Im assuming these are all USB devices? Perhaps try reloading the motherboard chipset driver.

Thanks snapohead, we did that this morning with no luck.

Further to the above. My Logitech Web Cam also shows in the device manager  under Unknown Device as Logitech Quickcam Messenger #5 yet it functions normally.  Once in a while when I plug in my Powershot S30 it too will show up in the device manager under Unknown Device as Canon Powershot S30 #2 or sometimes #3 and in those instances I was able to download photos from the camera.  It was like my operating system was somehow able to figure out the problem, find it's own work around solution, give the device a number i.e. #2 and then it would work.   I hope that this all helps you or anyone else who may have some thoughts on the subject.

Thanks RoHe:  We did like you suggested and reinstalled the intel chipset in safe mode and that didn't work. We also uninstalled all the USB entries after removing all the USB devices except the keyboard.  I spent several hours online with a Dell Tech when we did this plus a few other things. What is funny is that I can plug either my mouse and keyboard or my printer into any of the 7 USB's on the rear of my computer or the two USB on the front of the PC and they are all recognized okay and function properly.  When I plug in any of the following: a maxtor external hard drive, an Epson Perfection 1240U scanner, an Epson perfection 3170 scanner, a Canon Powershot S30 camera all of them are recognized by Windows XP Media but for some reason show up in the Device Manager as Unknown Devices. XP recognizes each one as i.e. Canon Powershot S30 or whatever and indicates that it is operating properly.  Unfortunately none of the devices that show up as Unknown Devices will function with the PC.  We have removed ALL related software and reinstalled it but always with the same results. We did a System Restore as far back as the system would allow but still no luck and then we reverted to the current day.  Out of frustration we finally used the Control + F10 key to restore the Operating System to it's orginal state and even then the same peripherals would be recognized and placed as Unknown Devices in the Device Manager. I can't recall if we again reinstalled the intel chipset at this time or uninstalled all the USB entries.  Since all these peripherals still would not function I have since used Dantz Retrospect to restore all of my operating system and data back to it's original status that it was on the day I 1st. posted this problem. Dell techs are saying it must be a software problem and have basically given up. Epson and Canon Techs had not encountered a similar problem and they too were unable to help although they all certainly tried.  My computer continues to operate perfectly in every other respect except I cannot use my external drive, my scanners or download from my camera.  I still need help badly and only have this forum to turn to for answers.

Thanks again RoHe.  Merry Christmas

 

Mike

Thanks RoHe:    Sorry that it took this long to let you know what developed. Actually I gave up trying to get all my peripherals to work and only a few days ago I tried again using 2 or 3 different Dell tech support people.  None of them were able to resolve the issue of peripherals loading in Ünknown category (not Other devices or Imaging devices etc). They tried everything from updating intel chipset, device drivers, desktop, bios, removing software and re-installing, you name it. None of them could figure why some of the peripherals were recognized in the Device manager but not in My Computer. Why some of the devices functioned normally when listed in the Unknown category while other devices wouldn't work at all.  Bottom line is they have decided to replace the Motherboard. I only hope that all my data remains intact and that all peripherals, i.e. epson scanner, canon powershot S30, Maxtor III One Touch all are recognized and function properly. If not - I give up. Will keep you posted.