USB Device Not Recognized (Malfunction)
I have come across the same problem that apparently many Windows users are ailed with. I thought I found the solution here when I googled the topic and was lead to this post It seemed to work for everyone else, but it hasn't worked for me.
I have come across the same problem that apparently many Windows users are ailed with.
I thought I found the solution here when I googled the topic and was lead to this post http://www.ntcompatible.com/Desperately_need_help_---_USB_Devices_Not_Recognized_t32356.html
It seemed to work for everyone else, but it hasn't worked for me.
I have already done the Microsoft Standard 'moron checks' and I have added the stated USB Key to my registry. Nothing. I even unpluged my computer from the power supply twice, and still nothing.
My problem though, doesn't seem to be with any Modems, Printers, or flash cards..Instead my problem is with my USB Logitech Mouse and my APC Battery backup Power Strip.
My Device Manager tells me that everything is working fine. But when I plug in ANY USB Device, to ANY Port, it comes up as Unknown Device, and I get that annoying Malfunction Bubble that everyone else seems to get.
I don't know where else to go... I feel like Microsoft is just as much in the dark as the rest of us about this, and I was very excited to see that I'm not the only person with this problem. I almost got mad and formatted my computer, which I'm happy to say, I didn't go through with, because after finding this forum last night, I read that the format didn't work, and that would only add to my aggrevation.
Let me go ahead and follow suit by leaving you with some system specs.
Computer:
Alienware Area-51
Pentium4 3.1ghz
Windows XP Home Edition
Service Pack 2 (fully updated)
1gig DDR2 RAM
160gig HD.
ATI Radeon 9550 SE Video
Audigy 2 ZS Sound
ASUS PC4800 Mobo
If anyone has solved this problem or has ANY other methods I could try, please please let me know, I appreciate any and all help.
PS- I wasn't able to reply in the above said thread, thats why I'm making a new post out of it...sorry for inconvenience.
Thanks again.
I thought I found the solution here when I googled the topic and was lead to this post http://www.ntcompatible.com/Desperately_need_help_---_USB_Devices_Not_Recognized_t32356.html
It seemed to work for everyone else, but it hasn't worked for me.
I have already done the Microsoft Standard 'moron checks' and I have added the stated USB Key to my registry. Nothing. I even unpluged my computer from the power supply twice, and still nothing.
My problem though, doesn't seem to be with any Modems, Printers, or flash cards..Instead my problem is with my USB Logitech Mouse and my APC Battery backup Power Strip.
My Device Manager tells me that everything is working fine. But when I plug in ANY USB Device, to ANY Port, it comes up as Unknown Device, and I get that annoying Malfunction Bubble that everyone else seems to get.
I don't know where else to go... I feel like Microsoft is just as much in the dark as the rest of us about this, and I was very excited to see that I'm not the only person with this problem. I almost got mad and formatted my computer, which I'm happy to say, I didn't go through with, because after finding this forum last night, I read that the format didn't work, and that would only add to my aggrevation.
Let me go ahead and follow suit by leaving you with some system specs.
Computer:
Alienware Area-51
Pentium4 3.1ghz
Windows XP Home Edition
Service Pack 2 (fully updated)
1gig DDR2 RAM
160gig HD.
ATI Radeon 9550 SE Video
Audigy 2 ZS Sound
ASUS PC4800 Mobo
If anyone has solved this problem or has ANY other methods I could try, please please let me know, I appreciate any and all help.
PS- I wasn't able to reply in the above said thread, thats why I'm making a new post out of it...sorry for inconvenience.
Thanks again.
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Responses to this topic
Scagnetty: Man, if it's something as simple as spreading out your devices...mine have all been recognized since before my last post, and through a couple of reboots. I have wireless keyboard/mouse. These are the only usb devices never to cause a problem throughout this whole thing. Then there's the 250gb external hdd and the card reader. (I'm never going to stick that ipod shuffle in a usb port again.)
So I'll try to keep them all spread out all over the darn place and see if that keeps them all functioning. We're going to try your crazy fix.
BTW: I'm interested in hearing more about your auto daily backup. Is that all you use your external hdd for? How long does it take? How long did the first time take? Did you back up lots of media files? Should this be a new topic?
So I'll try to keep them all spread out all over the darn place and see if that keeps them all functioning. We're going to try your crazy fix.
BTW: I'm interested in hearing more about your auto daily backup. Is that all you use your external hdd for? How long does it take? How long did the first time take? Did you back up lots of media files? Should this be a new topic?
That seems to work for you guys eh? To bad I'm having problems with embedded usb ports, which are ALL 2.0.
And not using any wireless usb devices
Still a problem.
And not using any wireless usb devices
Still a problem.
I removed the Logitech wireless mouseman (Circa 2000) and got a plain Logitech USB corded mouse for my KVM switch. I haven't had any difficulties since then related to USB.
My PC has been shutting down at random though since moving here to this new apartment, I may need a new power supply. I know this unit has been in operation for approx. 5 years.
My PC has been shutting down at random though since moving here to this new apartment, I may need a new power supply. I know this unit has been in operation for approx. 5 years.
Another quick thought:
Too long of a USB cable will produce the 'Malfuntion' or 'Device not recognized' message. I first ran across this years ago on HP's website when we employed too long of a USB cable for a printer.
We then had to get a USB extender cable and the device was recognized and worked again.
I hope this helps someone.
Too long of a USB cable will produce the 'Malfuntion' or 'Device not recognized' message. I first ran across this years ago on HP's website when we employed too long of a USB cable for a printer.
We then had to get a USB extender cable and the device was recognized and worked again.
I hope this helps someone.
While I have not experienced the exact issue you guys are having, I am having a USB related problem that seems to have recently started. I think it is USB related anyway. The problem was crackling sound in Vista (and the usb keyboard and mouse would blink off and back on), or ocassional Video problems in XP where a game would goto 100% cpu utilization, and I would have to reboot to fix it. Both I think are usb related problems (The game problem in XP happens when moving the mouse quickly, and once starts persists until I reboot). I read elsewhere of users with crackling sound issues and it was an IRQ conflict (issue seen with 2 different soundcards, my X-Fi and their C-media chip powered card). Granted, IRQ conflicts are not supposed to matter anymore, IRQ's are supposed to be shareable. But I plan to try and experiment with this tonight. The things you mention about powering the pc off for awhile, sounds like something you do to try and get the irq's to reset. You can accomplish the same thing by going into your pc's BIOS setup screen and choose "Set all settings to default" or "Reset Configuration". The actual setting to change will vary depending on the make/version of your BIOS. Some custom BIOS for companies like HP may not have a reset choice at all. Also, if the problem is in fact an IRQ conflict (which is a hardware setting), reformatting will not fix that.
In short, it seems that recently IRQ's for USB hub/devices while supposedly shareable with other devices in your PC, do not seem to be playing well with other devices. My pc is dual-boot XP and Vista. The OS's themselves can move IRQ's around during bootup. I think I will try to give my USB port its' own IRQ, and set everything else to other IRQ's, see how it goes.
My pc uses and ASUS A8n32-SLI Deluxe mobo, an Adaptec XHub7+ powered USB2 hub (with a Logitech G5 laser mouse, Saitek keyboard, UPS, Printer, quickcam, external cdrw drive attached), and dual boots XP and Vista.
Someone should open a support ticket with microsoft, and let them analyze a memory dump to see whats going on.
GoodBoy
In short, it seems that recently IRQ's for USB hub/devices while supposedly shareable with other devices in your PC, do not seem to be playing well with other devices. My pc is dual-boot XP and Vista. The OS's themselves can move IRQ's around during bootup. I think I will try to give my USB port its' own IRQ, and set everything else to other IRQ's, see how it goes.
My pc uses and ASUS A8n32-SLI Deluxe mobo, an Adaptec XHub7+ powered USB2 hub (with a Logitech G5 laser mouse, Saitek keyboard, UPS, Printer, quickcam, external cdrw drive attached), and dual boots XP and Vista.
Someone should open a support ticket with microsoft, and let them analyze a memory dump to see whats going on.
GoodBoy
Scagnetty, the fact that your computer shuts off randomly w/o notice could be a heating problem.
Same thing just happened to me, apparently where I live now, dust collects a lot faster and it clogged up my processor fan which brought cooling to a halt. Basically when the processor reaches about 96 degrees Celsius (200something Fareheit!!) The computer shuts down to avoid burn out. So open your case and check for dust. If you end up having to remove the cooling fan, make sure you get some thermal paste to put on the chip before putting your fan back on.
Goodboy,
I've heard about adjusting IRQ's and such to hopefully make things work, but alas, I'm not quite sure how do to that...perhaps you can give me something else to try by telling me where to find the IRQ's, how to adjust them, so forth? That would be a great help.
Same thing just happened to me, apparently where I live now, dust collects a lot faster and it clogged up my processor fan which brought cooling to a halt. Basically when the processor reaches about 96 degrees Celsius (200something Fareheit!!) The computer shuts down to avoid burn out. So open your case and check for dust. If you end up having to remove the cooling fan, make sure you get some thermal paste to put on the chip before putting your fan back on.
Goodboy,
I've heard about adjusting IRQ's and such to hopefully make things work, but alas, I'm not quite sure how do to that...perhaps you can give me something else to try by telling me where to find the IRQ's, how to adjust them, so forth? That would be a great help.
Well, just try the bios resetting method first. Reboot the pc, press F2, F10, Delete, whichever key is to get into bios setup for your model of PC. Many home built pc's bios use Delete key to get in. Mine does. HP i think is F2, IBM is F10.
Anyway once you get in there, look for a reset to defaults option.
Now, thing is, since the OS can move these settings around, this might only be a temporary fix. But, if you try the reset to defaults right after experiencing the problem, and it seems to help, then there is a good chance we are on the right track. If the IRQ's are not sharing properly, we can look at your IRQ settings in device manager, see what devices are sharing IRQ's with your USB root/hubs, and go from there. I would start by changing the drivers for any devices sharing IRQ's with your USB. Likely it will be video, sound, or network that is sharing. If the suspected device has the newest driver already, then we will uninstall it and go find an older version. If the driver is not the newest for that hardware, we will try up[censored] to the newest.
Something else to consider (not sure is already mentioned) is to make sure your motherboard is running the most recent version of its' BIOS. You mention an ASUS motherboard for a Pentium4, but you need to find out it's exact model number and current bios Revision. Should be displayed for a second or 2 right as you power it on, on the screen where it tells you which key to press to enter bios setup. This shows how to determine your mobo and bios versions: http://support.asus.com/repair/repair.aspx?root=110&SLanguage=en-us
Anyway once you get in there, look for a reset to defaults option.
Now, thing is, since the OS can move these settings around, this might only be a temporary fix. But, if you try the reset to defaults right after experiencing the problem, and it seems to help, then there is a good chance we are on the right track. If the IRQ's are not sharing properly, we can look at your IRQ settings in device manager, see what devices are sharing IRQ's with your USB root/hubs, and go from there. I would start by changing the drivers for any devices sharing IRQ's with your USB. Likely it will be video, sound, or network that is sharing. If the suspected device has the newest driver already, then we will uninstall it and go find an older version. If the driver is not the newest for that hardware, we will try up[censored] to the newest.
Something else to consider (not sure is already mentioned) is to make sure your motherboard is running the most recent version of its' BIOS. You mention an ASUS motherboard for a Pentium4, but you need to find out it's exact model number and current bios Revision. Should be displayed for a second or 2 right as you power it on, on the screen where it tells you which key to press to enter bios setup. This shows how to determine your mobo and bios versions: http://support.asus.com/repair/repair.aspx?root=110&SLanguage=en-us
Everyone,
This is Clueless reporting back. My DV8000 HP laptop came back from HP and the problem was fixed this time. They replaced the mother board.
Sophora,
My problem was that "none" of my 4 USB ports will recognize "any" USB device. Any USB device would end up with the unknown device message.
This is Clueless reporting back. My DV8000 HP laptop came back from HP and the problem was fixed this time. They replaced the mother board.
Sophora,
My problem was that "none" of my 4 USB ports will recognize "any" USB device. Any USB device would end up with the unknown device message.
I just lifted this from another website, so if you haven't tried this yet... give 'er a shot:
Do you ever get the "USB device malfunction" message on your fully-patched Windows XP SP2 box? Sometimes, the 'Unknown Device' error still reappears under the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" category even after you've tried disabling the system as I suggested in my previous tip?
This is when it's time to use Registry Editor. You will need to use the modern Registry Editor, regedt32.exe, because you must give yourself rights to delete a key. (The usual caveats apply --if you make a mistake, serious consequences may arise.)
In regedt32 go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CCS\Enum\USB.
Look in each folder labeled Vid_Xxxx. There should be subfolders containing information about one of your USB devices in each.
Right click on the Vid_Xxxx folder that contains a folder labeled 'Unknown Device' in it and click Properties.
Check Allow Full Control, then right click on the same Vid_Xxxx folder and delete it.
Reboot and plug the device in.
Regarding heat issues, my server was running at 78 or 79C. I need to pull the heat sync of my other machine or buy a new heat sync for it. The other machine is running at 59C, not too bad.
I have since turned off the two other machines and am just using the Shuttle. It will have to do until we move again.
Do you ever get the "USB device malfunction" message on your fully-patched Windows XP SP2 box? Sometimes, the 'Unknown Device' error still reappears under the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" category even after you've tried disabling the system as I suggested in my previous tip?
This is when it's time to use Registry Editor. You will need to use the modern Registry Editor, regedt32.exe, because you must give yourself rights to delete a key. (The usual caveats apply --if you make a mistake, serious consequences may arise.)
In regedt32 go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CCS\Enum\USB.
Look in each folder labeled Vid_Xxxx. There should be subfolders containing information about one of your USB devices in each.
Right click on the Vid_Xxxx folder that contains a folder labeled 'Unknown Device' in it and click Properties.
Check Allow Full Control, then right click on the same Vid_Xxxx folder and delete it.
Reboot and plug the device in.
Regarding heat issues, my server was running at 78 or 79C. I need to pull the heat sync of my other machine or buy a new heat sync for it. The other machine is running at 59C, not too bad.
I have since turned off the two other machines and am just using the Shuttle. It will have to do until we move again.
I lost my USB ports a few days ago and having tried everything I could find on the net (short of re-installing Windows) the following worked for me: Enter your BIOS during boot and look for 'Legacy USB Ports'. The setting was ENABLED and out of interest I changed it to DISABLED, my USB ports are now working again! I hadn't touched my BIOS settings prior to losing USB and 'restoring defaults' in my BIOS ENABLED Legacy USB. I'm running Windows XP Home on a Fujitsu Siemens AMILO Pro notebook. Good luck. Nigel
Hey all, sorry for the hiatas...
I've been in Florida the last week for vacation.
Thx for the replies on IRQ's and BIOs, I'll check into those possible solutions tomorrow and let you all know what I come up with.
I've been in Florida the last week for vacation.
Thx for the replies on IRQ's and BIOs, I'll check into those possible solutions tomorrow and let you all know what I come up with.
On my system... the new shiny USB 2.0 card doesn't play nice with my aging ASUS mobo w/USB 1.1 built in.
I quit using the USB 2.0 card because it caused my system to shut down at random several times per day.
Since I am using the USB KVM switch in the native 1.1 slots, the system is running without any problem.
If in the 2.0 USB slot... problems occur within a short amount of time.
Good luck to all, I hope this helps someone out there.
I quit using the USB 2.0 card because it caused my system to shut down at random several times per day.
Since I am using the USB KVM switch in the native 1.1 slots, the system is running without any problem.
If in the 2.0 USB slot... problems occur within a short amount of time.
Good luck to all, I hope this helps someone out there.
Hello guys. I just joined the forums due this discussion which is the best I have seen of any other site on the topic.
I am having the same problem on 3 out of 4 USB devices on my gateway laptop computer running windows XP.
The problem might have arose from either a 30gig iPod video, a 2.4ghz logitech wireless mouse, or one of three external hard drives. I am pretty sure it was the iPod, however.
I have read all 100 posts on this thred (or however many there really are) and I have tried all the fixed that would seem to work. Unplugging the power cord (and the battery), restacking the usb drivers, um yeah that's pretty much it (as far as I remember), but I tried those many many times with all sorts of different combinations. I am about to reformat and install windows vista which I need to upgrade to anyways. I am hoping that will solve the problem even though you guys have said it doesn't. I just have nothing else to try.
I really hope someone can find a solution to this frustrating problem.
I am having the same problem on 3 out of 4 USB devices on my gateway laptop computer running windows XP.
The problem might have arose from either a 30gig iPod video, a 2.4ghz logitech wireless mouse, or one of three external hard drives. I am pretty sure it was the iPod, however.
I have read all 100 posts on this thred (or however many there really are) and I have tried all the fixed that would seem to work. Unplugging the power cord (and the battery), restacking the usb drivers, um yeah that's pretty much it (as far as I remember), but I tried those many many times with all sorts of different combinations. I am about to reformat and install windows vista which I need to upgrade to anyways. I am hoping that will solve the problem even though you guys have said it doesn't. I just have nothing else to try.
I really hope someone can find a solution to this frustrating problem.
*** Update 2 ***
Following a few days of experimenting I can confirm that in my case the problem is hardware. When I lose USB a firm thump on the left side of my notebook will restore the two ports beneath and also the two at the rear. My notebook is just over a year and well-travelled so something common to all of my ports is clearly loose or more likely in need of soldering. Nigel
Following a few days of experimenting I can confirm that in my case the problem is hardware. When I lose USB a firm thump on the left side of my notebook will restore the two ports beneath and also the two at the rear. My notebook is just over a year and well-travelled so something common to all of my ports is clearly loose or more likely in need of soldering. Nigel
Ive actually been avoiding my XP Computer recently because of the USB problems, I've been using my Vista Laptop lol, which is where I'm posting from right now. It has its own suite of NEW problems, but at least I've been able to fix all the problems I've found with Vista so far.
Problematic, to my knowledge no one has tried to fix the problem by up[censored] to Vista, but its worth a shot, I'd be very interested in hearing how that turns out.
59Rocker, yeah, I know that most of the issues concerning this problem seem to be hardware. But I'm one of those hard headed *bleeps* that refuse to believe that lol. The fact that Microsoft knows about this problem and just can't seem to find a fix, lead me to believe that it is not a Hardware problem as it is a Software Bug in the XP code. Your computer companies and manufacturers are usually willing to jump the gun on 'replacing your mother board' because that puts money into their pocket.
I'm a firm believer that I should fix all computer problems myself. Theres enough information on the internet to find and troubleshoot just about any computer problem that may arise (excluding this one for some odd reason). The people who fix your computers are people just like you and me. They use the same Micro Tools that we do, the open the case the same way we do, and they replace your defective parts the same way we could. So why pay the outrageous price tag and drop it off to pay somebody by the hour what you could do yourself in a few hours tops at the price of the part you need?
All that aside tho, I'm totally stumped on this issue. I still need to try a Registry Default and IRQ fix.... But I can't bring myself to mess with my XP computer anymore. Perhaps tomorrow.
Anyway, I'm glad to know that this thread has turned out to be the most involved thread on the net about this problem. Because I started off on the same search around Christmas of last year, and found nothing that helped. Thats when I came here and started this thread. We are now 6 pages in and possibly closer to a fix. I'm sure that eventually someone will see this and be like "heres your fix".
*cough* Microsoft *cough* Pleaaaaase? Haven't we been good to you????
Problematic, to my knowledge no one has tried to fix the problem by up[censored] to Vista, but its worth a shot, I'd be very interested in hearing how that turns out.
59Rocker, yeah, I know that most of the issues concerning this problem seem to be hardware. But I'm one of those hard headed *bleeps* that refuse to believe that lol. The fact that Microsoft knows about this problem and just can't seem to find a fix, lead me to believe that it is not a Hardware problem as it is a Software Bug in the XP code. Your computer companies and manufacturers are usually willing to jump the gun on 'replacing your mother board' because that puts money into their pocket.
I'm a firm believer that I should fix all computer problems myself. Theres enough information on the internet to find and troubleshoot just about any computer problem that may arise (excluding this one for some odd reason). The people who fix your computers are people just like you and me. They use the same Micro Tools that we do, the open the case the same way we do, and they replace your defective parts the same way we could. So why pay the outrageous price tag and drop it off to pay somebody by the hour what you could do yourself in a few hours tops at the price of the part you need?
All that aside tho, I'm totally stumped on this issue. I still need to try a Registry Default and IRQ fix.... But I can't bring myself to mess with my XP computer anymore. Perhaps tomorrow.
Anyway, I'm glad to know that this thread has turned out to be the most involved thread on the net about this problem. Because I started off on the same search around Christmas of last year, and found nothing that helped. Thats when I came here and started this thread. We are now 6 pages in and possibly closer to a fix. I'm sure that eventually someone will see this and be like "heres your fix".
*cough* Microsoft *cough* Pleaaaaase? Haven't we been good to you????
My ipod shuffe second generation (1 Gb) isn´t working with my PC, ASUS 2A7N266-VM, Slot A AMD Athlon, nVidia nForce chipset, Bios up-to-dated, and so on. The problem occurs both with Windows 2000 or XP. Any other USB device (MP3 player, pendrive) have been worked fine is this computer. The PC don´t recognize the USB device. The ipod blinks yellow light and nothing more. But I am sure the this ipod is working fine in other computers, like with ASRock K7S41 motherboard PC, as with Win2000 or WinXP. Is there specific problems with some kind of ASUS motherboard or I got a hardware problem with my PC? Thanks a lot for any help.
What type of USB ports do you have? USB 1.1 or 2.0.
Does your PC use UHCI, OHCI or EHCI USB controllers (see
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/u/uhci.htm for definitions)?
Are all the USB ports enabled in the BIOS?
Do you have the Logitech drivers installed?
Does your PC use UHCI, OHCI or EHCI USB controllers (see
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/u/uhci.htm for definitions)?
Are all the USB ports enabled in the BIOS?
Do you have the Logitech drivers installed?
