SOLUTION - to USB devices detected but not installed because windows cannot find drivers

[WebGuru]

Hi,

Problem Description:
XP SP2
when a new USB device was plugged into the computer, it was recognised
but windows asked for and could not find the drivers. Windows should
have self installed the drivers without asking.
The USB devices worked on other computers OK without drivers.

Solution:

Basically my reading of the error messages plus google group searches
lead me to believe it was the drivers information that was corrupt.

I copied the windows/INF folder to windows/INF2 just in case I really
screwed up the system and could get it all back.
I then copied the windows/inf folder from another XP machine, over the
top of the current inf folder.

Windows gave a few nasty responses saying I had changed critical files
and that I should insert the winXP SP2 CD. I tried every win XP CD I
had and it didn't like them so I just cancelled the error message and
rebooted.

All works perfectly and No windows error messages. New USB devices are
installed by themselves again when plugged in.

YAY!!!

I am so glad cause otherwise I was looking down the barrel of a
reinstall of XP. plus repatching plus all software. yuck.

.... If I didn't want to be so brutal I could have just copied the files
from the inf folder that matched USB*.*

 

[smlunatick]

For additional info on how to fix this, look at
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

Uwe Sieber seems the an "expert" with most USB releated problems.