Windows doesn't install new USB devices

[Difusal]

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.

 

[alphanumeric]

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.

 

[Difusal]

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.

 

[alphanumeric]

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:>http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html?filter[2]=Performance Maintenance
If you haven't created on of these, now might be a good time:> http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html?filter[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.

 

[brianzion]

when you try and install the drivers are you online ? 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 also here is a program from nirsoft helps you see whats connected on the usb ports
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

also look here for help http://support.microsoft.com/fixit#tab0

 

[brianzion]

this is a microsoft fix Advanced troubleshooting tips for general USB problems in Windows XP

sorry thats for xp 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/con...D=&DwnldId=16023&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng), and restart the computer.

 

[thefabe]

Welcome to SevenForums.
This has been known to fix USB port issues with laptops, it seems simple but has been successful.

Try unplugging the AC adapter then removing the battery for about 5 minutes or so. then replace the battery and ac adapter and check to see if it has reset the cmos and re-enabled the use of your usb ports.

Here is also a trouble shooting program you can run.Hardware Helper Online: Windows USB Device drivers
Fabe

 

[Difusal]

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.

 

[Difusal]

when you try and install the drivers are you online ?

Yes, I am online

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 motherboardhttp://support.microsoft.com/fixit#tab0

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?

 

[Difusal]

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/con...D=&DwnldId=16023&strOSs=&OSFullName=&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)

 

[Difusal]

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.

I'm sorry but I want to try everything I can to solve this.. Could you please tell me what I should do to see if everything is as it should be in the Group Policy Editor and how to access it

 

[alphanumeric]

If you weren't previously using the group policy editor, I wouldn't mess with it now. It would likely just make things worse. I'm running Home Premium so I can't even launch it to see what settings might do that. If you had been using it I would have asked you what policies you changed and why?

I wouldn't attempt to open up the case on your laptop to look for loose wires or connections. It will void your warranty if you still have one, and the USB ports will be soldered to the motherboard so there are no wires to come loose. On a desktop PC some of the USB ports are on headers and connect to the motherboard with cables. If the cables come loose or one of the plugs is on wrong it can mess up your USB ports. I believe the other poster thought you had a desktop PC.

Removing the (large) battery and disconnecting the power pack won't reset the BIOS on a laptop. There is another small battery inside that maintains the date and time stored in the BIOS. Even removing that will not reset it on a laptop. The BIOS chip that the data is stored in is different from those in a desktop PC. It's done that way on purpose to prevent you from easily bypassing the BIOS password if the laptop is lost or stolen. You can however go into the BIOS settings menu and look for a "reset to defaults" option. I'm not sure it would help in instance so I'll let you decide if you want to do it or not. If you do do it you'll have to go back in and set the date and time, boot order, etc. You can go though all the current settings and write them down before you do the reset. Removing the battery and power pack wasn't a bad idea though. USB ports have an overload protection mechanism and the only way to reset it is to remove all power.

 

[Difusal]

so, what do I try next? reset BIOS?

 

[madtownidiot]

I would be surprised if the "driver genious" didn't disable automatic device installation on your computer.

 

[Difusal]

I already had this problem before I installed driver genius, I only installed it to see if it would solve it... Nut I think it is a good program

 

[thefabe]

Did you try running the program I linked you to and see if it could find a resolution? Fabe

 

[Difusal]

yes, I have.. unfortunatly, it didn't solve it

 

[Difusal]

One option id to do this:>http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html?filter

tried, it found some mistakes, corrected them, but problem still goes on

 

[alphanumeric]

Copy any files you want saved to external media and reinstall windows from scratch, clean install. If you add all the time you've spent trying to fix it with no results, its probably more than it would take to just start over with a clean slate. If it fixes it, it was a software problem, if it doesn't then its looking more like a hardware fault.

 

[Difusal]

I know I can always do that.. But, I want to let that option for the very last attempt... Besides, wont it void my warranty starting from scratch?