USB Puzzler

[NotSoCunning]

Ok here goes. I made a little mistake and let one of my users install a usb card reader on their Win 2k laptop by themselves. I figured it would auto install since no Win 2k/XP drivers were provided with it and they could handle it.

BIG mistake, my user has completely fudged it . The device now will not be detected when plugged in and is not listed anywhere on the machine that I can find. Also the device manager no longer shows any device listing (I can't say for sure this was ok before).

I've tried installing it on another machine, noting the drivers and removing them from the machine in question, but no joy. The usb port works as I've installed another reader, the device works as it's been tested on another machine. I'm a little bit at a loss.

Is there anyway to remove the residule info about the device that is stopping it being picked up from afresh? Or does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[cdogg]

Taking a wild guess here, but perhaps you don't have the device turned on, or maybe it needs to have a card inserted first before anything will show in Explorer or Device Manager.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[NotSoCunning]

Nope shows up lovely on another Win 2k machine with no card in it, power is supplied over the usb cable and has no power on/off button.

 

[Sympology]

Is it on a domain with polices? It may be partly installed. Try logging in as a local admin and see what happens.
In device manager, try View > Hidden Devices. Does it show up in there? If so delete and try again. If it asks for a reboot, do so and log back in with the admin account. Then log out and try the users account.

Stu..

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[NotSoCunning]

The machine is running on a domain, it's not AD though. I'll try logging on as a local admin and see if it makes any difference.

The view hidden devices makes no difference at all. No devices at all are shown.

 

[NotSoCunning]

Just tried logging on as local admin, although both domain admin and the user have local admin rights anyway, no joy. Won't pick it up and can't see it already on there. Device manager still shows nothing.

 

[Sympology]

Try:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Sympology]

Pulled this of another Forum:
Posters name: Sayantan Datta

"Solution Check the Plug and Play Service to Startup in MSCONFIG To check on the status of the Plug and Play service from within MSCONFIG, perform the following steps: Click the Start button, click Run, and then type in the Open box msconfig. Click OK. The Microsoft System Configuration Utility window appears. Click the Services tab. Verify that the Hide all Microsoft Services checkbox is not checked; if it is, uncheck it. Scroll down the list of services until you see the service named Plug and Play. Click to check Plug and Play if the box is currently unchecked. NOTE: If you are still having difficulty accessing the Device Manager or the Status displayed in MSCONFIG is listed as Stopped, proceed to the next section to enable the Plug and Play service. Enable the Plug and Play Service To enable the Plug and Play service in a system where it is disabled, perform the following steps: Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage. The Computer Management window appears. Click Services and Applications, and then click Services. Click the tab labeled Standard, and scroll down to Plug and Play. Double-click Plug and Play. NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK. The Plug and Play Properties window appears. Click to change the Startup Type to Manual, and then click Apply. NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK. Under the Service Status section of the Plug and Play Properties windows, click the Start button. This will start the Plug and Play service. Click OK on the Plug and Play Properties. You should now be able to access the Device Manager "

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[NotSoCunning]

thanks for your replies

The plug and play service is running and is automatic. I have no option to stop or restart the service.

The device manager is still blank . Incidently it looks like the card reader is indeed partially installed since there are registry entries concerning it.

I tried removing what looked to be the main entries for it (saving them first ofc) and restarting, still nothing.

Getting close to the point where I order a new one of a different make to get round the problem .

 

[NotSoCunning]

Anyone with any further ideas?

 

[Lenana]

Restore a backup from the previous day and start the card reader install over. After you get it installed, make sure this user has no rights to even change their font type/size

 

[NotSoCunning]

I wish, backups are made only of the servers not individual machines. I've not heard back from the manufacturer either. Gonna be re-formatting that machine tomorrow by the look of it .

 

[hc25036]

I often find with laptops that USB drives get assigned to the drive letter normally used by the CDROM or to the first network drive. To check, go to Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Storage/Disk Management(Local)and look for the USB drive in there (you may need to have a card in the reader to do this). If it is there, you can change the drive letter manually.