Plug and Play devices won't work!

[Guest]

I own a Dell Inspirion 5150 laptop computer running windows XP. Whenever I
try to use a plug and play device the computer does not recognize the device
and tries to run Hardware wizard. Since I do not have a disc with drivers
the setup always fails and the device is unable to be used. This has
happened on every plug and play devicei have tried on this computer. I have
checked to make sure that plug and play is enabled and it is. Dells'
response was to change the motherboard but that did not change any of the
facts that plug and play devices do not work.

Any ideas that may help would be most appreciated!!!

 

[Dave B]

Just because it's plug and play, does not mean you can just plug it in and
have it work, many device require you to provide Windows with a driver for
the device to function.
Give us some specific devices your having problems with, i.e. type of
device, who makes it, the model number.

 

[Guest]

The first device to fail was a Kodak Digital camera, which worked on a
desktop computer i had...plugged it into the usb ports on that computer and
it worked right off, also, my Magellan Roadmate 700 GPS which also worked on
the other desktop computer but not the laptop. Now it would not be a
problem if my old desktop had a dvd/rw drive and such then i would just use
that but with the gps...software updates come on a dvd so in order to load
them i need a computer with a dvd drive. also would like to be able to load
pictures from digital camera onto discs which i can't do with my desktop.
This has been very frustrating and i have the feeling there is an easy fix
somehow just i am not computer literate enough to figure it out. I know just
enough to get myself (and my computer!) in deep trouble!! Any ideas would be
greatly appreciated.

 

[R. McCarty]

1.) Unplug all USB peripherals.
2.) Download the latest Chipset Driver Package from Intel
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...uctID=816&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional
**1st entry in the listing
3.) Set a System Environment Variable
DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
Set the variable's value = 1
4.) Open Device Manager
5.) Click View, tic/Check the option "Show Hidden Devices"
6.) Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controller category &
Right Click each entry and choose Uninstall
7. Examine other categories (except Sound/System) locate
all devices shown in diminished tone or grayed out. Right
Click each one and choose Uninstall.
8. Run the Chipset Driver Package update.
9. Reboot and allow XP to re-enumerate all the System &
USB hardware.
---- Then retry your devices one at a time. ( Try to always
plug them into the SAME USB port/socket.

 

[Guest]

I gave it a try but this did not work either unfortunately. Perhaps this is
a fatal flaw with my Dell? Any other ideas out there?