USB stops working after recent Windows Update

[Robbie]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can please help me.

Since installing about 13 Windows Update's sometime last week, I've noticed
my USB ports have been playing up.

Every couple if minutes i get a warning saying "Windows needs to install
driver software for your Unknown Device" even though nothing new has been put
in. When I check for the updated drivers, it says it is unable to find the
correct drivers and offers an online solution (Update for Windows Vista,
32-bit versions (KB940199)) but that won't install - it 'Doesn't apply to
your system' apparently.

Also, my flash drive will not be recognized either - it goes through the
same 'Unknown device' routine as described above.

I've used System Restore to take my computer back before the updates and I
encounter no problems at all, but obviously i'll want to keep Vista updated.

Is this a known issue, and what can I do to get the USB ports functioning
properly?

I have vista 32bit by the way.

Thank you,
Robbie.

 

[alexB]

It is more of a hardware problem believe it or not. The thing is that some
motherboards have internal watchdogs to make sure that USB ports are not
overloaded since they consume on average 500 mA of current. This mechanism
of kicking off some additional USB ports also involves the OS, or course.
What perhaps happened was that after some updates the demand on the MB went
up because of some additional work Vista needs to do now perhaps on a short
term basis (like for a few minutes) and it just trips over the threshold.

I am posting a sort of my own record of fighting this problem which is
incomplete but you will get everything you need. I eventually solved it by a
PCI card.

Make sure there are such files in this folder:

Directory of C:\Windows\Inf
angelusb.inf angelusb.PNF
irstusb.inf irstusb.PNF
stusb2ir.inf stusb2ir.PNF
usb.inf usb.PNF
usbccid.inf usbccid.PNF
usbcir.inf usbcir.PNF
usbport.inf usbport.PNF
usbprint.inf usbprint.PNF
usbstor.inf usbstor.PNF
usbvideo.inf usbvideo.PNF
wceusbsh.inf wceusbsh.PNF
wdma_usb.inf wdma_usb.PNF
winusb.inf winusb.PNF
26 File(s) 1,113,306 bytes
3 Dir(s) 53,645,410,304 bytes free
[usbhub]

Make sure there are such drivers:
Directory Windows\System32\drivers\
usb8023.sys USBAUDIO.sys
USBCAMD.sys USBCAMD2.sys
usbccgp.sys usbcir.sys
usbd.sys usbehci.sys
usbhub.sys usbohci.sys
usbport.sys usbprint.sys
USBSTOR.SYS usbuhci.sys
14 File(s) 857,472 bytes

In one of my Vistas 6 files were missing in the first directory and one
driver in second.

Although I fixed that it did not resolve the story completely. I had this
problem for many years in XP and then in Vista.

What I ended up doing after a person from another forum suggested me to do
was to purchase a Belkin Internal 5-Port USB PCI card. He purchased
Belkin's. I did not quite trust the maker but went for his pointer. It
resolved the eissue completely. I removed a firewire PCI card in the back
that I never used and plugged in Belkin. It isntalled itself and I've never
had any problems since.

This card and similar cards by other makers allow for the 5-th USB port to
be engaged. It is not exposed to the elements. It faces the internals of the
computer. However, if you have a floppy you do not need you can buy another
External USB card (not PCI) and mount it up front ripping off the floppy
drive. Thus you will have 8 fully functional USB ports and they will all
work.

I did it on 2 machines so far. I do not need to use the 5th, internal port.
I now have plenty.

 

[Robbie]

Thank you for the reply alexB.

At the moment, i've decided to use System Restore to take me back to before
installation of the Windows Update and leave it there. It works perfectly
fine now, so obviously one of the updates is upsetting it - I just don't know
which one.

Hopefully Windows will release another update soon that will eradicate this
problem, or someone will discover a solution to it so I can update Windows
again safely without knackering my computer!

It is more of a hardware problem believe it or not. The thing is that some
motherboards have internal watchdogs to make sure that USB ports are not
overloaded since they consume on average 500 mA of current. This mechanism
of kicking off some additional USB ports also involves the OS, or course.
What perhaps happened was that after some updates the demand on the MB went
up because of some additional work Vista needs to do now perhaps on a short
term basis (like for a few minutes) and it just trips over the threshold.

I am posting a sort of my own record of fighting this problem which is
incomplete but you will get everything you need. I eventually solved it by a
PCI card.

Make sure there are such files in this folder:

Directory of C:\Windows\Inf
angelusb.inf angelusb.PNF
irstusb.inf irstusb.PNF
stusb2ir.inf stusb2ir.PNF
usb.inf usb.PNF
usbccid.inf usbccid.PNF
usbcir.inf usbcir.PNF
usbport.inf usbport.PNF
usbprint.inf usbprint.PNF
usbstor.inf usbstor.PNF
usbvideo.inf usbvideo.PNF
wceusbsh.inf wceusbsh.PNF
wdma_usb.inf wdma_usb.PNF
winusb.inf winusb.PNF
26 File(s) 1,113,306 bytes
3 Dir(s) 53,645,410,304 bytes free
[usbhub]

Make sure there are such drivers:
Directory Windows\System32\drivers\
usb8023.sys USBAUDIO.sys
USBCAMD.sys USBCAMD2.sys
usbccgp.sys usbcir.sys
usbd.sys usbehci.sys
usbhub.sys usbohci.sys
usbport.sys usbprint.sys
USBSTOR.SYS usbuhci.sys
14 File(s) 857,472 bytes

In one of my Vistas 6 files were missing in the first directory and one
driver in second.

Although I fixed that it did not resolve the story completely. I had this
problem for many years in XP and then in Vista.

What I ended up doing after a person from another forum suggested me to do
was to purchase a Belkin Internal 5-Port USB PCI card. He purchased
Belkin's. I did not quite trust the maker but went for his pointer. It
resolved the eissue completely. I removed a firewire PCI card in the back
that I never used and plugged in Belkin. It isntalled itself and I've never
had any problems since.

This card and similar cards by other makers allow for the 5-th USB port to
be engaged. It is not exposed to the elements. It faces the internals of the
computer. However, if you have a floppy you do not need you can buy another
External USB card (not PCI) and mount it up front ripping off the floppy
drive. Thus you will have 8 fully functional USB ports and they will all
work.

I did it on 2 machines so far. I do not need to use the 5th, internal port.
I now have plenty.

Hi everyone, I hope someone can please help me.

Since installing about 13 Windows Update's sometime last week, I've
noticed
my USB ports have been playing up.

Every couple if minutes i get a warning saying "Windows needs to install
driver software for your Unknown Device" even though nothing new has been
put
in. When I check for the updated drivers, it says it is unable to find the
correct drivers and offers an online solution (Update for Windows Vista,
32-bit versions (KB940199)) but that won't install - it 'Doesn't apply to
your system' apparently.

Also, my flash drive will not be recognized either - it goes through the
same 'Unknown device' routine as described above.

I've used System Restore to take my computer back before the updates and I
encounter no problems at all, but obviously i'll want to keep Vista
updated.

Is this a known issue, and what can I do to get the USB ports functioning
properly?

I have vista 32bit by the way.

Thank you,
Robbie.

 

[DanS]

Thank you for the reply alexB.

At the moment, i've decided to use System Restore to take me back to
before installation of the Windows Update and leave it there. It works
perfectly fine now, so obviously one of the updates is upsetting it -
I just don't know which one.

Which obviously means it is not a hardware issue.

Hopefully Windows will release another update soon that will eradicate
this problem, or someone will discover a solution to it so I can
update Windows again safely without knackering my computer!

You could try manually d/l'g the updates you had removed, then install them
one by one to see when the problem crops up again.

 

[NoStop]

It is more of a hardware problem believe it or not. The thing is that some
motherboards have internal watchdogs to make sure that USB ports are not
overloaded since they consume on average 500 mA of current. This mechanism
of kicking off some additional USB ports also involves the OS, or course.

Please do tell us all about these "internal watchdogs" of which you speak.
Where are they located? Is there some kind of program running in the
motherboard that is watching this stuff while your computer is running an
operating system? Also, let us know if you know anything at all about how a
computer works.

Cheers.

--
The three Rs of Microsoft support: Retry, Reboot, Reinstall.

Proprietary Software: a 20th Century software business model.

Q: What OS is built for lusers?
A: Which one requires running lusermgr.msc to create them?

Frank, hard at work on his Vista computer all day:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/compost.htm

 

[Frank]

alexB wrote:




Please do tell us all about these "internal watchdogs" of which you speak.
Where are they located?

Well...if they were up your arse you'd know where they were...hahaha!

Is there some kind of program running in the

motherboard that is watching this stuff while your computer is running an
operating system?

You really can't figure this out can you?

Also, let us know if you know anything at all about how a

computer works.

So you need help huh?
Try google...LOL!
Frank

 

[NoStop]

Well...if they were up your arse you'd know where they were...hahaha!

What an intelligent response. Just what one would expect from THE Usenet
Village Idiot.

Is there some kind of program running in the

You really can't figure this out can you?

Nope. But I'm sure YOU can.

Also, let us know if you know anything at all about how a

So you need help huh?

You seem to be the one who needs help. You can't seem to quote properly with
that toy "newsreader" you use.

Try google...LOL!

I did try google. It confirmed YOU were THE Usenet Village Idiot.

Frank

Cheers Frankie.


--
Vista will make you speechless!
http://tinyurl.com/38zv7x

Proprietary Software: a 20th Century software business model.

Q: What OS is built for lusers?
A: Which one requires running lusermgr.msc to create them?

Frank, hard at work on his Vista computer all day:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/compost.htm

 

[Robbie]

Can I just say Dragor that you are a legend when it comes to USB problems! I
followed your instructions and it sorted it out straight away!

I simply did the same for the other unknown devices that wouldn't install -
for some reason after I followed your instructions it suddenly decided to
tell me what the unknown devices actually were (in my case, a 'generic drive'
or something similar).

Thanks again Dragor, you were a big help!

I found the solution!!!!! YAHOOOO! Can't tell ya how very glad I was to
see my project data again! I thought for sure that I would have to
reformat! Enough chit chat, heres step by step procedure with images! :

Step 1: Hit Win+f { Hold Windows Key and simultaneously press f} and
click on Advanced Search.

'[image: http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8430/25543192zm9.th.jpg]'
(http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=25543192zm9.jpg)


Step 2: In "Locations" Select the drive where Vista is installed and
remember to tick mark the "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files
(might be slow" check box.

'[image: http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/460/40688922pa2.th.jpg]'
(http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=40688922pa2.jpg)


Step 3: In the highlighted search box, type "volume*.*" [Obviously,
without the quotes] and wait for the search to get completed. Then
select that file which resides in
"C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository". It is highlighted
here:

'[image: http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4035/74682192gp5.th.jpg]'
(http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=74682192gp5.jpg)


Btw, If you cant see the folder column, right click on "Name" and u'll
be able to select the Folder option from a menu.

Step 4: Once u have located the volume.inf file, copy it and paste it
in "C:\Windows\Inf" folder. I've used a hack to put Copy to in right
click of every file.

'[image: http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/151/49256506qi9.th.jpg]'
(http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=49256506qi9.jpg)

Step 5: Now close everything and come back to desktop. Click on start
and type cmd in the Start search box BUT do not click on it or press
enter. Instead, right click it and select run as administrator. The
Window of Command prompt MUST read "Administrator: Command Prompt".

'[image: http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/935/18769451mc1.th.jpg]'
(http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18769451mc1.jpg)


Step 6: Now type:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

and press enter. Now in that same window type:

devmgmt.msc

and press enter. Device manager should now open. Now click on View menu
and click on show hidden devices menu.

'[image: http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1643/49874310ed6.th.jpg]'
(http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=49874310ed6.jpg)

Step 7: Expand the Disk Drives entry and u should find ur USB flash
disk in disabled state. right click it and uninstall it. After
uninstalling, connect your USB flash disk and voila! The system finds
the drivers!

'[image: http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9742/33365810ij6.th.jpg]'
(http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=33365810ij6.jpg)


NOTE: For any reason Whatso ever, if Windows Still asks for drivers,
Select "I wanna search and locate drivers myself" and specify ur Vista
installation drive. That should do the trick!.

That's it! I have figured this thing out on my own, so please gimme
credit where it is due!


--
Dragor

My rig: Intel Core2Duo E6300 @1.86GHz, 1.5GB DDR2SDRAM 667MHz, nVidia
GeForce 6600 256MB PCI-E, ASUS P5LD2VM-SE [Intel 945 Chipset] mobo, 400
W PSU.

 

[Tony.Rushbrook]

Many Thanks.

Had the same problem, but for drivers relating to USBSTOR.INF and
USBPRINT.INF.

Followed your procedure, but for USBSTOR.* and USBPRINT.*, rather than
VOLUME*.*, and problem is no more.

Cheers

I found the solution!!!!! YAHOOOO! Can't tell ya how very glad I was to
see my project data again! I thought for sure that I would have to
reformat! Enough chit chat, heres step by step procedure with images! :

Step 1: Hit Win+f { Hold Windows Key and simultaneously press f} and
click on Advanced Search.

'[image: http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8430/25543192zm9.th.jpg]'
(http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=25543192zm9.jpg)


Step 2: In "Locations" Select the drive where Vista is installed and
remember to tick mark the "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files
(might be slow" check box.

'[image: http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/460/40688922pa2.th.jpg]'
(http://img144.imageshack.us/my.php?image=40688922pa2.jpg)


Step 3: In the highlighted search box, type "volume*.*" [Obviously,
without the quotes] and wait for the search to get completed. Then
select that file which resides in
"C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository". It is highlighted
here:

'[image: http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4035/74682192gp5.th.jpg]'
(http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=74682192gp5.jpg)


Btw, If you cant see the folder column, right click on "Name" and u'll
be able to select the Folder option from a menu.

Step 4: Once u have located the volume.inf file, copy it and paste it
in "C:\Windows\Inf" folder. I've used a hack to put Copy to in right
click of every file.

'[image: http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/151/49256506qi9.th.jpg]'
(http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=49256506qi9.jpg)

Step 5: Now close everything and come back to desktop. Click on start
and type cmd in the Start search box BUT do not click on it or press
enter. Instead, right click it and select run as administrator. The
Window of Command prompt MUST read "Administrator: Command Prompt".

'[image: http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/935/18769451mc1.th.jpg]'
(http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18769451mc1.jpg)


Step 6: Now type:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

and press enter. Now in that same window type:

devmgmt.msc

and press enter. Device manager should now open. Now click on View menu
and click on show hidden devices menu.

'[image: http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1643/49874310ed6.th.jpg]'
(http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=49874310ed6.jpg)

Step 7: Expand the Disk Drives entry and u should find ur USB flash
disk in disabled state. right click it and uninstall it. After
uninstalling, connect your USB flash disk and voila! The system finds
the drivers!

'[image: http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9742/33365810ij6.th.jpg]'
(http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=33365810ij6.jpg)


NOTE: For any reason Whatso ever, if Windows Still asks for drivers,
Select "I wanna search and locate drivers myself" and specify ur Vista
installation drive. That should do the trick!.

That's it! I have figured this thing out on my own, so please gimme
credit where it is due!


--
Dragor

My rig: Intel Core2Duo E6300 @1.86GHz, 1.5GB DDR2SDRAM 667MHz, nVidia
GeForce 6600 256MB PCI-E, ASUS P5LD2VM-SE [Intel 945 Chipset] mobo, 400
W PSU.