It would be helpful to know what model computer you have. Did you recently have to reformat the hard drive and reinstall Winodws? If you system is the 8100, did you install the Chipset drivers?

Steve

Thanks for your reply. I have a Dell Dimensions 4100. I have not reformatted the hard drive or reinstalled Windows.

I have been using Windows in the selective startup mode ( unchecking the "load startup group items box in the system configuration utility) to try and resolve some software conflicts I'm having. Now, though, I'm using the normal startup mode.

Have the USB ports ever worked on your system? If so, you could try doing a System Restore to a date prior to when the USB ports stopped working.

Steve

Thanks again. Another book here. I've always had conflicts with this (Lexmark Z32)printer. 2 days ago I downloaded a newer driver for my printer, hoping it would resolve the software conflicts--which Lexmark support couldn't help me with. I only became aware of the USB problem when the printer didn't work after I installed the new driver (I'm sure I did the installation properly).

Oddly, when I began looking at the printer properties with this problem, the printer port was listed as LPT1. It was only after I uninstalled the new driver that I looked into the existence of the USB port. In the control panel--system properties-device manger..., I found the questionable presence of the USB--as I described in my first posting. ??

Thanks for your help.

Well, it sounds to me like the drivers for the USB controller are not installed or are corrupt. Try updating the drivers again, but this time insert the Windows ME CD-ROM in the CD drive and point the driver installation wizard to win9x folder on the CD-ROM.

Steve

Judy,
I doubt there is anything wrong with the USB ports themselves or the USB controller driver. That USB Device in your device manager is probably the Lexmark Z32 printer. To confirm or rule out, open the device manager then unplug the printer's USB cable from the back of the computer tower. This should cause device manager to refresh itself. If the USB Device disappears then it is definitely the printer.

To take this a step further, check for a branch called Universal Serial Bus Controllers near the bottom of device manager. It should look similar to the following:



This is a picture of the USB controller branch on my computer. Bear in mind that the motherboard in your Dimension 4100 has an Intel 815E chipset while my Abit motherboard has a VIA KT133 chipset so yours will not match the image above exactly. The important thing is to make sure there are no exclamation points or red x's on any of the devices under this branch. Did you plug your Lexmark printer into one of the USB ports before installing its driver?

Thank you, Thank you all for the help!!

I did as you said,disconnected the USB cable from the printer, and watched the device manager refresh itself. No more questionable entries!

And I DID find the USB controller at the bottom of the device manager. I feel dumb in not having found it earlier, but I expected it to be with the ports.

My problem started when I downloaded a newer driver for my printer from the printer site. The new driver didn't recognize my USB controller and also the printer wouldn't work. So, I got rid of all the new stuff and reinstalled my old printer driver. It recognized the USB controller, installed the driver, and my printer works again.

I need to stick to the old adage-if it ain't broke don't fix it! (except that I do have software conflicts with it--but those are better than no printer at all!

So, many thanks for the help again!

Judy,
Glad I could be of assistance. It sounds like you did what Bob11's signature says to bring this about in the first place; if it ain't broke fix it til it is! Fortunately you were able to resolve the problem pretty easily. USB devices can be a real hassle to get working again when something goes wrong.

please my father purchased this machine for me but did not include the operating system so i installed a new operating system but it is working without the network controller driver and usb controller driver please help me.

please my father purchased this machine for me but did not include the operating system so i installed a new operating system but it is working without the network controller driver and usb controller driver please help me.