All Plug and play devices pull up hardware wizard???

Hi there,

It seems like people know their stuff here, so here it goes.

I've been having problems connecting my USB mouse to my laptop (running XP pro) When I connect the mouse, the hardware wizard pops up and wants me to insert a CD to install software. This is just a basic mouse and has been pluged into many computers before, including this one, and has installed all by itseft (called plug and play correct?)

After lots of frustration, I tried testing out my USB flash drive. This device is also plug and play (came with no software and I've never had to instal anything to get it to work) Sure enough, it also brings up the hardware wizard after it has been detected.

Here is the exact process that happens when I plug any hardware into the USB.

1. Plug in hardware, dectection noise sounds

2. Bubble pops up in bottom right corner with the name of device (eg. microsoft usb wireless mouse detected)

3. Device shows up under device manger as "unknown device"

4. Hardware wizard comes up on screen

5. All options of hardware wizard are unsuccesful (I dont need or have any software for the device since it's plug and play)

6. Canceling the wizard populates a bubble in the bottom left corner saying "a problem occured installing hardware and the device may not function properly"

7. Device manager now shows "unknown device" with a yellow "!" next to it

8. DEVICE DOESN'T WORK!!


I hope I described the problem clearly. I help would be great! Thanks in advance

-Dan

 

It's newer vaio laptop with centrino. Model PCG-684L.

I don't think it's the BIOS because it knows when I connect the device and the name of the device because of the bubble in the bottom right. I could be wrong though.

How do I check these BIOS settings?

Thanks!!

-Dan