USB ports just stop working

[Rich T]

At random intervals, usually several days, one or two of my USB ports just
stop working. Sometimes, after a few days, and several reboots, the port may
suddenly wakeup and start working again.

This is driving me mad as I spend all my time scuffling around on the floor
behind the computer fiddling with USB plugs.

I have installed every hotfix I can get my hands on from the microsoft site,
and I have the latest BIOS and chipdriver.

All my accessories are good. All the ports worked fine under XP.

 

[John Barnes]

What are you trying to plug in? Have you checked in Disk Management to see
if they show up? (might be a conflict) You might try tracking to see what
combination of items are plugged in when you have the problem.

 

[Earle Horton]

I have a similar problem. Sony Clié Palm Pilot clone connected through
Targus ACP45US docking station. Stable as a rock for months until one day
Vista decides, "The device failed to install properly...Get a new device
from the manufacturer." Grr! Unplug the device, plug it in, deinstall the
driver, reinstall the driver, fiddle with stuff and it starts working great.
Vista sucks.

Earle

 

[Rich T]

What are you trying to plug in? Have you checked in Disk Management to
see if they show up? (might be a conflict) You might try tracking to see
what combination of items are plugged in when you have the problem.

I have been trying to spot a pattern to the problems for a long time, but
there isn't one.