Toshiba Satellite - Windows XP
On every boot, the found new hardware wizard thinks it's detected a new USB device. I have tried both "uninstalling" and "disabling" this phantom device using Device Manager, but the problem always recurs.
I think the cause has something to do with my unsuccessful attempt to install a Bluetooth PC Card. This didn't give me the functionality I was expecting, so I uninstalled it to simplify the overall laptop setup and prevent possible future conflicts between the Bluetooth and Wireless transmissions.
But, having uninstalled the PC Card, the new hardware wizard always kicks in.
I've tried rolling back to a System Restore Point, but with no improvement.
My hunch is that there may be some sort of problematic entry in the Registry, but I thought a system restore was supposed to reset the Registry as well?
Any chance of some fairly swift help on this issue, because I'm trying to stabilise this laptop to a position where I can pass it on to another user in my company. I don't want him coming back with questions about the new hardware wizard!!!
Grummy
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may be something here you can use
http://technet2.microsoft.
Chris - I have tried reinstalling the PC card then uninstalling it as you suggested.
I have tried rebooting in Safe Mode (which still brings up the "found new hardware" wizard) and uninstalling the device from Device Manager.
Steven - I've tried to find something helpful on that page but failed! Possibly there is something useful there, but I can't immediately relate it to my specific problem.
Any more thoughts?
G
or to get rid of the pop up open up device manager and right click the problematic device and disable it.
At least you'll be free to startup without the annoying add new hardware popping up all the time.
Ive seen the same problem with merlin wireless 3g cards - the drivers are all over the place and its not as easy as you think.... best just disabling it and leaving it as is, or a reinstall might be the only option.
Chris - the wizard searches for drivers and can't find any. It does this with or without the Bluetooth CDR in the drive, leading me to believe that it's not actually the Bluetooth device that it thinks it's trying to install!!
However, if I follow through and install the Bluetooth device from scratch (having uninstalled it as we discussed) it shows a pop up from the taskbar saying a problem occurred with the installation of the device. Doesn't say which device, and the Bluetooth card itself seems to be OK.
Very puzzling. My hunch is still that this is something to do with a rogue Registry entry, but it's no more than a hunch.
Here's a bit more info: After I've installed the Bluetooth device, it looks OK in Device manager. The Bluetooth icon appears as expected in the taskbar. The card seems to work. However, if I look in Device Manager by connection rather than device type, my rogue hardware seems to appear at the root USB level. It doesn't look like anything to do with the Bluetooth card!!
I'm really confused. Have now moved all heavy blunt instruments further away from the laptop in case of temptation...
G
Here's something else that might help...
When I view the devices by connection in Device Manager, and expand the branches of the tree I can see five Universal Host Controllers hanging off the PCI bus. All of the Universal Host Controllers has one USB root hub hanging from it. And ONE of these USB root hub branches has this wretched unknown USB device hanging off it (shown as a big yellow question mark).
If I try to see properties of the "USB Device" all I get is "unknown USB device".
Is this making sense?
G
I did as you suggested. After the scan, it simply adds back the "?Other Devices" -> "?USB Device" entry in the list.
I tried calling Microsoft, who of course demand a £49 payment up front (since it's an OEM installation of XP) to assist. I asked if my £49 guarantees a solution that is NOT simply reinstall the operating system using the recovery disks. They couldn't guarantee that, so there's no point in talking with them.
Using the recovery disk is a last resort. It corresponds to failure to solve the problem. That would be £49 down the drain, and a lot of s/w installation to follow.
There must be a better way...
G
OK. Plug the card back in - is the unknown device still there? Go to the flagged entry, right click and Update driver. Point it to the driver CD. This assumes that it is actually the bluetooth device causing the problem. You don't of course have any other USB item connected - wireless mouse for example. Mine comes up as an unknown device regularly.
Chris B
I've tried all combinations - Tried searching for drivers for the unknown device with the Bluetooth card installed and uninstalled. I've tried searching for drivers for the unknown device with and without the Bluetooth installation CD in the CD drive.
The Toshiba helpline believe that a corrupt Registry is causing the problem. I don't know whether they're right, and I don't know how to check/verify/update the Registry.
I don't think the Bluetooth card itself is the "unknown device". My guess is that the installation of the card corrupted some settings somewhere.
Chris - I have to thank you for staying with this and putting in the effort, but (no offence) I thought my monthly subscription kinda bought at least a degree of interest from "219,000 Experts".
By the law of probabilities, I have to think that there are some people within that 219,000 who can fix this problem. And if there are, but they can't be bothered, I guess I need to rethink my membership.
Sorry to sound a bit grouchy, but I'm looking for help, offering 500 points (for a solution that does NOT require use of the recovery disk to reinstall the operating system) and finding that only two people (isn't that 0.001 percent of experts?) can be bothered to show an interest.
Unimpressed, frankly. Are you listening "Experts Exchange", or have you grown too big to care?
G
You will have moved too far down the list to get much of a "care factor" (Page 5 of the XP topic area currently). Throw a 20 point pointer question back at the top explaining your current position and referencing this question by pasting the URL into the question. Weekends are always slow - may be better to wait until Monday before doing it. Sorry I haven't come up with anything useful ... However I will keep looking.
Best of luck
Chris B
Thanks for trying Chris.
I guess you're right. EE doesn't give a monkey's once you've slipped off the front page. Maybe my problem was boring, or 500 points is not sufficient motivation to look for unsolved problems further down the page.
Today I've spent six hours using the recovery disk to reinstall the operating system, then reloading the software. Of course that solved the problem. There was never any doubt in my mind that it would. What I wanted was a solution that saved me those six hours. Can't help thinking there was an easier solution if only EE felt any commitment to actually helping members.
As you can tell, I am (a) very grateful for your personal help and commitment and (b) massively unimpressed with the page editors, subject editors, and general EE community.
Not worth the subscription any more, methinks.
At this point, I would say "please can you put the 500 points back into the pot because we didn't find a solution other than the obvious of using the recovery disk" but I know that none of the EE staff are listening.
Accordingly, in the fullness of time, I imagine some admin person will say "hang on, this question seems to have been abandoned". Thanks for noticing, I say.
A final thank you to you, Chris. None of my criticism is aimed at you personally: you were the only one who gave my problem more than 5 seconds' thought. I am honestly grateful for that, even though you didn't come up with anything I hadn't already tried. But maybe I misunderstood "ask your specific question to one of our 219k experts" because I thought it meant the community would take pride in finding a solution.
G
Comment for the admins when this question comes up for review. Please refund the points as this question clearly didn't get the attention it it deserved. I tried but no success....
Grummy. This site is more useful than this introduction suggests. I have spent a lot of time here and have seen some great results. I suggest you don't write it off too quickly. Sometimes only the recovery disks will do the job!!
Best regards
Chris B
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: burrcmPosted on 2007-01-26 at 04:45:38ID: 18403519
If you are passing it on, surely a clean setup would be the best solution. Run the recovery disks and all will be well.
Chris B