Hi My sons Patriot PT 2980 USB ports suddenly stopped working a few weeks ago, at first we thought it may have just been his wireless adapter that was plugged into a usb port, we tried it in another usb port and reloaded the drivers for it, but everytime we plugged it in a message would come up saying the device was malfunctioning, i then tried other usb devices and the same message came up regardless of which usb port i was using, i have checked the devices on my own pc and all work fine, I tried a system restore and that was to no avail, and have just restored his pc to factory settings, but as soon as reinstall the software for the devices it comes up with the same malfunctioning message again........can anyone help? thanks
does your sons pc have up to date anti virus software installed, i'd also do an adware scan, some pc specs may be helpful
No at present it has been restored back to factory settings, all data that was on the pc was erased, when he first brought the pc I made a restore system disc before he used it for anything else, it was fully restored via that disc, he has no anti virus software installed at present, although i did do a scan for spyware and it was clear
Check Device Manager, can you see a yellow exclamatery sign over there? Right click Mycomputer > Properties, Under hardware tab > Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus if the status device is "not known" or "not working", try clicking on "update device". You may need a WinXPCD to complete the last step
install some antivirus software (there are plenty of free antivirus to download, i presume he has an internet connection) and download the latest USB drivers, also do what Karanislove surgested, hopefully we'll have you up and running soon
There is no yellow exclamatery sign and it says all are working as they should be No I cannot get onto his internet as it connects to the usb ports..... I did copy over a couple i downloaded from my connection but they came up clean after scanning
has anything changed between when it was working and now ? how old is the pc ? is USB activated in the BIOS ? you could try downloading new drivers for the USB (not from the XP CD)
He was using a wireless ariel connected to his usb port, he noticed over a few minutes that it slowed right down and stopped, he tried to restart his internet connection but was unable too, i thought it was the wireless ariel adapter that had stopped working, i removed all traces of the wireless ariel adapter and reinstalled it fresh but it was not reckognised by the usb port, i even got a new wireless ariel adapter, but again no good, then i tried other usb items and the message about the item i was trying to use was malfunctioning came up for anything i tried to connect to any of the usb ports....the pc is about 18 months old, and yes USB is activated in bios and is not showing any conflict or that anything is wrong. When something is connected to a USB port then it says unknow device, regardless which port it is connected to
right, press the reset button on the wireless adapter, if that doesn't fix it, you probably need a new USB hub, to test this plug the adapter directly into the USB port on the pc, if that doesn't work try the another USB port on the pc, just had another look at the history of your problem did you try another USB port on the hub
Have tried all availabe USB ports on the pc, same message comes up regardless what port i use, all say that the device is malfunctioning, regardless which device i'm trying to use in whichever usb port
ok, the next thing to do is a BIOS reset (just post here if you don't know how to do this) failing that i think the USB port controller may have passed away, don't worry though its just a case of disableing the current USB and plugging in a USB card (about £30)
Ok i don't know how to do a BIOS reset, although i have restored the pc to the way it was when it first arrived
no, bassically every pc has a battery inside it (like a big watch battery) it just keeps date & time & HDD scymatics firstly if you don't have an anti static wrist strap just touch the bare metal of the pc case about ever minute or so to do a reset, turn off the pc and remove the power cable, remove the lid (case cover) then if you can see a big watch battery on the M/B near the bat will be 3 pins, labeled "reset BIOS" or "clear CMOS" there will also be a small plastic "jumper" on pins 1 & 2, move the jumper to pins 2 & 3 and wait about 10 seconds then move jumper back to pins 1 & 2,replace the pcs lid and turn on the pc & see if everything works another way is to remove the bat for about 10 seconds then put it back in (but NOT with metal tweesers) cogratulations! you've just done your first BIOS reset don't just run out and buy a USB root hub, we haven't tried replaceing cables or checking if the wireless adapter will work on another pc what is the make & model of the adapter, or router if they were bought together as a package
Not sure what happened to my reply that i sent but looks like it isnt here........ Ok did a BIOS reset and yes i got my sons USB ports back working, Many thanks to all that helped.....But now i have another problem, when trying to install the wireless adapter it was not communicating with the router, after a lengthy phone call with the suppliers of both the router and the wireless adapter we discovered that the pc was not releasing any IP address....the guy on the phone said he couldn't help and i would have to take the pc to pc world or somewhere like that..........Any other ideas anyone?
