MSI USB2 not available in WinXP SP2, help?

[Pjotr]

I had a computer with a VIA based AXP motherboard and CPU in an Antec Aria case. This ran XP+SP2 and had working USB.

I then swapped the motherboard (MSI K8TM-ILSR) and CPU (A64 3000+), leaving all other components identical. I tried to boot Windows in safe mode to see if it would upgrade ok so a new Windows install wouldn't be needed. This went fine, it detected everything, I added the MSI driver CD etc.

Then boot into Windows and everything works, except USB! I have no USB ports working and I have no question marks or undetected hardware in Device Manager! So I cannot select any USB hub/port and upgrade the driver. I have installed motherboard drivers over and over, I have downloaded and installed the XP+SP1 MSI USB2 fix, but that doesn't help.

Any hints on how to get the USB ports working again, except for a complete Windows re-install?

[wonkanoby]

remove any front case usb you installed

then update drivers from device manager

then redo with only the 8x paired wires plugged in not the odd 9th earth

[wonkanoby]

remove any front case usb you installed

then update drivers from device manager

then redo with only the 8x paired wires plugged in not the odd 9th earth

http://msihq.designlab.info/thread.php?postid=381479

[Radiohead]

If what Wonk suggested doesn't worl you most likely already know what I'm gonna say. You guessed it. Reformat and reinstall. Sometimes a mobo swap works sometimes it doesn't.

[Pjotr]

then update drivers from device manager

Well, yes, the front connector has 9 pins, so I disconnected it.

Now, as I explained I have nothing in Devicde manager that is close to USB. There is no USB headline, there are no non-working devises that could be USB ports. I have absolutly nothing I can point at and upgrade the driver on. All I can do is "scan for hardware changes" and I can also rught click on the INF files I have and select "Install", but nothing happens.

Hints? My next step is to re-install Windows of course.

[SteveF]

1. If you have no USB devices visible in Device Manager then surely it can only mean that they are disabled in the BIOS?

2. If it really is a Windows issue, which I doubt, a reinstall of SP2 (just run the exe again) should have the same effect as a complete re-install of Windows since the USB 2.0 drivers are in the SP.

3. I presume you have installed the chipset drivers for the new board?

[Radiohead]

Interesting idea but I was always under the impression USB 2.0 drivers are in SP1. That being the case the USB 1.1s should be loaded already.

[SteveF]

Perfectly true, but all of SP1 is included in SP2 so the drivers are in SP2 as well. I was talking about re-installing SP2 as a less drastic alternative to re-installing Windows, which someone else suggested. I could have said re-install SP1 instead but presumed that Pjotr would prefer to use SP2 (or can't use SP1 because it's on his XP CD).

Of course, no SP is needed at all for USB 1.1 drivers. I think Windows is maybe not the issue here but I think I said that as well.

[Radiohead]

I think your call on the chipset drivers hit the nail on the head personally. If we don't here back from him then I'd be willing to bet that was at issue indeed.

[Pjotr]

I think your call on the chipset drivers hit the nail on the head personally. If we don't here back from him then I'd be willing to bet that was at issue indeed.

I've tried to re-install the driver CD, download latest drivers via MSI LiveMonitor, I just re-installed SP2, nothing helps.

Time to go back to start.

[Radiohead]

For the amount of time it takes to reformat and reinstall go ahead and do the reformat. Backup your data and start fresh.

[Pjotr]

For the amount of time it takes to reformat and reinstall go ahead and do the reformat. Backup your data and start fresh.

Since it's full of data and not much software, I'll just re-install Windows over the HD. But I will be travelling a week now, so it'll be later.