Windows XP USB Recognition

Windows XP does not auto recognize my digital camera or usb thumb drive when I plug it in to the usb port. Earlier when I would connect my camera to the usb cable and turn it on windows would bring up a menue asking what I wanted to do. Now it does not do that. I hear a noise in the background, but nothing shows on the screen.

 

is this at least sp2 xp? if not, make it so.

unplug all usb stuff

get the latest/greatest drivers if needed from the maker and then use devicemanger to remove all usb stuff

reboot and install software for any devices in accordance w/ their maker's instructions.

the most oft seen issue in my experience is plugging in a device that requires that the software be installed BEFORE u do so.

 

What kind of noise? The connectors for USB devices such as this one and flash drives aren't very robust, so there is always the possibity that the connector broke from plugging/un plugging.

Does it show up in My Computer?

Have you been in the Device Manager? Right click My Computer > Hardware > Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers: any warning symbol?

You can try uninstalling the device and then re booting to have XP re install, or, a longshot, use System Restore to go back to a point (fairly recently, otherwise you run into other consequences) when it worked. Try the uninstalling/re installing first and post back.

Regards - Charles

 

And sometimes individual USB ports on a PC can be dead, usually from faulty wiring. Try charlesvar's suggestion first, but if that does not help, try another USB port. Do you have any other USB devices attached and working properly--like a printer or scanner?