Reinstalling USB drivers (I think)

Tak · 18-03-2009, 12:29

My work PC has 4 USB ports in the top which have, one at a time, stopped working. 1 does nothing, another says it can't recognise anything which is plugged in, another freezes the whole pc :/

Is there any way I can reinstall the drivers or anything for these ports? I'm a bit out of my depth here and am unsure what is is going on or what to do about it. The computer is Acer and I never got any discs or anything with it in the first place.

Help

Mark · 18-03-2009, 12:34

Sounds like that might be hardware. USB doesn't tend to 'die' like that without reason.

Yes, you can reinstall the drivers, but how you do it depends on what OS is installed.

Burble · 18-03-2009, 12:37

Yep, sounds like hardware to me too.

If you need more ports you could get a USB hub or maybe a PCI card with a few ports on. Either option is pretty cheap.

Tak · 18-03-2009, 12:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Yes, you can reinstall the drivers, but how you do it depends on what OS is installed.

XP

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burble

If you need more ports you could get a USB hub or maybe a PCI card with a few ports on. Either option is pretty cheap.

The ports I have would be more than enough if they worked

Davey_Pitch · 18-03-2009, 12:39

Agree with Mark, sounds much more like a hardware issue to me. If you're okay with doing it (or Mic) then perhaps open up the PC and check everything is cabled in correctly and hasn't come loose.

Burble · 18-03-2009, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takhisis

The ports I have would be more than enough if they worked

But the don't, hence my suggestion

Perhaps I should have said 'if you want more working ports'

Mark · 18-03-2009, 13:14

Aye, I had to go the PCI card route with my PC even though it had working USB ports. I found the onboard ones couldn't handle sustained data transfer. :/

You can reinstall the drivers if you have a PS/2 keyboard and Mouse. If you have USB, a reinstall would be a bad idea. Also, if the hardware is faulty, it may not reinstall correctly so you could end up worse off.

All that said, to reinstall the drivers, click start, run, type in 'devmgmt.msc' and click OK. Go down to the bottom of the list that appears and find and expand USB, then right click on each USB hub and select 'Uninstall'. Say 'no' if it asks you to reboot. Reboot when you've done them all.

18-03-2009, 12:29	#1
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	Reinstalling USB drivers (I think) My work PC has 4 USB ports in the top which have, one at a time, stopped working. 1 does nothing, another says it can't recognise anything which is plugged in, another freezes the whole pc :/ Is there any way I can reinstall the drivers or anything for these ports? I'm a bit out of my depth here and am unsure what is is going on or what to do about it. The computer is Acer and I never got any discs or anything with it in the first place. Help __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

18-03-2009, 12:39	#5
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Agree with Mark, sounds much more like a hardware issue to me. If you're okay with doing it (or Mic) then perhaps open up the PC and check everything is cabled in correctly and hasn't come loose. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

18-03-2009, 12:34	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Sounds like that might be hardware. USB doesn't tend to 'die' like that without reason. Yes, you can reinstall the drivers, but how you do it depends on what OS is installed.

18-03-2009, 12:37	#3
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Yep, sounds like hardware to me too. If you need more ports you could get a USB hub or maybe a PCI card with a few ports on. Either option is pretty cheap.

18-03-2009, 13:14	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Aye, I had to go the PCI card route with my PC even though it had working USB ports. I found the onboard ones couldn't handle sustained data transfer. :/ You can reinstall the drivers if you have a PS/2 keyboard and Mouse. If you have USB, a reinstall would be a bad idea. Also, if the hardware is faulty, it may not reinstall correctly so you could end up worse off. All that said, to reinstall the drivers, click start, run, type in 'devmgmt.msc' and click OK. Go down to the bottom of the list that appears and find and expand USB, then right click on each USB hub and select 'Uninstall'. Say 'no' if it asks you to reboot. Reboot when you've done them all.