adding new hardware via usb

hi, ive posted this quite a few times now,with some helpful replys,and im sorry i didnt get back to those who helped,i couldnt find them.
im on win xp ,sp2 every piece of kit i add apart from my didgital camera sends the hardware wiz into a flashing mess,iv tried all the ports,checked for conflicts,none,usb seem ok.
it goes like this.i put the disc drivers in,it reads them,ok
i put the printer in,or web cam.
the wiz just goes on and off for ever,like this thread,
i cancel it and go to say add printer in control panel.
i select location,theres nothing there,but ther is as i can see the drivers in the programs,
to be honest this is sending me nuts,iv checked links,iv followed geeks instructions,iv uninstalled and reinstalled,WOULD A SYSTEM RECOVERY SOLVE THIS IF I BACK MY STUFF TO A MIRROR DRIVE,IM GIVING UP,PLEASE HELP ME

 

You may have already done this, it's hard to tell by the way explained your problem... uninstall the software/drivers in question with the device not connected. Reboot the PC. Check to be sure the software has been completely removed. Run CCleaner to clean your temp/junk files, then run the Issues section in CCleaner and look thru the list of what it found and delete anything that relates to your device/software in question. For example: If you have an HP printer, delete any items that have HP in the path/key. Reboot the PC again. Run Dial-A-Fix. Check all the boxes in the Registration Center. When it's done, reboot the PC again. Now follow the directions for the device in question. Many USB devices require that the CD be run first, before connecting the device. In most cases, if the device is connected before the software prompts you to connect it, you'll have everlasting problems. So, run the CD, connect the device when prompted, and follow the on screen prompts, clicking Next and Finish when required, and rebooting. If doing all this doesn't solve the problem, a complete system restore may be in your very near future

hopperdave2000

 

thanks for the reply,as usual i didnt make it very clear,i will follow your instructions now,i have ccleaner but i will have to get dial a fix to begin. ifollowed the installation properly for the devices in question.with the cam it was drivers first,with the printer its the reverse.
see how i get on,hope it works as i dread system recoverys,nothing seems right after,cheers jason