USB ports stop working

[Tribal]

Today my printer stopped working and the message of "One of the USB devices
attached to theis computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognise
it" came up when I reinstalled the printer. I also notice that all my
devices connected via USB hava all stopped working (blue tooth
keyboard/mouse, external hard drive and external DVD burner). I have been
running these USB devices for about 12mths now with no problems and today it
all crashed. My operating system is Windows XP home. Anyone able to help me
please.

 

[Byte]

Disconnect all USB devices except keyboard and mouse.
Go to: Start>Run>type DEVMGMT.MSC press OK
Scroll to the bottom to Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
Rightclick each one, one-at-a-time, and click Uninstall.
Reboot, which will reinstall your USB ports. Connect your devices
and let us know how you came out. :~)

 

[Andrew E.]

Go to the boards mfg web site (intel/amd,etc),downloads,chipset,software,
locate the chipset installation utility for youre board (the newest isnt
always the
best),match youre chipset with one of the mfg boards chipset,download &
install,this has the USB drivers.

 

[Tribal]

I did as you described but still it comes up with the message of not
recognisiing the device and that it has malfunctioned. Although my optical
wheel mouse, which is USB, is recognised and works, but not the printer,
external hard drive, external DVD/CD burner or bluetooth keyboard/mouse (I am
using an old keyboard at the moment which is not USB just soo that I can use
the computer). do you have any further suggestions that may assist me?

 

[Tribal]

I did as you suggested with no luck at all. Is there something else I can do
to fix it?

 

[Byte]

Looks like your USB PCI card has bit the dust. You can go to eBay and
get one for under $20. But, first open your PC case and check if your
current card has not shaken loose, is not properly inserted, or the
cables are not properly connected, etc.

 

[Tribal]

I had a look in the case and there is no USB PCI card. The USB's seem to be
hard wired into the motherboard. Also I have managed to get the bluetooth
keyboard/mouse up and going again, but the other USB devices still dont work.

 

[Byte]

My previous advice may be the answer. Do some more troubleshooting
and if no go, get a PCI USB card, if you have a slot for it. Onboard cards
go bad very easily.