New
#1
Problem with built-in memory card reader and USB ports
Ok, long and confusing story... I'm posting this all because I'm not sure what triggered the problem.
I have a HP workstation with 4 USB ports in the back, 2 in the front and an internal memory card reader that also has a single USB port. Windows 7 pro 32-bit.
I tried plugging in a new external HD to a USB port in the back of the machine. Nothing happened and it didn't show up in My Computer, same thing with one of the front USB ports. I thought it might be a problem with the HD, so I went into disk management, but it got stuck in "Connecting to virtual disk service" with nothing showing up, not even internal HD's. I unplugged the new HD, and now got into disk management fine, tried plugging it in again - nothing. I went into to device manager, and noticed there was an unknown USB device with a stop error. I figured I'd remove the device and let Windows re-detect it (not sure if this was smart?).
Then, I plugged the new HD again, and now it finally showed up. Now it works through any USB port, including the one on the card reader. However, now I can no longer read memory cards with it! I also noticed that the small LED on the reader stays lit even if there is nothing plugged in, I recall it should be lit only when something is connected.
I looked in device manager again, and again I have an unknown device under USB drivers with an error (code 43), but I have no idea if its the card-reader or what..?
Is there a way to reinstall the reader? or could it be broken? it worked fine this morning, and the USB port on it still functions. I have no idea how to find a driver for it as it came with the machine and at least HP's support page doesn't seem to have a driver for any card reader for this particular PC model.
Last edited by theshoemaker; 09 Apr 2012 at 15:20.