USB Drivers for XP with SP2?

Question

Please help.  I've looked at so many message boards & tried so many things...I don't know what to do next...   I have a Dell Dimension 4550 XP with Service Pack 2 Installed.    I purchased a Logitech 350 USB Gaming Headset, and shortly found out that the USB ports will not work because the system cannot find the drivers.    After reading the forums, I realize that this is not a new problem...SP2 did something that 'rearranged' key audio drivers, and the 'New Hardware Wizard' cannot locate them.   Because it cannot find the drivers, the device manager lists the headphones as 'other' with the yellow question mark in front of it.   Based upon my Forum readings...Some of the things I have already tried have been...    - Copying the missing (all of them I hope) 'audio' drivers from the 'C\Windows\Service Pack Directory' to the 'C\windows\System directory'    - Reinstalling the USB drivers (version 2.0 I believe) from my Original Dell disk.    - Downloaded and installed the Chipset Driver.  Even when the chipset was installed, I pointed the New Hardware Wizard directly to the proper file, and it still could not find the drivers.  When that didn't work, I saw in another forum that said after the chipset driver was installed, I must then reinstall Service Pack 2...so I did that as well.   I have Uninstalled....Reinstalled....and Re-Booted so many times that I'm dizzy!  All for a 'Plug & Play' device.  I know the answer is out there, because this is not a very new problem.  I just need some detailed instructions.....maybe I'm just not doing something in the right order?   Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.     Message Edited by fmjrny on 07-31-2005 05:12 PM

fmjrny · Answer

Archfiend,

Thanks for the response. I have tried the 2 usb ports in the back as well as the 2 in the front.

I guess the HUB is an alternative, assuming it comes with supplied drivers. The point is I really shouldn't have to buy something else when I have 4 usb ports available...The thing should work.

I want to believe that there's a fix of some sort....when something works when the PC is new & out of the box, and then doesn't after you perform "recommended updates"....somethings wrong.

jdwssll · Answer

SP-2 supplies the USB2.0 drivers; by installing them from a disk, you disabled them. Sounds crazy, but true! Go to Control Panel / System / Hardware / Device Manager / USB Serial Host Controllers and delete the USB root hubs and Reboot. At the Reboot XP will find new hardware and install the proper drivers.

Jd

fmjrny · Answer

Thanks for the recommendation JD....

I thought you had something there, and for a few seconds there during the reboot process I thought I saw a light at the end of this tunnel I've been in for the past week...BUT NO GOOD.

The root Hubs goes through successful driver searches for the mouse & keyboard, but once it gets to this Logitech Headset...the driver search justs bounces me out to the "New Hardware Setup"....from that point, it's the same old story.

I must be missing some sort of audio driver someplace...as soon as I plug in my Logitech Wingman Joystick, THAT works fine.

Earlier today, someone pointed me to a DELL Download for "Analog Devices ADI 198x Intergrated Audio". I downloaded the file, but when I went to install it I received a "SEVERE" error message "Driver Not Found! Reboot your system and run this setup again".........................That didn't work either.

Let me bounce this off you If I may...One guy on one of the forums got the headset to work by extracting the "wdma_usb.inf" file from the original CD. He used the WinRar program to extract the file and installed via manual hardware installation "have disk" option. What this guy did was way over my head, but is it possible that I could also be missing this file???

Thanks for your input JD

Sincerely,

Dazed & Confused...lol

jdwssll · Answer

What do you have for a sound card in your pc? Is it the integrated audio built into the motherboard? System specs at this point may be helpful if it is the integrate audio chip in the motherboard.                 Jd   I found these audio drivers for the integrated audio at the Downloads for your 4550: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R56339&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4550&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2430&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=3&formatcnt=1&fileid=67126 And would suggest that you download this 4 Mb file, remove audio device like you did with the USB devices, reboot, 'disregard found new hardware wizard' by closing wizard, turn off anitvirus and then install Audio Driver from the link. Message Edited by jdwssll on 08-02-2005 10:07 AM

fmjrny · Answer

Thanks for your continued response JD...   After my last attempt last night, I've decided to step back from this issue for a bt....it's been a long week.   Today I brought the PC into the tech people at my job.  I went in armed with all the paperwork of everything I've tried to date right through last night's attempt.  By the time I left them at 5:00, they were pretty burnt!  They are going to give it one more try tomorrow, and then I think it's 'PC Labotomy Time'.  It's probably due for a 'good cleaning' anyway.   I will pass on your advice to them, and I'll let you know how I make out when I get it back.   Thanks again for your assistance with this.   Fred

jochbergsurfer · Answer

hi fred,

I'm sorry, I can't help you. I'm just answering, because I have exactly the same problem with other usb-devices: a plantronics headset, a labtec headset and a logitech cordless desktop. Mine is a dimension 4000, the chipset is intel 845G, the usb host controller is a intel 82801 DB/DBM.

I tried everything you tried and maybe even more: for example installing sp1 usb-drivers for the host controller and the usb root hub. It#s totally frustrating, please let me know, when you solved the problem, I'll do the same.

Thanks - max

fmjrny · Answer

Max,

It's been a long two weeks, and right after work...I'm going drinking!

My IT department has had for a few days, and although they haven't dedicated their full resourses to the problem.....They are at a loss. Their last attempt might be to do some sort of "Windows Repair"...I expect to see them at the bar too....lol

The next step quite honestly is to do a full reformat & reinstall of everything...and hopefully the missing USB drivers will be there.

I can't believe I'm doing this for a stupid "plug & play" device!!!

I will let you know either way. Thanks for the line.

Fred

fmjrny · Answer

Max,

Sorry for the long delay in between posts... I was away on vacation for a couple of weeks.

Good news...the computer tech at my job was able to fix my PC / USB Driver Issues. And the best part of the news is that she did it without reformatting the hard drive.

In a nutshell, she basically reinstalled (or repaired) the operating the system, without the hard drive format!

From what she tells me it's a 50-50 shot of it working out with no hitches, but if you have an older system and a fully loaded hard drive, it's worth a try.

Clean up your system as much as possible & delete any garbage you can. Back-up all your data files as if you are going to reformat your hard drive (just in case you end up doing just that).

Using your original Windows XP install CD, you start the procedure of reformatting and reinstalling Windows XP, but before it actually starts the reformatting, it gives you the option to repair or reinstall without formatting the hard drive. Chose that option!

Maybe I just lucked out, because it worked for me....the all USB ports can identify the driver for the headset, and everything seems to work fine. The IT tech then reinstalled Service Pack 2 onto my system....everything still works fine.

I have to admit, as a novice with this stuff, I'm not sure I would have tried this myself. I was glad I had the IT tech available. I know that's not the case for many people. But once I made the decision that I was willing to reformat the entire hard drive if I had to, "rolling the dice" so-to-speak to repair the operating system without the hard drive reformat was a no-brainer.

I hope this helps. Sorry I can't be more technical in my explanation here, but I'm just not familiar enough with this.

Good Luck,

Fred

jochbergsurfer · Answer

Hi Fred!

Congratulations!

I'm not quite sure yet, if I'm willing to go through all this. Right now I'm getting by with an older analog headset which I can plug into the sound card.

But anyway, thanks a lot for your detailed information!

Cheers - Max

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USB Drivers for XP with SP2?

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