Pam -

Try this, though note the part about the infcache.1 . I would make a copy
of this file (vs. deleting) by renaming it to Infcache.old and be sure to
reboot. Click "Continue" to any prompts you receive once in Windows. I
think this portion should do the trick for you.
----------------------------------------
Issue: XP asks for drivers or just wants to install new hardware

XP comes with drivers for USB mass storage. If it asks for drivers then
there are two common reasons:
1. It does not trust it's own drivers
This is the case when it cannot check if the drivers are signed which is
true when the servicie 'Cryptographic Services' ist not running (CryptSvc) or
if its data are corrupt.
Start -> Execute -> services.msc
Check here for 'Cryptographic Services' beeing started automatically.
Fixing corrupted data of the 'Cryptographic Services' is described at
Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798

2. It does not find the drives
This is the case when the registry key that points to the INF folder is
corrupt.
Start the Registry Editor (Run -> Regedit). Check if under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion the item
'DevicePath' points to '%SystemRoot%\inf'. Additional items, separated by
semikolons, are ok but '%SystemRoot%\inf' has to be one of them.
Then delete the file C:\WINDOWS\inf\infcache.1 - XP will recreate it.
The INF folder and the infcache.1 file are 'hidden'. To see them in the
Windows Explorer:
Menu 'Tools' -> 'Folder Options'
Tab 'View', mark 'show hidden files and folders'
If it still doesn't work after a restart, the files in C:\WINDOWS\inf might
be corrupt. An Windows repair install helps then.

Another thing to check is if the values 'FactoryPreInstallInProgress' and
'AuditInProgress' are set to '1' under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Factory
.. They should be 0 or non present.

For more info go here: http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html


"M.I.5¾" wrote:

I have a similiar problem except that >>none<< of my usb mass storage devices
work any more. [This includes my thumb drives!] I get a message "One of the
usb devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not
recognize it". This occured recently, so I restored an earlier (a few weeks)
version of my WinXP SP2 system (all updates). The problem remained. I reset
to the current version again so that I could dig into the cause. I
immediately found that virtually all my other installed third part USB
devices were not working. [The trackball mouse still worked.] All devices are
noticed, but all needed an OEM disk re-install of the drivers. I re-installed
all the drivers I have and now only mass storage fails. I.e., no USB memory
drives, USB 80 Gig Disk drive, USB hubs. My peripherals (non-mass store seek
to work OK. I too am seeking help and ptpusb.dll seems involved. [Please note
that I have an Averatek 6240 series machine. The restore disk wipes the disk
and restores the factory version. On top of that the OEM laptop jerks
encrypted the restore disk so that I cannot find and expand the usb drivers.
I am not pleased with the thought of using "web" copies of these drivers.]


"Anthony G." wrote:

This is a common problem in 'WINDOWS' not just XP unfortunately. Your USB
ports just seem to one day stop working or you plug in a new device and you
can see that Windows sees the device but it does not show up as usable. I'm
not sure if its corrupt registry keys or corrupt dll or ghost in the machine
or what ever but it's a problem that Microsoft has still not address even
with the introduction of Windows Vista.
I've found that the easiest way to address this problem is to perform a
removal of the hardware device driver(s) installed. If you look in device
manager you won’t see the device by default unless it's plugged in and
working. There is a way how every to view the device (all device) even if
they are not attached to your PC. Plenty of Microsoft article on this
(http://search.microsoft.com/results....resent_devices)
@ the command prompt type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 'Enter' then
start devmgmt.msc 'Enter' - In Device Manager click view show hidden devices.
You may set this command as a new system variable for next time (1 is the
value) so wont have to type it. With this done you'll be able to remove
unwanted or no longer used device USB and all that were once attached to you
PC including once that have stopped working. But yet still there is an easier
way instead of doing all the about and manually removing the devices. Obtain
a copy of the Sysprep.exe SP2 version for XP version and extract or copy it
to your system. Browse to the file location (command prompt preferred) and
type sysprep -clean. This will remove all 'Ghost Device' as they are called
when they are hidden in device manager from your system. I've found these
methods fix more USB problems than physically hacking the registry.

Good Luck!
--
Just the facts


"winthrom" wrote:

Trasparent:

I found your reply excellent.
I viewed the current "ghost" info as you described. I made a short bat file
to do it also. This works well.
I downloaded (from MS) the Sysprep.exe SP2 tool. This is a powerful tool and
I will soon test it on the original hard disk I removed and replaced with a
copy. The current disk is one I made using a copy tool, and then returned to
OEM condition via an OEM reload, which is running good. I used "ez upgrade"
for the copy tool. (WWW.APRICORN.COM)
More to come, but in a few weeks.
winthrom

"Trasparent" wrote: