds between unplugging and (re)plugging in your usb devices?

As far as I know, I didn't change anything. I tried using system restore to fix it, but it didn't help either.

When I try to reinstall the driver, I get a flashy box that says "Access Denied", then this: http://www.thesilentoracle.com/stuff/usbevilness2.JPG

Dell's answer relies on me being able to reinstall the driver, but it just won't let me.

I rarely plug in my USB devices (all I have is mp3 player and digital camera), and I never really plug them in often. So I guess I allow days before plugging in any other devices

 

[MsDe]

When's the last time you did a virus scan, and a scan for adware & spyware?

 

[MsDe]

There's an update available for WinXP; more info about it is located here. I'd first read the article to totally confuse yourself then use Windows Update to try to get the update that way. I've never been much for actually understanding most of the gibberish in the Knowledge Base Articles but wow, they do wonders for humbling me.

 

[Pseud]

[Thread Hijack]Great avatar Ms De[/Thread Hijack]

 

[seebs]

The "access denied" thing sounds like you might need an admin account.

My solution (run Unix) probably won't help you much, though.

 

[MsDe]

Thanks Pseud!

seebs, your advice might be better than what I suggested. I fear that keithy is buried somewhere inside Windows Update, struggling valiantly to emerge unscathed.

 

[doofus125]

OK, I'm insanely annoyed right now. I figured a computer-y person might be able to help.

I have a Dell Dimension 2350 (Yeah, I know -_-), and all of a sudden, my USB ports are not working. Opening up the device manager, I get nice things like this: http://www.thesilentoracle.com/stuff/usbevilness.JPG

I've contacted Dell support, who asked me if my USB ports are enabled in the BIOS thing (which, turns out, they are). Then they asked me to try to reinstall the drivers. I try that, but then I get "Access Denied" messages. That was two weeks ago, and still no new reply. I've posted on Dell forums, and no one there can help me. I even tried reinstalling Windoze XP! I really am tearing my hair out, right now

Any advice anyone can give would be very appreciated.

More than anything, I would like to be able to use my mp3 player again

I have a Dimesion 2350 also....... ? for you, how many USB ports do you have? What version are they (1.1 or 2.0)? On the back of your PC there should be 4 lights, I believe they are labeled A, B, C, D.....are they all green? If not, what colors are which letters (this is a diagnostic tool to show conflicts of hardware)......Also, did you try going into "Safe Mode with Networking" and try deleteing the usb ports totally and then restarting and letting windows find them automatically......Also, when you reinstalled XP did you use the XP Home CD that came with the computer? I know that my Dimension needs Service Pack 1 on XP Pro to detect the USB 2.0 ports to install them properly.....As for your account being denyed access, go into the User Accounts in the control panel and see if you are listed as an administrator......

 

[keithylishus]

There's an update available for WinXP; more info about it is located here. I'd first read the article to totally confuse yourself then use Windows Update to try to get the update that way. I've never been much for actually understanding most of the gibberish in the Knowledge Base Articles but wow, they do wonders for humbling me.

I tried that update, but nothing changed

I've been through "Knowledge Base" about 5 million times... Seriously.. I get lost in it all, LOL.

 

[keithylishus]

The "access denied" thing sounds like you might need an admin account.

My solution (run Unix) probably won't help you much, though.

My account is the only admin one (I won't let my flatmate go anywhere near the computer with all of his dodgy programs ).

I have dual-boot Mandrake and WinXP, but Mandrake isn't the problem... USB never worked on that, because I never downloaded cracks to support USB. I only really use Mandrake for dev stuff, and my modem is ethernet, so there's never been any use for USB on it.

 

[keithylishus]

I have a Dimesion 2350 also....... ? for you, how many USB ports do you have? What version are they (1.1 or 2.0)? On the back of your PC there should be 4 lights, I believe they are labeled A, B, C, D.....are they all green? If not, what colors are which letters (this is a diagnostic tool to show conflicts of hardware)......Also, did you try going into "Safe Mode with Networking" and try deleteing the usb ports totally and then restarting and letting windows find them automatically......Also, when you reinstalled XP did you use the XP Home CD that came with the computer? I know that my Dimension needs Service Pack 1 on XP Pro to detect the USB 2.0 ports to install them properly.....As for your account being denyed access, go into the User Accounts in the control panel and see if you are listed as an administrator......

I have 4 USB ports (2 front, 2 back), and all the lights (A, B, C and D) are on at the minute. USB version 2.0.

I've tried uninstalling (or disabling) my USB ports, and restarting. Windows sees that they're there, but they still don't work. I used the CD Dell told me to use (the reinstallation CD that was with the computer), when they asked to reinstall the OS...

 

[doofus125]

I have 4 USB ports (2 front, 2 back), and all the lights (A, B, C and D) are on at the minute. USB version 2.0.

I've tried uninstalling (or disabling) my USB ports, and restarting. Windows sees that they're there, but they still don't work. I used the CD Dell told me to use (the reinstallation CD that was with the computer), when they asked to reinstall the OS...

But the ? is, are they all green?.......

Ok, I have 6 USB 2.0 ports......this is what it is detecting.....

Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Encanced Host Controller - 24CD
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

Your computer should be detecting an "Enhanced Host Controller" and 2 "Universal Host Controler" (2 ports per controler) and an unknown number of "USB Root Hub" .....(mine has 4 listed) 1 Appears to list all connected and powered on devices, and the other 3 appear to handle 2 ports per "USB Root Hub"......

By going by this information if you don't have at least what is listed below (the #'s are how many of each item should be showing)......If not, then you may have some hardware failure.....

1 "Enhanced Host Controller"
3 "USB Root Hub"
2 "Universal Host Controler"

 

[doofus125]

Also, try restarting the computer and pressing F12 on the Dell Screen, this will take you into Hardware Diagnostics where you can check your ports to see if they still functioning......

 

[doofus125]

Ok, I just had a thought.....Do you know what "Remote Assistance" is? If you send a Remote Assistance request to me I can see what is on your screen and tell u what to do......just a thought, let me know......

 

[Stryper]

oooo i know ur problem. you have a dell.

 

[doofus125]

oooo i know ur problem. you have a dell.

I'm regreting that I bought a dell.........I have already had the processor fan replaced and my cd-rw drive won't burn music cd's now......grrrrrr

 

[oworm]

Do any of your peripherals (monitor, keyboard,etc have usb hubs?) I had this same problem on my NOT DELL comp until i unplugged my MS natural keyboard usb hub.

Why dont you build your own comp in future,its not that difficult you know, plus you get more bang for your buck and a better pc

 

[doofus125]

I'm thinking his issue with the USB 2.0 ports is a Dell issue because I remember reloading my system and how much of a pain it was to get the USB 2.0 Drivers to load......it wanted drivers, but there weren't any drivers on the driver cd's or online for them and once they were installed the ports didn't work until I fiddled with the settings.......

 

[keithylishus]

I know this thread is ancient, but I finally got it fixed.

Apparently, WinXP didn't like the Dell drivers.

I got very annoyed, backed up my files to a USB HDD, then reformatted the hard disk, reinstalled WinXP, moved all my files from the USB drive back onto the computer, installed (some) of Dell's drivers from the drivers CD, found a new USB driver, and everything seems to be working perfectly.

Basically my solution was to kill the computer, start from scratch, and not listen to Dell support. Heh.