USB Device already in use - but nothing plugged in?!

[sitarra]

Hi,
Firstly, sorry if this is in the wrong section, I wasn't sure which one to post this in.

This problem is driving me crazy, I've done everything I can think of to solve it but nothing has worked so far.

I am trying to plug in and use my USB midi controller, Akai's MPD32. It should just plug in and work, no drivers to install, just simple plug and play. It used to work but something is not working now.

When it is plugged in I don't see the device icon in the tray but I can see it in Device Manager and Devices & Printers, both say it is working properly although it is listed as an audio device, which I don't know is how it should be as it is a midi controller, no audio is used. The device has power to it as well.

However, when I try to do anything with it I get errors. There is an editor specially made for this controller called Vyzex. When I try to use this it says:

"Can't open Midi Out Port Akai MPD32.
Driver may already be in use"

Then:

"Can't open Midi Out Port MIDIOUT2 (Akai MPD32).
Driver may already be in use".

It then asks me to select the input port, which shows the MPD32 ports but when I select one it says that the drivers are already in use - but I have nothing connected!

I try with MIDIOX (and midi monitor program) and it says "Undefined external error" when I try to select the midi port for MPD32.

My music program (Ableton Live 7.14) sees the MPD32 but the ports are greyed out, meaning it's not working for some reason. Ableton receives no midi data from the device.

I have no idea what is using the driver or USB ports. I have tried all ports. I used USBDeview to see what was being used and there is a "USB Composite Device" in use but I have no idea what this is, there is nothing plugged in. I have attached a screenshot of this with the device details in case this helps.

I have also tried disabling my integrated webcam as I heard that Logitech can cause conflicts (mine isn't Logitech I don't think) but this didn't help. I have also attached a screenshot of the Device Manager.

Pulling my hair out with this. I really don't know what else to try.

 

[richc46]

Boot in clean boot mode
If the device works properly, follow instructions to find the cause.

 

[sitarra]

Hi Rich,

I tried the clean boot with out the startup services as instructed but I still had the same problem. The instructions seem to say just repeating the same step but if I had already booted without startup services isn't just going to be the same?

I'm a bit confused about what I'm supposed to be doing. Should I be stopping the Windows services as well as startup services?

 

[richc46]

If you did the clean boot and the problem still existed, clean boot cannot help us. Try in safe mode, now.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

Also run an antivirus scan
Download and scan with malwarebytes. Make sure you update and do the full scan

Lets be sure something not wanted is not using the port.

 

[sitarra]

I just tried in safe mode but no programs are recognising the USB device so I couldn't test it.

 

[richc46]

To keep us occupied while looking for an answer run the anti virus and malwarebytes

While that is running go to device manager make sure that all drivers are up to date and no yellow markers are showing.

Update all port drivers.

 

[richc46]

If you have some sort of equip attached to a port like this
MPD32 Performance Pad Controller

Uninstall.

Leave only the mouse and keyboard in ports, for a test.

 

[sitarra]

I've run a quick scan with Malwarebytes and Avast which showed nothing, running a full scan on Avast now but I don't think anything will show up.

I've gone through every device driver in Device Manager and tried to update it but everything was using the latest.

I am running a laptop to the only thing attached is the power cable. I plugged the MPD32 in and uninstalled it from the Sound, Video & Games Controller section in Device Manager, and then unplugged.

 

[Aphelion]

I've run a quick scan with Malwarebytes and Avast which showed nothing, running a full scan on Avast now but I don't think anything will show up.

I've gone through every device driver in Device Manager and tried to update it but everything was using the latest.

I am running a laptop to the only thing attached is the power cable. I plugged the MPD32 in and uninstalled it from the Sound, Video & Games Controller section in Device Manager, and then unplugged.

First, it's normal for USB controllers to be seen as an audio device.

Looks like you have multiple instances of the generic driver loaded. Not sure why unless it's been plugged into more than one USB port or a hub.

This might take registry editing. After my Yamaha-77 keyboard quit earlier this year I picked up an Oxygen61 (USB) to get me by untill the Yamaha is repaired.

I'm going to look in the registry (long time experienced reg editor) and see if I can locate where the multiple instances might be installed.

Ap

 

[Aphelion]

I captured your screen grab and marked what looks to be multiple devices, I'm guessing you finally had one to many USB devices loaded for the Akai and Windows finally became confused and for some reason has kept one loaded.



One thing to try, with the keyboard plugged in go into Device manager double click on the device in "sound, video & game controllers" go to the drivers tab and "uninstall" if the device show as still present, delete it as well.

Unplug the keyboard, shut the computer OFF, in a couple of minutes boot the machine, wit until it settles then plug the keyboard in. Try and always use the same USB port.

Also... have you installed any other USB devices before your keyboard stopped working.. you have -a lot- of USB devices listed.

If all elses fails registry editing would be the next step.

Ap

 

[sitarra]

Thanks for the response Aphelion.

It's possible that it has been plugged in to multiple usb ports, since I had this laptop I've only used it a few times so I probably forget which port I plug it in to. I have had one or two other controllers too (not anymore though) which might be adding to the confusion. I only have this one now so all the rest can be deleted from the registry if that is possible.

I tried your suggestion of uninstalling it and turning off etc but it hasn't helped unfortunately.

I'm concerned about this 'usb composite device' that runs with nothing plugged in, it seems strange to me.

I've run full scans and nothing was found.

 

[Aphelion]

Thanks for the response Aphelion.

I tried your suggestion of uninstalling it and turning off etc but it hasn't helped unfortunately.

I'm concerned about this 'usb composite device' that runs with nothing plugged in, it seems strange to me.

Have you edited a registry before?

I can post the information you need to most likely correct the problem but it might seem a daunting task if you've never edited the registry before.


The USB Ports information is found here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Enum / USB

You should be able to find all of the port listings + USB Audio Devices and Composite Devices there.

First I would search out all instances of the MIDI IN & OUT ports related to your keyboard and delete those, I would also search out the keyboard by name MPD32
and delete any related keys... being careful not to delete root keys unless they directly mention the MIDI IN/OUT ports or MPD32.

Then take a look at the USB ports.


If you just want to try deleting the ports, go to Device Manager... then to the USB section, take a look there and delete the composite and audio devices.

Disclaimer.. you can seriously foul up your machine editing the registry, it can render the OS unusable or unbootable.

+++Back the system up before jumping in.+++

On the plus side, you're not in areas that are likely the mess things up too badly.


Ap

 

[richc46]

Make a system restore point, first, too.

 

[sitarra]

Thanks for posting that. I have done a little reg editing before but not a great deal.

I deleted all the MPD32, USB Audio even the Composite Devices but it doesn't seem to have solved the problem. After doing this and plugging the MPD32 back in the Composite Device and MPD32 reinstall themselves but everything is the same as before.

I tried disabling the Composite Device in Device Manager while the MPD32 was plugged in and that stopped the MPD from being recognised by any programs so I assume it's something related to the MPD.

I'm getting so fed of this issue, I'm quite tempted to just reinstall Windows but that's a real pain in the *** to have to do that and reinstall everything else. This is what drives me mad about making music on computers, sometimes it seems you spend more time being technician than musician.

 

[eye10sbks]

sitarra,

I have the exact same problem with my akai mpk49... did you find a solution? where you able to get your mpd32 working again? if yes, how?

 

[sbrads]

Look for a program called USBdeview, I've only used it once for a USB problem like yours but it worked a treat. You can see everything USB that's ever been used, you can uninstall all the USB devices you know won't ever be needed including the problematical one (and any duplicates) you want to work properly, and then let Windows re-discover it again as if it's a new system.

 

[sitarra]

eye10sbks,

I did try the program that sbrads mentions (or one like it, I don't remember the name) but it didn't solve the problem for me. I did find a solution however.

Unfortunately it was to reinstall windows but only in the way that it keeps everything on your computer (sorry I don't know what this is called, Upgrade install I think - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html).

Bit of a hassle but everything was left intact and I was able to use MPD afterwards.