***One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned...

I read the thread a similar by Kestral13 from back in 9/12 but my laptop is running win xp & I don't think most of it pertains to my situation. I have 2 usb ports on the side of my laptop and I had a mouse plugged into 1 and I used the other for my flash drive, cell phone & camera on ocassion. One day my laptop got really hot for some unknown reason & wouldn't boot up so I left it alone for a while till it cooled completely & finally got it to boot. I d/l Advanced System Care from the MG site & have been running it regularly but still have the problem. Today, while checking Device Mgr. as per the Kestral13 thread, I noticed an exclamation point on the DVD, I went into properties for the device & got this msg....Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)...not sure if the 2 problems are connected or if something was damaged when my computer overheated that day. Also not sure if these devices need to be replaced cuz the usb's at least recognize when something is plugged in just doesn't recognize what it is. Have also un-installed & re-installed the drivers twice with no results. Not sure what else to do...can't afford a new computer so must repair this one. Please can anyone help?!?!?!

 

I need some clarification on your post. I'm not sure what the problem is: is it the exclamation point in Device Manager, a USB device not being recognized, both, something else? Is your laptop still overheating? Was that just a one time occurrence...?

Please start by listing the problems in order 1), 2), 3) etc. Be specific as to what the actual problem is, and for each problem, what steps you've tried in the order you tried them in.

Lastly, have you run scans for virus / malware causing problems? And, do you have a system disk that you can do a clean install from?

Do all that and I and/or others will find it a lot easier to help you.

 

Ok, Ill do my best to describe what's going on...here goes...

1) main problem is usb ports not working. computer obviously knows something is plugged in but says it doesn't recognize what it is. Checked Device mgr. and it says everything is working until I plug a flash drive or other device in, then it says Unknown Device under whichever hub I have it plugged into. Tried the flash drive, cell phone & camera...it doesn't recognize anything. Problem started after the overheating. Only overheated that one time but ports still not working. Tried uninstalling & reinstalling drivers, that did not work. I am currently using Norton Security Suite from Comcast and upgraded to the newest version of that last week...still no help. Down-loaded Advanced System Care Pro from Major Geeks site & ran the scans several times, also didn't help.

2) Just found out today that the DVD drive isn't working. Only noticed it because I was in Device mgr. checking the usb hubs and saw the exclamation point on the DVD player. So I put a DVD in and it didn't work. I haven't watched DVD's on my computer before so I don't know how long it's been that way or if it is related to the usb problem or not.

I do have the Operating System disc and also the Application and Driver Recovery disc. Hope this is a little more clear...Thanks for asking

 

Try this: boot to Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key at startup and then go to the Start Button > in Search box > type COMMAND, then Right Click on > Run as Admin

From the command prompt run this :

Code:

sfc /scannow

Your computer will attempt to repair itself doing this. If prompted for the install disk, you may be stuck since your DVD is out

Also, have a read at:

http://support.microsoft.com/KB/817900

And run through those 3 steps...

Its a shame the DVD is out, you could boot to a Linux Livve CD/DVD and if the devices worked, then you would know the hardware was good. I might also open the case and check that all connections are snug and secure, and blow out any accumulated dust inside and make sure the case vents are clear.

 

Sorry for the delay in my reply....lost what I had typed last night due to log-in error and at 1 am, couldn't re-create it.

1) Without knowing your brand of laptop, this may not work, but....many manufacturers have diagnostics that test your hardware. If yours does, go to that site and run the hardware diagnostics for your machine. Post results here.

2) Run the scan cipher mentioned from safe mode and try to complete those.

3) Be careful about opening your laptop's case; use compressed air to blow-out dust - follow the can's directions explicitly, e.g., short bursts of air only.

4) Close up case before switching it back on. Re-run scan / diagnostics and see if the results are different. Post any differences here.

5) You may be stuck having to do (pay for) a repair service call if your DVD player is still completely out. One other site you could try for tech support help is computing.net, its allied with Tomshardware.com (I also post over there, so I know its safe).

Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Thanks Cipher, I'll try this first.