I have 2 major problems...

[Jen]

Currently I'm working with Windows XP Pro and during the
course of the installation of some software, I noticed
that there is an automatic "search for new hardware" on
the computer. I would like to know how I can disable this
search because it finds usb ports that don't work and they
end up freezing my computer, and doing so again and again
everytime I restart my pc. I thought it might be possible
to do it from SAFE MODE because it won't look for the
hardware while in SAFE MODE. However, the pc now freezes
the computer so bad that I can't seem to get past the
loading screen (where there's a blue cursor moving from
one side to the other with the WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL
logo on it with a black background). I can't even boot my
pc into safe mode to make any changes. Can someone please
tell me how to fix the automatic search for hardware, AND
tell me how I can get into safe mode? All the solutions I
seem to get are changes that need to be made in Windows XP
itself...however I can't even get there! PLEASE HELP!

 

[Steve Nielsen]

I'd say you have a hardware or a hardware driver problem. Windows
automatically finds new hardware by design, I don't think that can be
disabled, however you can allow it to detect the "new" hardware and if
it fails to locate/install a driver for it you can disable that hardware
device and then see about getting updated driver from the maker of the
hardware or replacing it if it is defective.

Steve