USB driver/controller?? not installed??

Question

When I purchased this computer from Dell, I asked that a USB port be included. The USB port was included in my original purchase price, but a driver does not seem to be installed. I am using Windows ME.

I looked in my computer's control panel--system--device manager--there is an entry "other devices," preceded by a yellow question mark. Under this entry is an
indented yellow question mark with an exclamation mark in it. After this icon are the words "USB Device." When I right click on that entry to get the USB Device
Properties, under "general" is says Device type: other devices, Manufacturer: None specified, Hardware version: Not available, Device Status: the drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28). To reinstall the drivers for this device click Reinstall Driver.

I tried doing this, searching the C drive, and I got a message that said "Windows was unable to locate the software for this device...."

Under the "driver" tab, there is also a big yellow question mark followed by USB Device. Driver provider, driver date, and digital signer are all followed by blanks.
Then it says "no driver files are required or have been loaded for this device. To update the driver files for this device, click Update Driver." Of course this doesn't
work either.

Can anyone help me straighten out this problem? I want to use this for my printer (crummy Lexmark Z32). Many thanks for reading all this!

Judy

volcano11 · Answer

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

judydd · Answer

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.

volcano11 · Answer

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

judydd · Answer

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.

volcano11 · Answer

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

The_Namek · Answer

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?

judydd · Answer

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!

The_Namek · Answer

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.

humphreyocansey · Answer

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.

shesagordie · Answer

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.

humphreyocansey

Please post some additional information about your desktop.

Computer model and the version of Windows that is installed.

Bev.

shesagordie · Answer

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.

humphreyocansey

Please post some additional information about your desktop.

Computer model and the version of Windows that is installed.

Bev.

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USB driver/controller?? not installed??

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