Windows won't boot after installing USB device

[John]

I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB
device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

What happens is this: When I plug in a USB device, windows detects
the new hardware, installs the driver, and everything seems to work
just fine. With a USB printer, I can print correctly, with the USB
monitor for my UPS, I can read the UPS status as I should.

Everything is fine until I restart Windows. Then it hangs at the XP
splash screen (the one with the blue dots moving across the screen
below the XP logo.)

If I boot to safe mode and use System Restore to go back to before I
added the device, the system is ok again, but the same thing happens
if I try the USB install again.

A simple USB device that looks like a drive -- i.e., a memory stick or
a camera -- doesn't cause any problem.

Device manager indicates all USB devices are working properly. BIOS
is configured to enable USB controller, enable USB 2.0 controller, and
enable USB Legacy support.

What could be wrong, and how can I fix it?

To e-mail me, use jcarlson631 at yahoo dot com

-- John

 

[Guest]

I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB
device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

Its rather difficult to give a concise advice on the resolution of your
problem after the valid assessment you have done on the case. It may be
helpful to have details of the USB devices causing the hangup. I guess you
have noted the Microsoft article "General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP",

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us

where there also is reference to another article describing conflicts,
although it seems to apply for other OSs.

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Guest]

Its rather difficult to give a concise advice on the resolution of your
problem after the valid assessment you have done on the case. It may be
helpful to have details of the USB devices causing the hangup. I guess you
have noted the Microsoft article "General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP",

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us

where there also is reference to another article describing conflicts,
although it seems to apply for other OSs.

Regards,
Ka2H

I had not seen that article, but I've just read it now. Thanks for the
pointer. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to shed much light on what I'm
seeing.

To fill in some details, I'm trying to connect a printer. (Initially I was
also trying to connect a UPS that uses a USB connection to allow the computer
to monitor it. But I've put that aside and just focused on the printer. The
UPS connection exhibited the same problem as the printer.)

I've tried two HP printers -- a 5650 and a 4160. For one I used the driver
disc that came with the printer. For the other I did the same and then also
tried the latest driver from the HP web site. Both printers and all three
drivers exhibited the same problem.

A USB flash drive, or a camera, does not cause the problem. These things
look like storage devices and don't require loading of any drivers, I think.

Addressing the points from that article:

The hardware seems to be functioning correctly. Device Manager indicates
all USB controllers as "Working properly" and there are no exclamation
points, question marks or other alerts. The two USB controllers are assigned
to IRQ 21 and 23

The computer recognizes when a USB device is plugged in, and doesn't request
any drivers for simple devices like the flash drive. It does request and
install a printer driver when I plug in a printer.

The cables are sold as USB 2.0 cables, I think that means high-speed, right?

The bios I have is the latest version according to the ASUS web site

The article mentions removing and reinstalling all USB controllers. Is
that something I should do? (It gives no hint as to why you would want to do
this.) If so, how do I reinstall them? It gives specific instructions for
the removal but not for the installation.

The strange thing is that when I connect a device to the USB, it works fine.
The printer prints, the flash drive can be read and written, etc. This
seems to suggest that all the hardware and all the software are properly
working and properly configured. It's only when I try to restart that there
is a problem, and then the problem is a hang that gives no hint of what's
wrong.

Here's another observation: Once I've installed the printer, it makes no
difference whether it's connected or not. Even if I disconnect the USB cable
to the printer, the boot still hangs.

Thanks for the help, I hope this gives you some hints.

-- John

 

[Guest]

John

The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of
troubleshooting.

I've tried two HP printers -- a 5650 and a 4160. For one I used the driver
disc that came with the printer. For the other I did the same and then also
tried the latest driver from the HP web site. Both printers and all three
drivers exhibited the same problem.

That's in accordance with suggestions seen in other USB - / driver cases,
but did not resolve this case.

If I boot to safe mode and use System Restore to go back to before I

added the device, the system is ok again,

In line with correct steps to perform. In this case only Windows
(recognized) drivers are used, which could indicate that the problem is
caused by a third party driver, in spite of your trials.

Here's another observation: Once I've installed the printer, it makes no
difference whether it's connected or not. Even if I disconnect the USB cable
to the printer, the boot still hangs.

Another strong indication that the problem is in the "driver conflict area".

Another trial(s) may be:
1. Install the printer / driver and verify that it works as expected.
2. Go to the Device Manager, click on Properties for the printer port USB in
question, and the Driver tab.
3. You could now either:
1. Update the Driver from here (in case not already so done) and restart
the PC, or
2. Remove the Driver (Advanced) and restart.

The way ahead from there is of course dependent on a change in the outcome
from what you have seen so far.

The cables are sold as USB 2.0 cables, I think that means high-speed, right?

Yeah, I agree with your assumption that the cable is ok - as everything is
working right "when it does".

The article mentions removing and reinstalling all USB controllers. Is
that something I should do? (It gives no hint as to why you would want to do
this.) If so, how do I reinstall them? It gives specific instructions for
the removal but not for the installation.

I don't think this step is needed performed, as you have narrowed the
problem down to a specific driver / USB.

By the way: Do you get any messages in the Event Viewer when the PC hangs
during the restart / boot sequence?

Regards,
Ka2H

 

[Guest]

The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of
troubleshooting.

It's getting stranger and stranger.

Today I decided, somewhat on a whim but thinking about driver conflicts, to
reinstall the Soundmax audio driver. I installed, and restarted when the
installer requested, and ... the boot hung, in just the same way as when I
had installed the printer.

(The printer was not installed at this time. BTW)

I went through the now-familar ritual of booting to safe mode, rolling back
with System Restore, and restarting again, and everything was fine. The
audio worked and in fact the driver that I tried to reinstall is still
installed.

(Installing the printer still does not work, i.e., the system fails to boot
as previously described.)

(I should point out that I've never had any trouble with the audio. It's
been installed from day one and always worked fine. There was no special
reason for me to re-install it, just a wild guess that perhaps it wasn't
properly installed and was the source of a conflict with the printer.)

So now I'm more puzzled than ever, and starting to doubt my own sanity. (Am
I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?) What in the world is going on here?

-- John

 

[Guest]

The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of
troubleshooting.

After yesterday's discoveries, I decided to throw in the towel. Something
clearly was very wrong and sensible troubleshooting wasn't getting me
anywhere.

So today I reformatted the HDD and reinstalled XP. And at this point,
everything appears to be working properly. The printer is installed and
working, the sound is working, the video, the network .. all installed and
working properly and I can reboot without difficulty.

I still have no idea what the original problem was. But it seems (knocking
wood) to have gone away.

Thank you greatly for your help. Even though it didn't lead directly to a
solution, it reassured me that I was going about things the right way and
ultimately led me to the conclusion that a drastic fix was the only thing
that was going to do the job.

-- John

 

[Guest]

After yesterday's discoveries, I decided to throw in the towel. Something
clearly was very wrong and sensible troubleshooting wasn't getting me
anywhere.

So today I reformatted the HDD and reinstalled XP. And at this point,
everything appears to be working properly. The printer is installed and
working, the sound is working, the video, the network .. all installed and
working properly and I can reboot without difficulty.

I still have no idea what the original problem was. But it seems (knocking
wood) to have gone away.

Thank you greatly for your help. Even though it didn't lead directly to a
solution, it reassured me that I was going about things the right way and
ultimately led me to the conclusion that a drastic fix was the only thing
that was going to do the job.

-- John

I'm very happy to see that you made it, as I'm sitting here reading all
kinds of Microsoft - and other articles trying to find another approach to
resolve it, with no luck. It certainly would have been interesting to have
had details about the problem, but well working as the XP seems to be, which
is the important thing - who cares?

Take care,
Ka2H

 

[Guest]

I'm very happy to see that you made it, as I'm sitting here reading all
kinds of Microsoft - and other articles trying to find another approach to
resolve it, with no luck. It certainly would have been interesting to have
had details about the problem, but well working as the XP seems to be, which
is the important thing - who cares?

Take care,
Ka2H

Well, in spite of my earlier optimism, things are not right after all.

Yesterday I installed a second USB printer, and the problem came back.

And I also found that installing some Windows Updates also caused the
problem to reappear.

So now I'm back to square one, puzzled and frustrated.

I'm going to start a new thread under the topic of "Boot hangs at XP start
screen" since I no longer know whether the problem is related to USB or not.
I'm hoping that you or someone else might be able to give me some further
ideas.

--John