Cannot install hardware - new USB devices

[Kirsty G]

Hello George/Anyone who can help!

As requested, here is a new post describing my problem. I cannot use ANY
new USB devices since a few months ago (not sure when exactly?), and I always
get the message "There was a problem installing this hardware..the data is
invalid." USB devices which I have used previously are still working ok. I
have tried many suggestions on the internet to resolve this, including the
following from Microsoft, without success:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810882
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841567

I am running an older laptop (Toshiba Satellite 3005-S307/2002, Windows XP
Home SP2) with 3 USB1.1 ports, but that doesn't seem to have affected other
USB 2.0 items which have worked fine in the past (and still do - only new
devices are affected. Makes me wonder if this problem was triggered by a
recent Windows update?)

To answer your question George, yes I have already tried replacing the
driver.cab file. However, I copied the file from another XP laptop which I
use for work. This is because my laptop only came with recovery CDs - I have
never used these before and was afraid that I wouldn't be able to extract the
original driver.cab file off the CD without starting a complete re-install?
If this is not the case please let me know and I will try this option again.

I am resigned to having to completely reinstall XP, because it seems that
this is the only thing that's worked for others with the same problem.
However, I would really appreciate any final suggestions before I have to
take this drastic action. For your info, I am (fairly!) computer literate so
can usually follow complex instructions (regedit keys etc)

Thanks in advance for any help,

Kirsty

 

[AusAnt]

Hi Kirsty,

I have had similar woes with both new USB devices and PCI devices, and agree
that changing the Drive.Cab file did not seem to resolve any issues at all.

I did manage to have some sucess with resettiing the Permissions in the
Registry however, the first success involved a network adapter card and
resetting the permission for it's particular key allowed it to install
correctly, however then reinstalling a Firewire card this solution did not
work. I ended up having to change the permissions for all PCI keys to get
this one to install, and this was after a BIOS update and mobo driver update
as well.

I managed to apply the same solution to a USB device not installing, ie.
reset the permissions for all USB keys. And currently have my system running
(aparently) smoothly.

My sugestion is to do a back up or at least create a restore point an then
keep trying to reset permisions, uninstall the (partially) installed device
and reboot, I had to do this several times before it would finally work,(not
sure if this is stubourness or stupidity), but it did work eventually, sort
of.

However the problem has not gone away and keeps reapearing with each new
device installation, so lets hope George comes up with a better answer.

BTW There is a new post on this error on page one of this list, keep an eye