Ouzappa

So this problem showed up about a week ago and I've been trying different suggestions found from random sites. The problem first came up when I pulled out my ipod with out properly ejecting it. I know, pretty stupid. Anyways, I then unplugged the usb hardware off the motherboard then plugged it back in which ended up being really stupid as that rendered all of my usb's not working and not showing up in 'My Computer'.
I also noticed that when my comupter first boots up, my usb mouse lights up but when windows starts to boot, it turns off. not sure if that is relevant.

Not sure on what specs are needed so I'll just list some random stuff.

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Compaq Presario 061
System Model EL426AA-ABA SR1710NX NA610
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1989 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.13, 11/15/2005
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Mobo - Asus a8ae-le

Mousey

When the mouse turns on as windows boots then off, does your mouse just not work at all in windows? Because that'll be a hardware issue (IE, Dead USB Ports). The mouse lighting up then off, is typically followed by it lighting up again. This is Windows going through your system and loading the appropriate drivers before boot, so the device is working as soon as you enter windows.

So what actually happened there, did you pull your ipod out or the actual inside of the port?

__________________

Ouzappa

yeah, the usb mouse doesn't work in windows so I am using a PS2 mouse instead. The usb mouse turns on when I first turn on the computer, then when the windows boot screen comes up, the light on the mouse turns off.

with the Ipod issue, I first unplugged the ipod out of the cord connected to the computer, which made that port not work. so I tried going into device manager to reinstall the driver, didn't work, so I unplugged the cord that goes directly to the mobo from that usb. that made all the others go kaput.

kris23

is it possible that the USBs were disabled in the hardware manager? id go check on that

__________________

Ouzappa

I don't know about the hardware manager, are you talking about the device manager? The root hubs and standard hosts are all enabled and are showing that they are working properly.

Tyrsonswood

In device manager un install the usb drivers and reboot, make sure there's no usb devices plugged in. Use a ps2 kbd and mouse. Let windows find new devices and re install the drivers itself. See if that works.

__________________

Tipstaff

It might be worth it to try resetting your services too. Give THIS Windows Services registry file a run (which is for XP SP3). It will reset all the Windows Services back to their default. Just extract it, then right-click the file, choose to merge the file, then reboot the system.

__________________

Ouzappa

uninstalling the drivers didn't work.

tipstaff- the link you gave me says
Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /downloads/WinXP/Registry_Files/!Default_XP_Pro_SP3_Start_v300.zip on this server.


when i click on it.
I have also been having a problem with administrator privileges which is what this error might be. I have tryed logging in as the admin on safe mode and that doesn't work either.

kris23

i tried the link as well, even right-clicking and saving it didnt help

__________________

GigaWatt

it's probably some sort of a private server that's hosting the file and you probably need permission to get into one of those...

here is another link to the file (i hope it's the same registry entry, since the filename is the same)

!Default_XP_Pro_SP3_Start_v300.zip

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Tipstaff

That's odd. I posted a new link in a new post, but for some reason it's not showing that post. Weird. Anyways, sorry about that dead link.

The actual page with all the registry files is right HERE. Just head to the bottom, and pick the one relevant to your version of XP.

__________________

Ouzappa

ok, so I used that link and added the file to the registry, rebooted, and nothing seems to have changed any other ideas?

also some more info, the usb's are not shown in the disk manager or in my computer, so maybe they're all just shot... dunno tho.

GigaWatt

if the mouse flashes but then turns off just before XP boots up, i don't think the USB ports are dead... if they were dead, then the mouse wouldn't flash at all, since it needs power to run, and when USB ports "die", usually they voltage supply is just dead, not the whole USB port... for example, printers and other devices that don't require USB power supply (the simply use the interface) work perfectly on seemingly dead USB ports...

a resources conflict perhaps...? some other device is using the resources for the USB ports...?

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Tipstaff

Was worth a shot. As I mentioned some virus will turn off PNP and USB services to disable them, and I was hoping that the file would reset that for you.

Something to try: turn off your PC, and disconnect all cables from your computer case leading to your motherboard, then boot up your system. The idea is to see if there's a fault in one of the connectors.

I'm still inclined to think that they are just disabled. There is a way to make a Group Policy change to disable USB. Most times companies use it to keep people from using USB storage drives on their work computers, or at least when they are connected to their Domain. Normally we set a policy to "Disable USB Removable Drives", and not USB as a whole, but the fact that you are having permission issues is a bit too much of a coincidence. I'm not sitting infront of a Pro machine, so off hand the only thing I can think of trying is a program called SDFix. It scans for specific trojans/malware, and fixes them, but another function of the tool is to reset some security stuff, like permissions, so it would be worth a shot to try it. Just run it in safe mode first under the user you use in regular Windows, and let it do it's thing.

In the meantime I'll have to jump to my Pro machine to get you the details on going through gpedit.msc, which is the Group Policy editor, in order to see if USB is disable or not.

__________________

Tipstaff

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but there is a way to find out whether it's your hardware that is messed up, or just Windows, and that is to use a boot disc that boots into an operating system, or a program that loads USB drivers. Something such as the Ubuntu install disc (which you can run Ubuntu directly off the CD), or a mini-xp disc (something like Hiren's BootCD version 9.8 and higher has it integrated into the CD) would work just fine. Both load USB drivers, so that you can access USB drives, or run USB devices (such as a keyboard/mouse). If your USB devices work fine with either of those discs then you know your hardware is fine, and that your Windows install is more than likely pooched.

__________________

Ouzappa

ok so i did the sdfix and tryed unplugging everything, and the problem still exists.
I will make one of those Hiren's Bootcd's and see how it goes. After making the cd, what is the process I should be doing?

procupine14

With that type of CD you are just going to boot from it and see if your USB devices work as a comparison.

Basically you are making sure that you are able to use the mouse and other to make sure that your USB ports actually work outside of the questionable OS

__________________
HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU

GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU

Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Tipstaff

When you boot from it there will be 3 options: to boot to the hard drive (to currently installed OS), boot the CD (which are the DOS based utilities), and boot to mini-xp (which is a basic XP). You will want the latter option.

__________________

Ouzappa

ok, booted from the disk, chose mini xp, and the mouse stays lit up until the xp loading screen, but the mouse does not work in the mini xp.

Tipstaff

Do you have any other USB devices? Like a keyboard or flash/usb pen drive?

Oh, totally forgot, when you try them, use the top 2 USB ports, the ones closest to your PS2 ports. Those are independent of the other ports.

__________________

Ouzappa

I tried hooking up my printer, mouse, and memory stick, and none of them seemed to respond in the mini xp. Top ports used as well, closest to ps2.

Tyrsonswood

Sounding like bad hardware......... Last post you mentioned the mouse staying lit longer, does it stay lit, but just not function? Or does it shut down once mini-XP is loaded?

__________________

Ouzappa

yeah, the mouse does not work in minixp, it only stays lit until the windows loading screen (where the blue loading bars scroll across the middle underneath xp logo).

Tipstaff

If you are still unsure of the ports then I would try the ubuntu disc I mentioned. My advice, however, would be to call your Asus, and start the RMA to get it replaced as you've pretty much narrowed it down to an issue with the board itself.

The only other suggestion I have is to grab a USB PCI expansion card. If the USB ports on the PCI card work, then you'll know for sure it's the board. Mind you, even though they are usually cheap, if you never use the card, then it's potentially money you are throwing away.

__________________

Ouzappa

I will try the ubuntu disk, and i will be getting a pci card to see if I can just get any usb's working.
Thank you all very much for your help, even though it seems I may have just killed the mobo, at least I'm not scrambling around trying to figure it out all on my own.

Ouzappa

ok so I made an ubuntu disk and the usb mouse worked perfectly. But when it was booting up, it showed a screen saying stuff about the usb's not working or not found so I was suprised to see the mouse working.
I almost want to just install ubuntu as well because it booted up way faster than xp.

GigaWatt

since ubuntu detects that there is an issue with your USB ports, the problem is most likely hardware related... either that, or some setting in the BIOS is making all those problems with the USB ports... a BIOS update could solve the problem...

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...