Mike,

You say that when you remove the unknown device that Windows detects it again. During this detection, it should tell you something about what it is. For example, if it is an audio card for which you have no driver installed, it might announce as a new PCI multimedia device. This would then give you a hint as to where to look.

Windows does detect the new device and announces it as a new Unknown Device and of course then starts the New Hardware Wizard and does not locate any drivers for it.

MB

Craig_Martinsen wrote:
- Mike,
-
- You say that when you remove the unknown device that
- Windows detects it again. During this detection, it
- should tell you something about what it is. For
- example, if it is an audio card for which you have
- no driver installed, it might announce as a new PCI
- multimedia device. This would then give you a hint
- as to where to look.
-
-

Has the computer always been this way, or is it something new? If you think it has always been this way, then perhaps Dell did not install all of the drivers. If it is a new thing it suggests a component lost its driver or something was added. If you are running Win ME you could use System Restore to take it back to before this condition started.

This is a shot in the dark, but may be relevant. I had this problem when I installed Win2K on a couple of dimensions, Pentium III 800 Mhz + The chipset is 815 E. As this was a clean install, I had to install the Intel chipset drivers separately. If you've formatted, check the chipset (at boot up or in the bios) & see if drivers are available. You may have them on the resource CD.

David.

I experienced the same thing after I upgraded from Win98SE to W2K. I can't remember now how I stumbled onto the answer, but it turned out to be my Xerox multi-function machine not completely installed on a USB port. Problem disappeared when I reinstalled the Xerox with their W2K drivers.

Do you have any USB devices?

Prof_Gumby