Help, Pt. 2

[pomba gira]

OK, so I figured out the mouse issue was really a USB port issue. When I plug anything into any of the USB ports, it isn't there. Flash drives, card reader, new MP3 player... it's like they don't exist as far as the computer's concerned. So what do I do now? Someone suggested doing the system restore thing, but didn't tell me how to go about it. Is that really what I should do? If so how do I do it (running XP)?

I would really really appreciate some advice... I need to get some pics done so I can list new auctions !

[Dubh Aingeal]

Restoring to a previous state (provided restore is turned on)

1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.

2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.

3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.

4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.

5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.

6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.

7. Click OK.

You may inadvertently restore Windows XP to a previous configuration that you do not want. To undo the restoration:

1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.

2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.

3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Undo my last restoration, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.

4. On the Confirm Restoration Undo page, click Next. System Restore restores the original Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.

5. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Undo Complete page appears.

6. Click OK.

[Dubh Aingeal]

LoL Windows Restore. The solution (and by solution I mean cause) of so many problems in windows.

Agreed

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

or you could go into your device manager and remove the USB drivers and then reboot. Windows will automatically reinstall the USB drivers. This will usually fix any problems with the USB ports unless it's a hardware issue.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Wosrt case scenerio.. take it to the PC Outlet on South Ceder. It's just north of Mejer. They have a $30 bench fee and wont rip you off.

[pomba gira]

Thanx guys! The system restore did no good so I'm gonna try doing the USB drivers thing, if that doesn't work I'll try Froyn's suggestion. Hope I don't have to lug it into the shop but if I do it's good to know a decent place to go.

[pomba gira]

OK, so in Device Manager there are six things under USB Controllers: Generic USB Hub; Intel 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller- 2442; same thing- 2444; Unknown Device; USB Root Hub; USB Root Hub. Is that the right stuff? Do I just uninstall them all?

I hate feeling stupid!

[the eternal]

The only people that should feel stupid are those that don't make it clear in the first place how to fix these problems.

I don't know if I'll need it, but I'm going to copy this advice in case it happens to me

BTW, if you're coming over to PC Outlet, give me a ring, we'll have lunch. That'll make any problem a little better.

[pomba gira]

Doing the drivers didn't work... is there any point in reinstalling Service Pack 2 or should I just haul the damn thing to PC Outlet?

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I would skip it. If you do reinstall SP2, you have to reintall all the updates that have come out after it did... thats like... 70 or 72 updates.

[pomba gira]

Thanks guys!

I'll give it a shot... ordinarily $30 isn't a huge deal for me, but right now... it is. But so is not being able to load pics for my auctions, so I gotta do SOMETHING.

One thing that worries me is, if I do get the USB issue fixed, will something else go spla next time I sync my phone? That's kind of worrisome, esp. since no one seems able to tell me why all this happened in the first place.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

froyn... XP uses a driver cache. Most of the time when a driver corrupts, it's the cached version that is corrupt. removing the driver and letting windows reinstall it clears the driver cache and relaods a clean versionof the driver. well.. thats how it's sopposed to work anyway.. not always.. but hey.. you know.

[pomba gira]

Didn't work. Gaf, do you have the phone # of that place? I don't see it in the phone book. Pretty sure I know where it is... across from the old Farmer Jack? But I'd rather call before just hauling the thing in there.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

517-887-3130

address is 5525 S. Ceder

um... it's in kinda like a strip mall... back corner.. cant remember off hand what else is in the strip mall. I do know there is a light at the corner it's on, but not the name of the cross street. and there is a waterbed place real close by.

[pomba gira]

yup, that's the place I was thinking of. Thanks sweetie!

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

anytime

[pomba gira]

The saga continues! I took the computer to PC Outlet on the 4th and was told it would be 6-8 days 'cos they were really busy. This was odd as the guy I'd spoken with 2 days before gave me the impression they could just look at it on the spot & give me an estimate. ButI figured what the hell, I dragged the thing all the way over here so... Anyway, when the 9th day (only counting MF- if you count Saturday it was 10) rolled around I went to see what the diagnosis was. Only to be told they still hadn't gotten to it, it was "in line", and we were looking at 3-4 more days. At that point I said No thanks, just give it back. So I took it home, hooked it up- and discovered the USB issue had mysteriously resolved itself. Wow! What a great computer shop! My machine was fixed just by sitting on the shelf in there!

Seriously, next time it starts screwing up I think I'll just unhook it & drive it around in the car for a while.

Sure is nice having my games back on my phone, tho... I missed Insaniquarium soooo much.