uninstall/reinstall usb port drivers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kenneth Fields
  • Start date Start date
K

Kenneth Fields

ok, here's the situation. Had some trouble with my HP scanner. Windows would
no longer detect it. Was working fine for months. Installed spyware program
many many weeks ago and think the scanner was still detected after that
installation but can't quite remember. Live chat with HP support gave a list
of things to do - mostly clean up and increase virtual memory. The last step
is remove all the "devices" under the usb controller tab in device manager.
They're all usb ports. After removing them all, reboot. Windows will
automatically detect and reinstall usb ports. Sounds like another clean up
step. Then, after that, reinstall the scananer software.

So, I do a little research. The HP people don't say anything about doing
this in safe mode, uninstalling drivers for installed usb devices like
printers and don't mention that I might need the windows installation disk
to reinstall the usb ports. They don't mention that I might have to
reinstall the software for printers and other usb devices. Research says IRQ
settings might shift. HP people don't say a thing about that. So, maybe I
don't need to think about all that; maybe I don't have to do this in safe
mode.Maybe Windows will just take care of everything just fine somewhat
automatically. But, on the other hand....... ??

Running Windows XP Home w/ SP2. Any advice/information is appreciated.

Thanks
Ken
 
Before you undertake the USB removal, you might want to just remove the
"Phantom" Scanner entry. First unplug the Scanners USB connector from
the PC port.
Open Device Manager, Click View, Tic/Check "Show Hidden Devices".
Expand the Imaging category, Locate your scanner. It should be shown as
grayed out. Right Click the entry and take Uninstall from the Context Menu.
Then power on the scanner and insert it's USB connector back into the PC.
Plug-&-Play should automatically enumerate it and install it's drivers.
 
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