Windows 2000 persistent "ghost" USB device?

  • Thread starter Thread starter surface9
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surface9

I made the mistake a few days ago of shutting down my windows 2000 PC
with a USB harddrive still connected and powered up. After the PC
shut down, I disconnected the USB h/d and powered it off.

Now, everytime I boot up the PC, windows 2000 informs me that it
"found new hardware" "USB device", and then "error installing device"
and I get a yellow question mark in the control panel/system/hardware/
device

Now, I tried booting up with the USB h/d connected and powered up, and
it recognizes it OK, but, it still tries to install that darn "ghost"
USB device also and reports the failure.

So how do completely remove whatever it is that is causing windows
2000 to think there is a USB device it needs to install. I am sure it
is a "ghost" device somewhere, because, even when I disconnect ALL usb
devices and boot up, it still tries to install a USB device and fails.

Where is windows 2000 getting this from? How do I fix it?

Thanks.
 
Hello surface9,

In the device manager under view you can show hidden devices. Did you try
to uninstall all USB devices, then reboot and let windows install them again?

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> I made the mistake a few days ago of shutting down my windows 2000 PC
> with a USB harddrive still connected and powered up. After the PC
> shut down, I disconnected the USB h/d and powered it off.
>
> Now, everytime I boot up the PC, windows 2000 informs me that it
> "found new hardware" "USB device", and then "error installing device"
> and I get a yellow question mark in the control panel/system/hardware/
> device
>
> Now, I tried booting up with the USB h/d connected and powered up, and
> it recognizes it OK, but, it still tries to install that darn "ghost"
> USB device also and reports the failure.
>
> So how do completely remove whatever it is that is causing windows
> 2000 to think there is a USB device it needs to install. I am sure it
> is a "ghost" device somewhere, because, even when I disconnect ALL usb
> devices and boot up, it still tries to install a USB device and fails.
>
> Where is windows 2000 getting this from? How do I fix it?
>
> Thanks.
>
 
On May 7, 4:25 pm, Meinolf Weber <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote:
> Hello surface9,
>
> In the device manager under view you can show hidden devices. Did you try
> to uninstall all USB devices, then reboot and let windows install them again?
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!!http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
> > I made the mistake a few days ago of shutting down my windows 2000 PC
> > with a USB harddrive still connected and powered up. After the PC
> > shut down, I disconnected the USB h/d and powered it off.
>
> > Now, everytime I boot up the PC, windows 2000 informs me that it
> > "found new hardware" "USB device", and then "error installing device"
> > and I get a yellow question mark in the control panel/system/hardware/
> > device
>
> > Now, I tried booting up with the USB h/d connected and powered up, and
> > it recognizes it OK, but, it still tries to install that darn "ghost"
> > USB device also and reports the failure.
>
> > So how do completely remove whatever it is that is causing windows
> > 2000 to think there is a USB device it needs to install. I am sure it
> > is a "ghost" device somewhere, because, even when I disconnect ALL usb
> > devices and boot up, it still tries to install a USB device and fails.
>
> > Where is windows 2000 getting this from? How do I fix it?
>
> > Thanks.

Yes, I just did that - I uninstalled everything USB (including the
root hub et al), and I disconnected ALL USB connectors, and when I
rebooted, win2000 re-installed all my USB root hubs et al, and then,
darnit, it tried to install that damn "ghost" USB device which doesn't
exist. Is it re-install win2000 time? I sure hope not - I got lots
of apps here that I surely dread having to reinstall.
 
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