HI Typicalgirl:
When Windows Vista does not recognize a USB device when plugged:
1. Disconnect all USB devices that are working with conflicts (they are
shown in the Device Manager).
2. Restart and see that no Windows popup offers to install drivers, and
never can.
3. Go to start > Computer > Windows > inf > INFCACHE.1, which is the file
causing the trouble and we want to delete it. To do so we need to have
maximum authorization as Administrator Privileges.
4. Right click INFCACHE.1 > Properties > Security tab > Edit the permission.
If you are the Administrator give yourself Full Control (all options with
checks), for you need it to delete and move a Windows Operating System file,
and click Ok.
5. Before deleting the INFCACHE.1 file, copy it to any other place, just in
case. Delete the original Windows INFCACHE.1 inside the inf file. Restart.
6. Start connecting your USB devices one by one, giving Windows Vista enough
time to install the drivers and show the Successfully Installed popup display.
7. Look where you saved the copy of the INFCACHE.1 file and delete it.
Efrain Morales
"Typicalgirl" wrote:
> OK - I uninstalled all the USB stuff and rebooted. No change.
> Then I went poking around in the Vista System Information and found
> something interesting.
> In System Information>system summary>software environment>system drivers I
> can see a list of drivers and their status. The drivers for the devices that
> Vista is not recognizing are "turned off".
>
> I have a screen shot here:
> http://bxf.box49.com/up/main/USB%20snap.jpg
>
> So that seems to be the problem, but what's the solution?
> Is there a way I can set the Start Mode to system or auto?
> Is there a way I can manually turn them on?
>
> any input appreciated - thanks!
>
> "Mike Hall - MVP" wrote:
>
> > "Typicalgirl" <Typicalgirl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:DA4254F1-4989-492B-B678-D313747FC3B3@microsoft.com...
> > > Vista stopped recognizing my installed USB devices yesterday. System
> > > restore, Last Known Good Config and reinstalling the device drivers have
> > > not
> > > corrected the problem. Also did a registry clean and repair.
> > >
> > > Tried renaming INFCACHE.1 to INFCACHE.1.bak
> > > Tried the hotfix mentioned in a similar post.
> > > Ran a registry scan and repair.
> > >
> > > Devices include memory stick, webcam, printer, wireless KB and mouse. USB
> > > ports have power, and Vista sees new hardware when its is plugged in, but
> > > always sees it as unknown device and cannot find or install drivers.
> > > All devices worked fine 2 days ago.
> > >
> > > Vista Home Premium 32 bit
> > > Acer Aspire 5100
> > > AMD Turion 64 bt processor
> > > 2 gb RAM
> > > 120 GB hard drive
> > > No new updates available.
> > >
> > > Acer service is crap, and I'm not finding much help from Microsoft either.
> > > Acer also does not provide an install disk so I don't see how I can do a
> > > clean reinstall of Vista.
> > >
> > > I can put another OS on this machine, but was kinda having fun with some
> > > of
> > > the Vista bells and whistles.
> > > So, is there a definitive fix for this?
> > >
> >
> >
> > Try going into Device Manager and uninstalling everything USB. Then reboot
> > the computer. Do this with only the keyboard and mouse connected.
> >
> > One by one, add the other USB devices. You may have picked up a bad driver,
> > possibly from Windows Update.
> >
> > Also, quit using registry cleaners or any software which claims to fix all
> > ills..
> >
> > --
> > Mike Hall - MVP
> > http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >