How likely is it that windows xp is my problem

[brandonkick]

I'm having an interesting problem. I've had this issue a few times before and I think, but can't remember, that most if not all of them were on windows xp systems.

I'm getting a "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it" errors. This is dealing with a printer.

So I figured ok, maybe it's the printer and suggest they get a new printer. They got a new printer and it's doing the same thing.

After reading a little, I saw to go into device manager and uninstall everything under Universal Serial Bus Controllers. I uninstalled everything and rebooted the machine. When the computer came back on, it reinstalled all the controllers and I tried to reinstall the printer. It did the same thing as before... weird thing is that if I leave the printer plugged in after the install fails, and remove the standard enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller the printer will "finish" installing. Even shows up under the device manager but I can't print to it and it doesn't show up in printers and faxs.

I tried removing the USB controllers twice with no luck. At this point I'm wondering if something is wrong with the windows install or the motherboard. I can try a live OS disk to see if the ports work then. I just dont have any on me right now. I tried my USB wireless mouse from my laptop and while it did install it gave me an error at first, removed the reciever and plugged it back in and the mouse worked but jumped a lot no matter how close it was to the reciever.

I'm thinking these USB ports (or the USB controller) is taking a dump on me. I know this printer works (installed it to my laptop) and that the cable works.

Has anyone ever found this to be a software issue even after reinstalling the controllers?

 

[NYJimbo]

You didnt describe the computer, ports layout, if you checked any hardware/ports for damage, if you (assuming this is a desktop) added any usb ports to the mobo to try them, etc..

Most people wont help if they have to ask all these questions.

 

[brandonkick]

Your right!


Sorry.


Its an older toshiba laptop. It only has two usb ports. Its a satellite A105.

I did inspect the ports for damage and they appear to be free of damage and pretty clean. I don't think the problem is dirt/gunk related. I really don't want to tear this thing down to the motherboard since it's not worth very much. They would be better off taking the money spent towards me repairing it and buying a newer machine. For me to tear it down, find physical evidence of damage, then get a replacement board and install it would cost them at least $200 (figuring $100 for the board).

They would be better of just buying a new machine.

I'm going to try using a live os disk and see if the ports behave better. If they don't then it's really not worth fixing. Even figuring in $100 for a tear down plus service... that's 1/3 of the way to a machine that is 8+ years newer

 

[NYJimbo]

Its an older toshiba laptop. It only has two usb ports. Its a satellite A105.

Are you sure? I think it has two on the right side and two on the back edge near the NIC connector. Can you check to see ?

 

[carrcomp]

I'm having an interesting problem. I've had this issue a few times before and I think, but can't remember, that most if not all of them were on windows xp systems.

I'm getting a "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it" errors. This is dealing with a printer.

So I figured ok, maybe it's the printer and suggest they get a new printer. They got a new printer and it's doing the same thing.

After reading a little, I saw to go into device manager and uninstall everything under Universal Serial Bus Controllers. I uninstalled everything and rebooted the machine. When the computer came back on, it reinstalled all the controllers and I tried to reinstall the printer. It did the same thing as before... weird thing is that if I leave the printer plugged in after the install fails, and remove the standard enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller the printer will "finish" installing. Even shows up under the device manager but I can't print to it and it doesn't show up in printers and faxs.

I tried removing the USB controllers twice with no luck. At this point I'm wondering if something is wrong with the windows install or the motherboard. I can try a live OS disk to see if the ports work then. I just dont have any on me right now. I tried my USB wireless mouse from my laptop and while it did install it gave me an error at first, removed the reciever and plugged it back in and the mouse worked but jumped a lot no matter how close it was to the reciever.

I'm thinking these USB ports (or the USB controller) is taking a dump on me. I know this printer works (installed it to my laptop) and that the cable works.

Has anyone ever found this to be a software issue even after reinstalling the controllers?

If they bought a new printer it should be able to connect through the network instead of through USB - just saying that this might solve your problem.

Otherwise ... uninstall all of your USB controllers
Install the printer drivers by downloading them from the website first before even bothering to plug the printer in.

Once everything is installed (or once the installer asks for the printer to be connected) connect the printer.

The same error coming back will generally be an issue with security software, or a bad port (since you replaced the printer I'd be willing to bet that's a new USB cable too)

Does it work as a network printer though? Might save you alot of greif.

 

[JustInspired]

Definitely recommend using a Linux Live cd just to quickly determine if the problem is hardware or software related.
Mint, Puppy and Ubuntu are all good for this sort of thing.

 

[swisschris104]

Could it be that since the computer is older it has older version of usb. While the printer is using USB 2.0 tecnology.

I doubt it but that, i honestly think USB Controllers are dying

 

[carrcomp]

Could it be that since the computer is older it has older version of usb. While the printer is using USB 2.0 tecnology.

I doubt it but that, i honestly think USB Controllers are dying

I doubt that.

Maybe the hardware is failing but no manufacturer that I know of is creating anything that requres USB 3.0 or higher to work.

Many things say that, but it just doesn't work as well.

 

[brandonkick]

To sort of follow up to everyone at once:

The client doesn't have a home network. They connect this laptop directly to a broadband modem. I don't think setting it up as a network printer will do them any good, I don't think they have a router at all (pretty positive infact).

I did remove the usb controllers (everything under the universal serial bus tab) twice and it had no effect. Printer still wouldn't work.

I made sure printer was unplugged (from both USB and power) and then removed the usb devices in device manager. Rebooted windows, usb devices automatically reinstalled and I rebooted again. Installed the printer driver, at a point in the installation it asked to connect the printer. I connected the printer like asked, and the windows found new hardware ballon came up... shortly after a your new hardware may not work properly baloon followed by the printer being unusable (couldn't see it in printers and faxes, couldn't print to it from word or note pad or even see it as installed in those programs). I then remove the USB cable and plug it back in to get a device has malfunctioned error.

The operating system supports USB 2.0

The printer (and USB cable) both work. Installed it to my laptop (running win 7) and it installed and ran fine using the same USB cable.

I'm leaning on the usb controller / motherboard / it being a hardware failure and not a software or printer issue. I'll find out for sure in the morning!

@Jimbo

I don't think, but honestly didn't check the back of the laptop for more ports. They might be there.

 

[NYJimbo]

@Jimbo

I don't think, but honestly didn't check the back of the laptop for more ports. They might be there.

Looking at a photo now I can see they are. I just worked on one a couple weeks ago and remembered ports on the back. I was working on that stupid power button on the left that always breaks on that model.

Definitly try both groups of ports to be sure you are not just dealing with a shorted port. The ports on the right are on a small card with a cable connected to the mobo. The ones in the back are on the motherboard.

 

[Peaceful]

Have you tried other usb devices? Mouse, keyboard, flash drive? Seems to be a rash of usb failures lately and from what I've read a nuke & pave fixes it, or in one case sysinternals windows repair tool fixed it.

 

[brandonkick]

None of the ports would function correctly when inserting a usb thumb drive. I loaded up a live OS and it wouldn't read the drive. It would recognize that the drive was plugged in but couldn't access it. Just sat there chugging away but never showing me the contents of the disk.

Called it a bad USB controller.

 

[johnrobert]

I bet your XP is screwed
pop another hard drive in for testing and install xp again and I bet everything works
The problem is windows as always
testing the printer on another computer is nonsense

 

[brandonkick]

You didn't read very closely.

I know it's not related to the operating system. I know this because I used a live linux disk and a live windows disk. The printer would not install or function on the toshiba laptop under windows xp on the hard drive, the live linux disk, or the live windows disk.

I used said live linux and windows disks on newer dell inspiron and the printer worked just fine under those live OS.

Also I tried to test the USB ports with a USB thumb drive to make sure:

Toshia Laptop :

USB thumbdrive would not be recoginized regardless of operating system (XP, Live Linux, Live Windows).

Dell Inspiron:

Thumb drive worked on the main OS (windows 7) and on both live OS disks.


It's a bad USB controller

 

[johnrobert]

Sorry about that so used to Windows screwing up
Never come across USB hardware problem