I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB

device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

 

What happens is this: When I plug in a USB device, windows detects

the new hardware, installs the driver, and everything seems to work

just fine. With a USB printer, I can print correctly, with the USB

monitor for my UPS, I can read the UPS status as I should.

 

Everything is fine until I restart Windows. Then it hangs at the XP

splash screen (the one with the blue dots moving across the screen

below the XP logo.)

 

If I boot to safe mode and use System Restore to go back to before I

added the device, the system is ok again, but the same thing happens

if I try the USB install again.

 

A simple USB device that looks like a drive -- i.e., a memory stick or

a camera -- doesn't cause any problem.

 

Device manager indicates all USB devices are working properly. BIOS

is configured to enable USB controller, enable USB 2.0 controller, and

enable USB Legacy support.

 

What could be wrong, and how can I fix it?

 

To e-mail me, use jcarlson631 at yahoo dot com

 

-- John

"John" wrote:

> I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB

> device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

>

 

Its rather difficult to give a concise advice on the resolution of your

problem after the valid assessment you have done on the case. It may be

helpful to have details of the USB devices causing the hangup. I guess you

have noted the Microsoft article "General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP",

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us

 

where there also is reference to another article describing conflicts,

although it seems to apply for other OSs.

 

Regards,

Ka2H

"Ka2H" wrote:

> "John" wrote:

>

> > I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB

> > device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

> >

>

> Its rather difficult to give a concise advice on the resolution of your

> problem after the valid assessment you have done on the case. It may be

> helpful to have details of the USB devices causing the hangup. I guess you

> have noted the Microsoft article "General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP",

>

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us

>

> where there also is reference to another article describing conflicts,

> although it seems to apply for other OSs.

>

> Regards,

> Ka2H

 

I had not seen that article, but I've just read it now. Thanks for the

pointer. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to shed much light on what I'm

seeing.

 

To fill in some details, I'm trying to connect a printer. (Initially I was

also trying to connect a UPS that uses a USB connection to allow the computer

to monitor it. But I've put that aside and just focused on the printer. The

UPS connection exhibited the same problem as the printer.)

 

I've tried two HP printers -- a 5650 and a 4160. For one I used the driver

disc that came with the printer. For the other I did the same and then also

tried the latest driver from the HP web site. Both printers and all three

drivers exhibited the same problem.

 

A USB flash drive, or a camera, does not cause the problem. These things

look like storage devices and don't require loading of any drivers, I think.

 

Addressing the points from that article:

 

The hardware seems to be functioning correctly. Device Manager indicates

all USB controllers as "Working properly" and there are no exclamation

points, question marks or other alerts. The two USB controllers are assigned

to IRQ 21 and 23

 

The computer recognizes when a USB device is plugged in, and doesn't request

any drivers for simple devices like the flash drive. It does request and

install a printer driver when I plug in a printer.

 

The cables are sold as USB 2.0 cables, I think that means high-speed, right?

 

The bios I have is the latest version according to the ASUS web site

 

The article mentions removing and reinstalling all USB controllers. Is

that something I should do? (It gives no hint as to why you would want to do

this.) If so, how do I reinstall them? It gives specific instructions for

the removal but not for the installation.

 

The strange thing is that when I connect a device to the USB, it works fine.

The printer prints, the flash drive can be read and written, etc. This

seems to suggest that all the hardware and all the software are properly

working and properly configured. It's only when I try to restart that there

is a problem, and then the problem is a hang that gives no hint of what's

wrong.

 

Here's another observation: Once I've installed the printer, it makes no

difference whether it's connected or not. Even if I disconnect the USB cable

to the printer, the boot still hangs.

 

Thanks for the help, I hope this gives you some hints.

 

-- John

"John Carlson" wrote:

>

>

> "Ka2H" wrote:

>

> > "John" wrote:

> >

> > > I'm using XP Home, SP2 on a new computer. When I try to install a USB

> > > device it works correctly, but afterwards I can't reboot.

 

 

John

 

The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of

troubleshooting.

> I've tried two HP printers -- a 5650 and a 4160. For one I used the driver

> disc that came with the printer. For the other I did the same and then also

> tried the latest driver from the HP web site. Both printers and all three

> drivers exhibited the same problem.

 

That's in accordance with suggestions seen in other USB - / driver cases,

but did not resolve this case.

> If I boot to safe mode and use System Restore to go back to before I

added the device, the system is ok again,

 

In line with correct steps to perform. In this case only Windows

(recognized) drivers are used, which could indicate that the problem is

caused by a third party driver, in spite of your trials.

> Here's another observation: Once I've installed the printer, it makes no

> difference whether it's connected or not. Even if I disconnect the USB cable

> to the printer, the boot still hangs.

 

Another strong indication that the problem is in the "driver conflict area".

 

Another trial(s) may be:

1. Install the printer / driver and verify that it works as expected.

2. Go to the Device Manager, click on Properties for the printer port USB in

question, and the Driver tab.

3. You could now either:

1. Update the Driver from here (in case not already so done) and restart

the PC, or

2. Remove the Driver (Advanced) and restart.

 

The way ahead from there is of course dependent on a change in the outcome

from what you have seen so far.

> The cables are sold as USB 2.0 cables, I think that means high-speed, right?

 

Yeah, I agree with your assumption that the cable is ok - as everything is

working right "when it does".

> The article mentions removing and reinstalling all USB controllers. Is

> that something I should do? (It gives no hint as to why you would want to do

> this.) If so, how do I reinstall them? It gives specific instructions for

> the removal but not for the installation.

 

I don't think this step is needed performed, as you have narrowed the

problem down to a specific driver / USB.

 

By the way: Do you get any messages in the Event Viewer when the PC hangs

during the restart / boot sequence?

 

Regards,

Ka2H

"Ka2H" wrote:

>

> The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of

> troubleshooting.

 

It's getting stranger and stranger.

 

Today I decided, somewhat on a whim but thinking about driver conflicts, to

reinstall the Soundmax audio driver. I installed, and restarted when the

installer requested, and ... the boot hung, in just the same way as when I

had installed the printer.

 

(The printer was not installed at this time. BTW)

 

I went through the now-familar ritual of booting to safe mode, rolling back

with System Restore, and restarting again, and everything was fine. The

audio worked and in fact the driver that I tried to reinstall is still

installed.

 

(Installing the printer still does not work, i.e., the system fails to boot

as previously described.)

 

(I should point out that I've never had any trouble with the audio. It's

been installed from day one and always worked fine. There was no special

reason for me to re-install it, just a wild guess that perhaps it wasn't

properly installed and was the source of a conflict with the printer.)

 

So now I'm more puzzled than ever, and starting to doubt my own sanity. (Am

I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?) What in the world is going on here?

 

-- John

"Ka2H" wrote:

>

> The case puzzles me a lot as you have performed more of the right steps of

> troubleshooting.

>

 

After yesterday's discoveries, I decided to throw in the towel. Something

clearly was very wrong and sensible troubleshooting wasn't getting me

anywhere.

 

So today I reformatted the HDD and reinstalled XP. And at this point,

everything appears to be working properly. The printer is installed and

working, the sound is working, the video, the network .. all installed and

working properly and I can reboot without difficulty.

 

I still have no idea what the original problem was. But it seems (knocking

wood) to have gone away.

 

Thank you greatly for your help. Even though it didn't lead directly to a

solution, it reassured me that I was going about things the right way and

ultimately led me to the conclusion that a drastic fix was the only thing

that was going to do the job.

 

-- John

"John Carlson" wrote:

>

> After yesterday's discoveries, I decided to throw in the towel. Something

> clearly was very wrong and sensible troubleshooting wasn't getting me

> anywhere.

>

> So today I reformatted the HDD and reinstalled XP. And at this point,

> everything appears to be working properly. The printer is installed and

> working, the sound is working, the video, the network .. all installed and

> working properly and I can reboot without difficulty.

>

> I still have no idea what the original problem was. But it seems (knocking

> wood) to have gone away.

>

> Thank you greatly for your help. Even though it didn't lead directly to a

> solution, it reassured me that I was going about things the right way and

> ultimately led me to the conclusion that a drastic fix was the only thing

> that was going to do the job.

>

> -- John

 

I'm very happy to see that you made it, as I'm sitting here reading all

kinds of Microsoft - and other articles trying to find another approach to

resolve it, with no luck. It certainly would have been interesting to have

had details about the problem, but well working as the XP seems to be, which

is the important thing - who cares?

 

Take care,

Ka2H

"Ka2H" wrote:

>

> I'm very happy to see that you made it, as I'm sitting here reading all

> kinds of Microsoft - and other articles trying to find another approach to

> resolve it, with no luck. It certainly would have been interesting to have

> had details about the problem, but well working as the XP seems to be, which

> is the important thing - who cares?

>

> Take care,

> Ka2H

 

Well, in spite of my earlier optimism, things are not right after all.

 

Yesterday I installed a second USB printer, and the problem came back.

 

And I also found that installing some Windows Updates also caused the

problem to reappear.

 

So now I'm back to square one, puzzled and frustrated.

 

I'm going to start a new thread under the topic of "Boot hangs at XP start

screen" since I no longer know whether the problem is related to USB or not.

I'm hoping that you or someone else might be able to give me some further

ideas.

 

--John