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TrackingID : 586
Posted : Monday, April 12th, 2004 06:10:04 AM
By : stevez
USB port diagnostics?Configuration:
Is there a way to check my USB ports? I have two and they have been working fine for many months. Now, neither of them works. I checked Control Panel/System and under USB controllers I have 2 entries - Intel (r)82801AA USB Universal Host Controller and USB Root Hub. Neither has a red "x" through it or a yellow exclamation point.
When I check the Properties on each of them, they say they are working properly. Yet several devices that I connect to either USB port are non functional. Can both of the ports cease to function simultaneously? Or am I missing some simple test?
Thanks for any help. I'm at the end of my rope and am considering using a large hammer. :)
Operating System : Win2K
CPU/Processor : P3/512MB
RAM : P3/512MB

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Comments :
Re: USB port diagnostics? by othehi on April 12th, 2004 10:23:50 AM
If you have a red X that means Windows removed that device to preserve the system. Yellow exclanation point usually indicates no drivers or incorrect drivers. Both remarks mean the hardware is not working properly. Remove the devices from device manager after unplugging any USB hardware from the ports and reboot. Windows should reinstall the devices. To install the drivers for each USB device you have follow the instructions for the device. One other point. Usually there are two ports connected to each USB controller. Your MBoard may have a combination of USB 1.1 and USB 2.0. I can't remember if win2000sp1 supports USB 2.0. I believe you need a later sp for that support. This may be the cause of your problems. Download sp4 and the updates after that.
Re: USB port diagnostics? by stevez on April 12th, 2004 07:13:22 PM
As I indicated, there is no red "x" nor yellow "!" next to the two entries above. As you suggested, I removed any connection to either USB port and rebooted. Now there is a third entry: "USB Device" that DOES have a yellow "!" by it. When checking the Device status via Properties, I see "the drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28). I then click the "Reinstall Driver" button. This takes me through a Wizard. This looks encouraging.
I leave the radio button checked that says "search for a suitable driver for my device". I leave all checkboxes relating to optional search locations unchecked.
The next screen says the wizard found a driver more suitable in "C:winntinfusb.inf". I click "Next". Still encouraging.
I then get the following message: "An error occurred during the installation of this device. The installation failed because a function driver was not specified for this device instance."
I chose all the recommended options and get the error. Any further suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve


Re: USB port diagnostics? by stevez on April 12th, 2004 08:15:15 PM
Additional information:
I have an identical PC. After rebooting both PCs, if I connect one of the USB devices to the other PC, I get the message, "Found New Hardware" and it goes on to correctly identify the device I just connected.
When I take the same device and plug it into the problem PC, I get the message, "Found New Hardware", BUT the message says "Unknown Device", after which I get the error indicated in my last message about "...function driver not specified..."
Re: USB port diagnostics? by on April 12th, 2004 08:32:44 PM
Sorry, I misread your post. Try booting to safe mode and removing all instances of the hardware there. You may find multiples of the same device. Question for you. Have these ports worked in the past? Ports connected to MBoard headers may be installed in software but not physically connected, or connected improperly. If this is the case take care not to connect these ports wrong. Connecting a device to an improperly wired USB port can result in a fried USB controller. Unfortunately the industry has not seen fit to totally standardize the connections. Also older MBs may have been configured differently. It is best to have a diagram. Even then it can be confusing due to different IDs assigned to the wires.
Re: USB port diagnostics? by stevez on April 13th, 2004 02:21:16 AM
Both USB ports have been working for years. I downloaded and ran the hardware diagnostics for Dell and they indicated no hardware problems. So, basically, all the hardware and software indicators show no problem but it still doesn't work. It must be SOMETHING! Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Steve
Re: USB port diagnostics? by on April 13th, 2004 03:02:58 AM
The next step would be to remove and let window replace the USB controller(s). Before doing this you may want to have the USB controllers driver files available for the reinstall. If you have two identical machines, check the driver versions on both to be sure they are the same. Depending on how many controllers and what type (USB 1.1 or 2.0) You will have several or more listings under USB controllers. In your case the easiest method would be to check the working version, write down all subcatagories and drivers for each. Look at driver dates also. You may want to see if the resources used are the same for each machine. Depending on the origin of the existing drivers you may need to supply a win2000 disk, a motherboard disk or a third party disk. I had a similar problem recently. In my case the same error you are getting was generated by a defective USB hardware lock. You say your USB device works on one computer and not the other. Do you have any other devices that could be used for test purposes. Something else, the port itself could be at fault. As I stated in an earlier reply, there are usually two ports per controller. Have you tried all ports? You will be looking for the drivers for your 82801AA USB Universal Host Controller. Hope this reply isn't too confusing.
Re: USB port diagnostics? by stevez on April 15th, 2004 05:51:16 AM
I tried your suggestions but the two PC driver files looked identical. I finally called Dell and spoke to an East Indian guy that I couldn't understand and he gave me three websites for USB drivers - two were worthless and the third wasn't found. What happened to the great Dell service? Outsourced, I guess.
He did give me one tidbit however. He indicated that I shouldn't download and install ALL of MS updates. Rather I should limit them to the security issues. He said that a prior update may have overwritten a good USB driver with a bad one.
I started backing out the MS updates and got to the point where my PC wouldn't boot. After a lot of work, I ended up booting from CD and restoring a System State backup I made 6 months ago. This fixed almost everything except Norton Anti Virus.
You don't EVER want to reinstall Norton AV! What a procedural joke. Even in their online reinstall instructions, they say "This process will take from one to one-and-a-half hours"! Get real!
Bottom line is that everything works now. Thanks for your help.
Steve
Re: USB port diagnostics? by Anonymous Ghost on December 14th, 2004 06:14:36 AM
I found a patch on Microsofts website....

Heres the link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;amp;amp;displaylang=en&familyid=7c896e82-4b50-44c8-a634-3227c0e71293&displaylang=en

Bumpf from site:

"Windows 2000 Patch: Driver Installation Program Does Not Install Device Drivers

Some driver installation programs don’t work on Windows 2000 (W2K) after you install either Critical Update QFE 813044 or W2K Server SP4. The installation does not succeed and you receive an incorrect error that no drivers are available for the device."

And the patch that worked for me:

Windows2000-KB822831-x86-ENU.exe

Hope this helps - I was going to try the fix outlined in this thread then I came across this patch - worked first time (after a reboot)

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