And yet another thought:
Go to your manufacturer's website, find driver updates for CHIPSETS.
download it and install. they are motherboard specific. This is he first
thing their technicians do when you call them and they walk you with this
problem.
I've had this problem for years with XP and now Vista and when I called them
and we downloaded the chipsets which I actually downloaded and installed
myself a month before it did not help at all. Nonetheless I am going to do
it again today or tomorrow. Just FYI.
Post back if anything worked for you. It is helpful to know how other people
resolve their problems.
"Typicalgirl" <Typicalgirl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8D7CB3D4-C6CC-4A76-B814-E4E01C3990EA@microsoft.com...
> Efrain,
> Thanks. just tried this with the same (no) results.
> Vista just lists every USB device I try to install as an unknown device
> and
> tells me the best driver is already installed for it.
>
> I broke down and bought an OEM version of the OS and will try a clean
> install after reformatting the drive. If the problem persists, I'll just
> reformat again and put 2003 server on, since that's what runs on my other
> computers.
>
> I'm only using Vista because it came on this system, and I sort of
> suspected
> I would eventually have to remove it.
>
> I appreciate your time and help.
> Thanks!
>
> "EfraĆ*n Morales" wrote:
>
>> 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
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >