USB Port Troubles

[Guest]

I am having issue with usb ports. My keyboard and mouse are doing fine, but
everything else won't work. This is a new thing, I have a my book external
hard drive hooked up, it was working fine until now. When windows tries to
install the driver, it says its installed but it is an unknown device, and it
won't work. Also having issues with my printer, and my flash stick. Anyone
have any thoughts on this?
My son has a notebook, working fine, put vista on it, within weeks his usb
ports wouldn't work at all, is there a connection with vista and ports? I
havn't had any issues with Vista until now. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[Cal Bear '66]

Microsoft has a hot fix for USB problems:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;936003

To obtain the hot fix, go here:

https://support.microsoft.com/contactus2/emailcontact.aspx?scid=sw;en;1410&WS=hotfix