More of a global computer problem...

[Spikes]

I've come here for the experts though.


OK, so here's my problem. My USB ports are working like crap.

When I plug in anything (X52, Headset, PSP, Camera, flash drive(s) ) it comes up as "USB device not recognized". The strange thing is, when I plug in my external mouse and my AV8R it works fine. I've updated my USB drivers...and I'm running out of ideas. Aside from this problem, I think my sound card is wack. When I plug in a USB headset or a regular set of headphones, I get this low buzzing sound. Although my sounds still work, the buzzing sound doesn't go away.

[Fulmar]

1)  What motherboard model and brand you have?

2)  Does it happen to every single USB port?

3)  These are all the USB's attached physically to the motherboard in back?  (Not an expansion USB PCI card or front USB ports on your computer case).

4)  Is your Windows install fairly fresh and not clutter free with bugs/glitches?

5)  How long has this been happening and how old is your computer?

Only things I can think of off the top of my head are:  sounds as if possibly the wrong drivers are installed for the USB host controller for your motherboard, or your power supply is only the fritz and isn't supplying enough power to the USB ports (devcies that require higher drain than your AV8R or mouse).

[Spikes]

Originally posted by Fulmar
1)  What motherboard model and brand you have?

2)  Does it happen to every single USB port?

3)  These are all the USB's attached physically to the motherboard in back?  (Not an expansion USB PCI card or front USB ports on your computer case).

4)  Is your Windows install fairly fresh and not clutter free with bugs/glitches?

5)  How long has this been happening and how old is your computer?

Only things I can think of off the top of my head are:  sounds as if possibly the wrong drivers are installed for the USB host controller for your motherboard, or your power supply is only the fritz and isn't supplying enough power to the USB ports (devcies that require higher drain than your AV8R or mouse).

1) How do I check...
2) Yes
3) Don't know
4) Yes
5) It started about 1-3 months ago/1 year old

Sorry, I'm not a computer geek...and I have a laptop. Dell Inspiron 6000.

[Blammo]

Sorry to hear about your woes:

OK, so am I correct in understanding that this did not happen before a couple of months ago?

When was the last time you reloaded the OS?

Do you have another computer (yours or a friends/associates/person you can tolerated for more than 5 minutes) available to test with?  If so, try setting up the USB devices on the other system.  If the same problem happens there, then it is something with the device.  If it does not happen then it is either 1) the USB drivers or 2) something with the OS.

I just recently had a problem with my USB controllers where they would just go away.  Now since I reloaded the OS (on my new comp), everything is gold.

One other possibility is that there is something third party on your system that is conflicting.  Could be software of another device.  If you can shut down/remove everything except for the absolute essentials you may find a culprit there.

Let me know what you find.

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by SpikesX

Sorry, I'm not a computer geek...and I have a laptop. Dell Inspiron 6000.

Okay, ignore questions 1) and 3) since I thought you had a desktop.  As long as your install is clean you don't have any driver issues, I am at a loss of ideas, other than something hardware on your usb ports has gone flukey.

Laptops can do crazy things.  I had a customer once who had a power inverter for his car that he bought from us.  It worked great with his old laptop, but he since got a new one.  And when it was plugged into our brand power inverter (both his and new ones off the shelf) his touchpad mouse would get the parkinson's disease pretty bad.  If he plugged it into another brand of power inverter, it worked just fine.

[Getback]

Laptop, I am not a fan of laptops for gaming. Sounds to me you have resource issues. You may want to try a powered usb hub. They make those with laptops in mind.

What is your processor? Ill bet you are using onboard sound. That is an issue all its own. It pulls power from the cpu. Also, check your dxdiag. Is it set at 3/4.

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by SpikesX
When I plug in anything (X52, Headset, PSP, Camera, flash drive(s) ) it comes up as "USB device not recognized".  

There is a known issue with Win XP SP2 that does this, MS have a fix on their site, but it seems a bit flakey to me. Maybe SP3 fixes it.

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by Getback
Laptop, I am not a fan of laptops for gaming. Sounds to me you have resource issues. You may want to try a powered usb hub. They make those with laptops in mind.

But if the mouse works, a simple USB flash drive should work.  An X52 I can see needing more power.  But a flash drive?

[Spikes]

Yep...I've tried a powered hub. No such luck.
I've tried my USB products (X52, headset etc) on my dad's laptop (Same kind as mine) and it works fine...

[Kermit de frog]

Have you tried pluging in your USB devices while in SAFE MODE?

To get into SAFE MODE, just do this:

- Restart your computer
- After you see the Dell logo, press the F8 key repeatedly until you see a black screen with white text
- Select the first option "SAFE MODE" (Don't select the 2nd option "safe mode with networking"
- A message will pop up during windows boot up and select the option to continue to work in SAFE MODE.
- Now that you are in SAFE MODE, plug in your USB device and see if that works.  If it does, then it might be a third party software that's blocking your USB devices from working in normal mode.

[Spikes]

Originally posted by Kermit de frog
Have you tried pluging in your USB devices while in SAFE MODE?

To get into SAFE MODE, just do this:

- Restart your computer
- After you see the Dell logo, press the F8 key repeatedly until you see a black screen with white text
- Select the first option "SAFE MODE" (Don't select the 2nd option "safe mode with networking"
- A message will pop up during windows boot up and select the option to continue to work in SAFE MODE.
- Now that you are in SAFE MODE, plug in your USB device and see if that works.  If it does, then it might be a third party software that's blocking your USB devices from working in normal mode.

I'll try that.

[Tigger29]

Has SP3 been officially released yet?

[humble]

no but a beta version is now publically available...works great btw.

[Spikes]

I fixed everything else, just my X52 still doesn't work. It still comes up with "USB device not recognized". I've reinstalled the drivers and everything, nothing. All the LED lights come on...