Windows doesn't install new USB devices  

Yesterday, I noticed that my computer isn't able to install any new hardware.

Everytime I connect a USB device that I've never connected to my computer, windows new hardware wizard pops up saying: "Installing new software drivers", but then, another balloon pops up saying: "Device drivers couldn't be installed".

This is happening with every hardware I've never connected to the computer before!

What is happening:

- My pen works in every USB ports. I have used it since I bought my computer (this summer) and I used it in every port since then. It works just fine.

- My mouse (which I also use since I bought my computer) is working fine too, but in one port only! When I got my computer, I plugged my mouse to only one port and it installed it fine. Now, it works only in that port and if I try to connect it to another port, it won't install.

- My older mouse, which I used as well lots of times, worked fine, but only in one port too, because it was the only port it was ever connected too. I went to Device Manager and uninstalled the controler of this mouse. Once I plugged it in, in the same port it used to work, windows isn't able to install the drivers.

- My sisters pen, which I have never connected to my computer before won't work in any of the ports. Windows isn't able to install it.

Any of the new hardware is working!

I have updated all my drivers with Driver Genius Professional Edition. I have updated my BIOS to the latest version. I have tried to perform a startup repair. I have contacted HP, but they didn't help that much...

I need help, please! I wonder how Microsoft, after so many years still has this huge bugs in their system...

I will try to attach some pictures of what is going on.

Please, I really need some help

P.S. - This is my first post in a forum. Please tell me if you need any more detail to help me.

I've looked at the screen shoots but my only language is English so I couldn't read them. If you have system restore enabled you could try restoring to a time before you noticed this problem. If it doesn't help you can always undo it and go back to the way your system is now. Another option would be to boot from your windows 7 DVD and try doing a repair. Have you installed any programs recently? Messing around with the group policy editor? If you have more than one user account see if it does it in all user accounts of just the one. does your user account has administrator privileges?

On a side not, one of the things that annoys me is when you plug a device you have already installed, into a different USB port, windows considers it a new device and wants to install the drivers again. For most items its not a big deal but when you end up with Wireless Network Connection #9 it gets old.
Thats why your mouse only works in the one port it was originally installed to. When you move it, windows is treating it as a new device but your glitch is preventing any new devices from being installed.

I've tried to repair windows 7 with startup repair.. that didn't solve it and I don't know when this problem began, I only noticed it when I connected my sisters pe the other day... You asked: Messing around with the group policy editor? what do you mean with that? And yes, I have recently added a new user account to this computer, but when I log in that account, it happens the same thing. And yes, my user account has entire administrator privileges.

I didn't mean any thing by it, I probably should have just asked if you had been using it. It's one way of tweaking some hidden settings, and sometimes it doesn't do what you thought it would do. If you weren't using it we can rule it out as a possible cause. There is a more in depth repair than just doing a startup repair.
One option id to do this:>SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker[2]=Performance Maintenance
If you haven't created on of these, now might be a good time:> System Repair Disc - Create[2]=Performance Maintenance Maintenance. Ideally you want to create it before you are having system troubles.
I am sure there is another tutorial in there some where on doing a windows 7 repair install but I can't find it at the moment. Google should give you enough info to do it. I know how to do it on XP but haven't had to try it on windows 7 yet.

Thanks for all your replies! I'm really glad I have someone who is trying to help me fixing this problem!

thefabe, I've tried to remove my AC adaptor and my battery. I waited 10 minutes, then place the battery and AC adaptor. Turned on the laptop and plugged the pen and other types of hardware. That didn't solve it...
I have updated my drivers with Driver Genius, but it didn't work too.

brianzion said:

when you try and install the drivers are you online ?

Yes, I am online

brianzion said:

have you checked the cables inside the machine do a routine check just to see if anything on the motherboard is not connected i had this sort of problem when my machine was in transit and some cables came off the motherboard

Do you mean, if I used the laptop when I was in a bus or car? Yes I did. If I open my laptop to see if everything is connected, won't that void my warranty?

brianzion said:

uninstall all of the USB ports/hubs listed in the Device Manager ( they automatically get reinstalled with a fresh restart of the computer) download a chipset driver installation utility from the Intel site (http://downloadcenter.intel.com/conf...Name=&lang=eng), and restart the computer.

I have several things under USB, in device manager (as you see in my ss) there are listed 7 things and only two have the words HUB, are you saying to uninstall them and reboot?
Btw, what is a hub? (I'm Portuguese :/ just say a definition or what it looks like please)