Computer/USB Help

[roadman]

Here's my problem.

We have 2 USB Ports in the front of our computer. They didn't appear to be working.

I tried troubleshooting the problem and I think I created a huge problem.

There is a wireless mouse and keyboard/connector connected to one of the back USB's. I uninstalled the driver for the USB Port and thought when I rebooted XP, XP would find that driver.

No dice. I notice the connector went dark right away and now I can't get into Windows because the mouse and keyboard aren't working without the driver?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Sting]

Re: Computer/USB Help

Try killing the power to the computer by just unplugging or manually turning the sucker off, but don't shut it down from the menu like you're supposed to.

When you start it back up, because of the fact that it wasn't shut down properly, it should be a temporary black screen with options on there along the lines of "last known good configuration" or something like that. Choose that option and maybe that will do it. But it may not since you uninstalled those two drivers. But one of the drivers on that pc should work somewhere if you restart from last known configuration.

Hope that works, it's worth a shot.

[roadman]

Re: Computer/USB Help

I tried booting up in SAFE Mode last night(before shutting down the computer) and I did see the option about last configuration, but I couldn't figure out how to select that option without the arrow keys or anything on the keyboard working.

[Burns11]

Re: Computer/USB Help

Use XP disc to boot into the recovery console

Log into your XP installation

At the prompt type "cd system32\config" (all of these without quotes)

Then type "ren system system.bad"

Then "cd %systemroot%\repair"

Then "copy system %systemroot%\system32\config"

Then type "exit" to restart

What this does is replaces the file that contains all the driver and services information with the drivers/services that were installed originally. You will likely have to reinstall drivers and any programs that boot with your system (like antivirus, etc, they will still be installed and configured but won't boot) but you should have your mouse and keyboard back at least.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Computer/USB Help

I am surprised the mods havent moved this to the tech board.

[roadman]

Re: Computer/USB Help

I am surprised the mods havent moved this to the tech board.

Yeah, your right, I apologize for that one. It was late at night and I hit the wrong forum by accident.


Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions. I shut it down for the night and tried it again in the morning.

To my surprise, I could move the mouse at the start-up screen and once I entered Windows, the keyboard was working as well.

I still have to bum USB ports in the front, though.

[ODogg]

Re: Computer/USB Help

Pick up a USB internal card with firewire is what i'd do. Or if you have very few slots available or just want USB ports in the front you can always get a usb extender and a usb expander to add onto that so you will have ports accessible from the front. You can pick this sort of stuff I describe online at newegg for pretty cheap.

[shugknight]

Re: Computer/USB Help

Just run Windows Update. It will find the correct drivers, and you'll be fine.

If it doesn't find it, you may need to do a Device Search.

[Burns11]

Re: Computer/USB Help

Did these ports ever work? If not, then check to make sure they were wired properly.

If they did work but don't now, after checking to make sure they are enabled in the bios, check to see if it's a hardware issue. Hook the keyboard up to the front ports and try to boot into the bios, if the ports/keyboard work you likely have a driver issue with windows, if they don't they are likely toast. If they are done, you can either find the specific part that is dead, buy a hub that sits either in an expansion bay or one you can route to the desktop (I've always found the desktop hub much more useful than the front usb ports).