USB connection not working correctly

[Guest]

Whenever I plug in a new device to my USB port and the new hardware wizard
window pops up, I get the message "Hardware Installation was unsuccesful
because the software could not be found." This has happened when I've tried
to install a USB multiple hub, and also with an external hard drive. I have
an MP3 player, the Sandisk Sansa M250, that was working with the USB
connection for several months, but now it's getting the same error too. Also
when I disconnect my MP3 player I sometimes lose my internet connection. I
have DSL with an adapter hooked up to one of my USB ports. I don't know why
my MP3 player would interfere with my internet connection though. Anybody
else have these problems?

 

[Elmo]

Whenever I plug in a new device to my USB port and the new hardware wizard
window pops up, I get the message "Hardware Installation was unsuccesful
because the software could not be found." This has happened when I've tried
to install a USB multiple hub, and also with an external hard drive. I have
an MP3 player, the Sandisk Sansa M250, that was working with the USB
connection for several months, but now it's getting the same error too. Also
when I disconnect my MP3 player I sometimes lose my internet connection. I
have DSL with an adapter hooked up to one of my USB ports. I don't know why
my MP3 player would interfere with my internet connection though. Anybody
else have these problems?

XP asks for drivers

XP comes with drivers for USB mass storage. If it asks for drivers then
it has forgotten where they are...
Start the Registry Editor (Run -> Regedit). Check if under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion the item
'DevicePath' points to '%SystemRoot%\inf'. Additional items, separated
by semicolons, are ok but '%SystemRoot%\inf' has to be one of them.
Then delete the file C:\WINDOWS\inf\infcache.1 - XP will recreate it.

This site has specific patches for devices, chipsets, etc. It mentions
WinME but is actually the XP page. Press Ctrl/F and do a Find for your
specific device. Also search for your mobo, etc..
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

 

[Elmo]

I have the same problem, but I have no DevicePath uncer /CurrentVersion. Can
I recreate it? Thanks for any reply.

Yes, you should be able to do that.. Make sure you have CurrentVersion
highlighted in the l-h column. If Device Path isn't listed in the r-h
column, click Edit, New, String Value, name it DevicePath. Then
right-click, click Modify, and paste
%SystemRoot%\inf;%SystemDrive%\Drivers\Lan;%SystemDrive%\Drivers\Audio;%SystemDrive%\Drivers\Modem;%SystemDrive%\Drivers\Video;%SystemDrive%\Drivers\cpu;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\SND;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\VID;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\MOD;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\NET;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\SCS;%SystemDrive%\windows\i386\DRV\OTH
into the "Value data:" field.

The above is what mine has listed.. I've never changed it, have no
network, don't use a modem. Whether you need all that or not, I can't say.