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Browse All TopicsMy laptop recently stopped picking up new devices connected to my USB ports. I am using Windows XP, which was on Serivce Pack 2 when this issue started, but I have since applied Service Pack 3.
I have 3 usb devices that DO work: my mouse, my keyboard, and an external hard drive that I have been using with this laptop for a number of months. I have 3 USB ports on my laptop and I can switch these devices between all of them and they continue to work. So, the assumption is that the actual physical USB ports are ok.
Any other usb device that I connect does not get picked up correctly - when I connect it, it shows in Device Manager under Other devices, with a code 28 error. This started a month or so ago, but no, unfortunately I don't know what was installed or removed at the time the issue started. I have tried 3 different brands of external drive, and an HTC mobile phone that has a hard drive and all have the same results.
Having read a few of the posts that are similar, I have done the following:
Applied Windows XP Service Pack 3
Ensured I have the latest windows updates
Uninstalled ALL usb ports, rebooted and allowed Windows to reinstall them
Installed the infinst_autol.exe pack from the Intel site (I'm using a laptop with intel Centrino duo)
I have asked around and the general opinion is that I now have to completely rebuild my laptop (i.e. format and reinstall WinXP) - I want to avoid this if I possibly can as can't really afford the time it will take, and the laptop is running beautifully in every other respect.
Any other suggestions?
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