USB problem

[rickity]

Had this little brain teaser which somebody may have a solution. A Dell computer running XP pro would not see a usb memory stick when plugged in. 1 point to note the Dell Optiplex 755 does not have any ps2 ports so the keyboard and mouse are USB as well. Anyway the usual trick is to delete all the USB ports and hubs etc out of device manager, reboot the system which will refind the USB ports and re install curing the problem 99% of the time. (can you see where this is going yet) of course in deleteing the USB bits, the port for the keyboard and mouse gets deleted which renders the articles useless and therefore you cant continue to delete all the USB entries as suggested in the microsoft help files. still leaving the USB hub entries + a bit more, which are the bits that probably need a restore. At least a reboot got the usb keyboard and mouse back. So how to identify the port thats being used by the memory stick? and any way to delete the usb ports when using a usb keyboard and mouse with no options for ps2? (yes it does have a serial RS232 type port but there must be an easier way) Did think about remote desktop but thats a whole lot more work and probably not on the network I was on at the time. so any ideas folks?

Cheers

Rick

[FN-GM]

Hi, I work in IT so i might be able to help :)

Something to check might be is the USB pen drive using a same drive letter as another device for example a DVD drive. It might be worth trying to change the drive letter.

How to change the drive letter in Windows XP for an external USB stick or hard drive (http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-change-the-drive-letter-in-windows-xp-for-an-external-usb-stick-or-hard-drive/)

Can you see the Pen Drive in the device manager at all?
What type of Pen Drive is it?

The Optiplex is a business machine, does this belong to you personally? Does it belong to a corporate network?

[BOAC]

USB Troubleshooter (http://www.usbman.com/Troubleshooter%20General.htm)

[rickity]

Thanks guys,

FN-GM yep checked the drive lettering and nothing obivious, but food for thought, as things worked a whole lot better when the machine was taken off the network so might have been trying to set the memory stick up with the same letter as a network drive, although no restrictions where applied to the max number of drives in use. I have seen memory sticks come up as drive z before which needs a longer look to actually see it.

BOAC, like the link but it presumes you can put in a PS2 mouse or keyboard, with many new machines this option just isnt available, which is where I became stuck.

the Optiplex is a nice wee beast used in the local primary school (lucky them) for which I am the unpaid computer fixer (lucky? them) and sometimes enjoy the challange of "Ranger" the educational computer security system :ugh:

So anyone heard of an off line regediter on a bootable cd that can delete USB devices - now theres dangerous

Rick

[rgbrock1]

As mentioned in a previous post: does device manager see the stick?

[rickity]

No evidence of the stick in device manager either as a drive or usb device, stick works ok in other machines, no stick works in the problem machine.

Rick

[rgbrock1]

Sounds like bad USB ports. Do you have the latest service pack installed and other
"updates" using MS Update?

[Saab Dastard]

Do CDs, DVDs work correctly?

SD

[Mike-Bracknell]

Have seen this happen on a friend's 755. Have you updated the BIOS?

[rickity]

Fully updated service pack 3 + and cds dvds work ok

Hadnt looked for bios updates Mike, kinda thought the machine is a bit new - but there again will have a look.

Rick

Edited to add
Hmm only 14 updates available!! some of which talk about usb enhancement, back to school to check the bios. still hopeing that it was delivered in a state a bit newer than 2007!

[rgbrock1]

Aside from USB sticks do have any other usb devices (not the keyboard and mouse which both draw minuscule amounts of power from the ports) that you can test with?
Say an external USB hard drive, a digital camera, a dongle, etc? If so, try one of those and see what happens. If any of these aforementioned devices do not work then you definitely have USB port issues (motherboard perhaps?).

You might also want to try out a self-powered USB hub. Plug it into one of the system's USB ports and then plug the stick into one of the hub's ports. See if that works.

[Feline]

Have you tried a different (different brand) memory stick? Seem to remember in the dim and distant past that I had somewhat similar problems with a Transcend memory stick. Solved problem by using a different brand (and giving the Transcend to someone who didn't have problems with it).

[bsmasher]

You say the machine is a Dell - on my Latutude the plastic case moulding interferes with some ( the Right hand side s) USB devices and stops them plugging in fully . I've had cases where the device gets power but no data. Try a different socket or use a short extension lead.

D.

[rickity]

Many thanks one and all for all the suggestions.

picked up the computer and brought it home to play with and lo and behold it all works, plug in any memory stick anywhere and it responds correctly. ( this often happens to school computers, I put it down to a ride and shake up in the rickity transport!)

and yes I need try the removal all power before doing that! but to no effect whilst at school

However its not a particularly convienient method or quick.

So I'm still on the quest of deleting and then re installing usb drivers in device manager when using a usb keyboard and mouse, but at least have the luxury of time to look about for the answer.

Rick