XP Pro is suppose to recognize when you plug a USB cord into one of the ports (front or back or computer) and then automatically ask you what you want to do with the stuff on your storage device. It is not doing that. I thought perhaps it was my cheap little PNY Technologies reader so I went out and bought at SanDisk flash card reader but even with the software it came with it is still apparently lacking the drivers that XP needs to do the work. I called tech support over at SanDisk and after several different tries he told me to uninstall SP2 and then reinstall it and the drivers would automatically come with the new SP2 download. It took about 2 - 3 hours to do that but again, I am stuck without the use of my USB ports so I can download my pictures or hook up my HP Scanner. Any ideas on what to do here?

Thanks,

TT

Do the USB controllers show up in the device manager?
Have you tried using the add/remove hardware wizard?
Another possibility is to reinstall the chipset drivers for the motherboard, that should restore the USB ports and drivers.

When I tried to install the software a SanDisk USB did show up there but with a yellow "!" icon on it. I deleted it and now it does not show up when I restart my computer at all. What is showing up now are four (4) Intel 82801DBM Host Controllers, one which is a 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller along with four (4) USB Root Hubs. That seems normal if I remember correctly when I was last in the Device Manager but still when I plug my HP Scanner USB plug into it or this new SanDisk Flash Card reader they will not work. I have tried "forcing" them with the Add New Hardware in the Control Panel but all it does is say that it can't install them. I did notice when it was trying to install the software it gets stuck on "geneicon.dll" and once it sits there trying to install that for awhile it quits and says it can't install the software.

BTW, I am not a computer whiz so I really have no idea about reinstalling chipsets or motherboards. What I do know is that I recently got laid off and don't have a lot of $$ for a fix but at the same time need the fax /scanner for job search inquiries and sumittals so ANY help that one can give when they see this would be so much appreciated.

Thanks,

TT

The chipset drivers for the motherboard are the software that enables your computer to use the motherboard hardware.
If you know what motherboard is installed in your computer, you can go to that company web site and download the chipset drivers for that board.
That software installation should solve your problem. This is normally a free download.
The software, or a link to it, should also be available at the web site for your computer's manufacturer.

First off, I really appreciate your help. I went to the Dell support site for my computer's (directed by my service tag #) and downloaded the following:

Drivers & Downloads

You Are Searching For Change Devices
  
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility
Driver

Release Title: Chip Set: Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility, Driver, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Multi Language, Multi System, v.4.04.1007, A11
Release Date: 09/17/2002
Description: Adds software support for the newest Intel Chipsets.  

By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.

File Name File Size Download Time (56K) File Format
R47822.EXE 2 MB 6.5 min Hard-Drive

I ran the utility that downloaded above but to no avail. Does this look like the chipset that you were referring to?

Yes, that was the chipset driver installer. Strange that it didn't solve the problem.

From Microsoft knowledge base:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us

Following the above article I would first check the BIOS to see that an IRQ is assigned to the USB ports.
If it does have one assigned, then I would try the final step in the article and uninstall and reinstall the USB controllers.
One of these should be the answer to the problem, the other possiblities are unlikely.

I had a similar problem recently. When I installed Service Pack 2, the problem was solved. If you already hasve SP2, then go to device manager and under USB host controller, choose UPDATE DRIVER.

There is another rather esoteric possibility with this. Despite the apparent detection by Windows, it may be that USB is not enabled in your system BIOS.
To get into the BIOS you will need to hit a key as the computer boots - directly after the Post (Power On Self Test): it will normally tell you there which one to press, but typically (on this PC) it is F2, or (as on mine at home) DEL.
Then go to something like Integrated Peripherals and look for "USB Legacy device" or similar, and make sure it is enabled.
[Why they call USB a 'legacy' device is beyond me - sounds like it ought to refer to a dot matrix printer or a 51/4 inch floppy ! ]

Good luck with the job-hunting.