Somewhat O/T Need some computer help

[westview]

Hey Guys,

Somehow, randomly, my mouse and joystick stopped working, the computer recognized that something is plugged into a USB port, but gives me a message saying that the device isn't recognized. I don't think it's a problem with the usb port since they all still recognize flash drives and storage devices, and I don't think it's the devices themselves because i tried plugging in a different joystick and a different mouse and still had the same problem, so what could it be?

Thanks

[flyer01]

Try restarting your PC.

Look in you control panel to see if it shows your controls.

[westview]

Restart was one of my first attempts, no dice though. Uninstalled the usb root hubs too with no result.

[flyer01]

what windows?

[westview]

windows vista on a toshiba satellite L305

[flyer01]

Try this. Fix it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971187

[westview]

Still no dice, thanks for the help though, I might have to try a system restore.

[Tailwind]

Found this Googling. It refers to external storage but may also apply to other usb devises

Hope it works

TW

Windows Vista / USB device detection problems

During the initial installation of a USB device (most often external drives, although not always), Windows Vista does not locate or install drivers for the device.
Windows Vista might report that there is “no driver found for you device” and/or will not display the pre-installed Vista OEM drivers. Even by manually selecting the driver, you will still get the “no driver found…” error. This is most likely caused by a corrupted INFCACHE.1 file. This file stores the location of drivers and their INF files. This file is hidden, has restricted access, and can be found in “c:\windows\inf”.
Delete the INFCACHE.1 file and it will force Windows to rebuild the INFCACHE.1 file the next time Windows searches for drivers. To delete this file, you have to set the security permissions of it to allow Full Control for the User Group Administrators or full control for your user account. Please follow the directions below:

1. Open a Windows Explorer window by right clicking on Start and then clicking on Explore.
2. In the address bar, type C:\windows\inf and press Enter.
3. Find and then right click on the file named INFCACHE.1.
4. Select Properties.
5. Click on the Security tab.
6. Click on Edit to edit the permissions of the file.
7. Click on Add to add User Groups.
8. Type Administrators in the User Groups field and click on OK.
9. Set Administrators to Full Control and click on OK.
10. Move or delete the file INFCACHE.1.
11. Reinstall a device to force Windows to rebuild the INFCACHE.1 file (DO NOT reinstall the same external hard drive that you were having issues detecting before. Please connect another USB device other than the one that Vista had an issue detecting).

This detection issue can happen several times in a row, but repeat the steps 1-11 and try again until this works.
UPDATE: To clarify a couple emails I received, this *only* applies to Vista (all editions, x86 and x64) but not to XP, or any other version of Windows.

[westview]

still no dice, thanks for the tip though, i think it might be an issue with the SM Bus Controller Driver

[flyer01]

Look in you control panel to see if it shows your controls.

[westview]

I checked there, the computer won't recognize that they're plugged in, it'll recognize that something is plugged in but wont recognize what it is. what's weird is that it will recognize storage devices like external hard drives and flash drives. I might have to bite the bullet and bring it into somewhere.

[flyer01]

did you add a new program to you pc before this happened ?

Look in you device manager and it may ask if you want to repair.

I don't know much about vista. I used XP and then Windows 7.

I have heard said Vista was the beta for Windows 7.

My wife had vista on her PC and I never did like vista. After I put W7 on her's she liked it better then Vista.

But you use what you have.

I did. lol

[westview]

I hadn't added anything before this happened, as far as the device manager, it does advise me that my SM Bus Controller is missing a driver and advises me to repair, I haven't been able to find one yet so it currently lacks a driver, any advice on where to find one?

[Tailwind]

I hadn't added anything before this happened, as far as the device manager, it does advise me that my SM Bus Controller is missing a driver and advises me to repair, I haven't been able to find one yet so it currently lacks a driver, any advice on where to find one?

Hi

Go to the manufacturer website of your main board. Download and install the chip set driver from there

Cheers

TW