Computer can't recognize Flash Drives even Ipods

Hi everybody! (hopefully someone is reading this rolleyes )
I am desperately needing your help right now. I am quite knowledgeable about computers specially softwares but my home computer is really stressing me out. As you can see I am a HS teacher. I use my home computer a lot in making my lessons specially for my special educ. students. For the past few weeks, it doesn't even recognize the flash drive that i plug into the USB. It doesn't recognize the IPOD too. When I restart it, it lasks for my dvd drivers even though they are functioning properly so I just cancel it. When I plug my IPOD and USB flash drive (FAT32), it asks for the driver too. It recognizes my other USB flash drive(FAT) though.
Anyway, my system is an XP Home edition SP2. My motherboard is Dell 0GC068 with Intel i955x chipset and Intel 82801GB (ICH7).
I think I messed up the drivers when I played around with registry mechanic and ccleaner. Hope someone can give me suggestions. I really need to be able to use my usb because that's how I transfer files for my students. Thanks in advance.

 

If you used reg mechanic, and you have not got a bakup by that program, to restore, I would suggest system Resire to a time before you used it , to save time. As you know, system Restore leaves files intact, so your data should be o.k

 

Thanks! I'm gonna try that.