USB DEVICE DROPS OUT

[pope2141 0]

Can somebody help me please? I'll start with some history, i'm using a fairly old pc (running xp sp3) which recently got the 'antivirus 2010' virus. tried to remove it and failed. So i reset my pc back to day 1 via the system discs that came with my pc.

 

I am running a wireless set up with sky that works fine as i use it daily on my PS3. My problem is that since this has been reset. I install my wireless usb dongle, and everythings fine. I also use a wireless usb keyboard and mouse and these are fine too. But as soon as i try to connect an external hard drive or printer via any other usb port. it throws out my wireless internet dongle, then every time i try to reconnect it, it says that 'cannot recognise usb devise', this happens on any of my usb ports. Regardless of the printer or hard drive still being connected or not, but the keyboard and mouse still work fine?

 

The external hard drive and wireless dongle are brand new, i bought a new wireless dongle thinking it was that. The only way i can then get the internet to work again is via system recovery, regardless of what usb port i move it to. As system restore doesn't resolve it. but as you know i have to then start again reinstalling all my service packs.

 

I have tried reinstalling the software for the wireless usb device, this doesn't help unless i do a system recovery. Also if i put the external hard drive or wireless keyboard/mouse into the usb port that the wireless device was in, they work fine.

 

All the usb ports i am trying are the standard ones built in to my tower. Is there an easy way to resolve this? Or is it time fr a new pc? Please help.

 

[danleff 0]

The issue is most likely that you are trying to use a combination of USB 2 and USB 1.0 devices in USB 1.0 ports.

 

Can you tell folks what make and model computer this is, as well as the make and model of the external hard drive, dongle and printer that you are using?

 

In older PC's, very often the front panel USB ports (those not on the back of the tower which are not a component of the motherboard itself) are not USB 2 compliant.

 

Also constantly switching the USB port devices confuses things.

 

Do you also properly remove (disengage) the external drive in Windows before unplugging the drive from the port, when it does work?