USB malfunctioning after installing AVG 8.0

Hello

I am not sure if this is a hardware or a software problem, but I will start here.
2 days ago I installed AVG 8.0 on my computer. This started up a number of problems, including my modem (i have a dial up internet connection) stopped working, all USB ports are not working, and when shutting down the computer would freeze at the 'saving your settings' screen.
I have since uninstalled AVG 8.0, and also performed a system restore to before installation. Now my modem works and the computer no longer freezes, but I am still having problems with the USB ports.

-When I start up the computer, it takes a lot longer to get to the logon screen (where the screen used to go blank for a 1/2-1 second before the logon screen, it now takes 20 secs).
-When I logon, i immediately start getting error messgaes: "USB Device Not Recognised: One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognise it ". This is despite not having any USB devices attached! This message pops up for 1 sec then disappears, and this happens repeatedly (popping up for 1sec then disappearing) to no end (driving me crazy!). If I try and connect any USB devices, nothing changes - it doesn't cause the message to pop up/not pop up, and no USB device is recognised.

I have checked in device manager - it reports everything is working normally. I have tried uninstalling/reinstalling all the USB root hubs and controllers - they reinstall fine, but the error keeps coming!

My USB ports are all part of the motherboard (not a separate card), everything else seems to be working fine. If I use device manager to disable the USB root hub, all the messages stop - and the issue with the longer blank screen before the logon page also stops, it goes back to its normal 1/2 second. But I cannot use the ports then either so it's not much better, nearly all my devices (camera, scanner/printer, iPod) connect this way.
(And they are all working fine when connected to my other computer)

I am not sure what else I can try? Someone on the AVG forum suggested using "System File Checker" on my windows CD - i have used it and gone through to the command prompt but cannot seem to get it to run.
My other thought is that it is a hardware problem that just unfortunately happened at the same time as the AVG installation - in which case, is it even possible to replace the USB controller/root hub without replacing my motherboard (sorry if that idea seems dumb i just have no idea about the setup in there!)

I am running Windows XP Home Edition. I don't have much else on the computer - i did have AVG obviously but now it is gone, I don't use it very much on the internet as it is reserved purely for internet banking so minimal chance of spyware and I don't use messenger etc. Have one or two games on there, and i have not made changes to those recently.

If any one has any ideas or suggestions on how i can deal with this, it would be appreciated.

Thanks
Caz

 

Caz

If PeteC’s solution doesn’t work, read through my list.

Here is a list I’m compiling of possible solutions in the fight against USB (Unreliable Serial Bus) problems. You may have tried some of them and some may not be relevant to your problem. Try those that sound as though they may help or apply to your configuration. In no particular sequence, they are:

1. Right-click My Computer > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager to see if the drive shows up under ‘Disk drives‘. If so, right-click it > Properties > Policies Tab and check if you have a ‘Quick Removable’ check box. A USB external drive should have a check in this box. Reboot if you change anything.
2. Try restarting the computer with the USB drive already plugged in and powered up.
3. Try an ‘Autoplay’ repair, here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...amp;Hash=LJ6SCR
4. Right-click My Computer > Manage > Disk Management. If the disk is listed or hidden, right-click its graphic and change the drive letter to one nearer the end of the alphabet.
5. Control Panel > Add New Hardware and let the wizard find it.
6. Look here, particularly numbers 3 and 4 here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/871233/
7. If you have one, or can get hold of one, try using a ‘Live’ Linux CD to determine whether the problems are hardware or operating system related, i.e. if your USB ports work in Linux, then it isn't a hardware problem.
8. I‘ve been told that certain files should be in C:\Windows\Inf. I have 8 names each with an extension of .INF and .PNF, i.e. 16 files altogether: irstusb, usb, usbport, usbprint, usbstor, usbvideo, wceusbsh and wdma_usb.
9. Also, these driver files are present in Windows\System32\drivers\. They have an extension of SYS and there are 13 of them: usb8023, usbcamd, usbcamd2, usbccgp, usbd, usbehci, usbhub, usbintel, usbport, usbprint, usbscan usbstor and usbuhci.
10. Try to check the file structure of the device, e.g. FAT, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS.
11. Check the BIOS for these three settings:
Look for ‘USB 2.0 Voltage’. If it’s present, set it to maximum or similar wording.
Check that USB legacy support is Enabled.
Under Plug and Play or Peripherals, there may be an option to clear the stored data of PCI/USB devices.
12. Try removing all USB devices, except mouse and keyboard of course, reboot and try the device again.
13. Remove static by turning the computer off and remove the mains lead (also remove the battery if it’s a laptop). Press and hold the on/off button on the computer for ten seconds. Plug in the lead (and laptop battery) and start the computer as normal. You may have to reset the system date/time on a laptop.
14. Uninstalling the USB Root Hubs from Device Manager sometimes helps as they are re-configured after a reboot. DO NOT delete the Enhanced Controllers as sometimes they do not get reinstalled after rebooting.
15. Have a look at USB troubleshooting tips here http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbstick_e.html
16. Error code 10, have a look here http://www.pchell.com/hardware/usbcode10.shtml


17 This is my latest addition. It works in the sense that superfluous devices can be removed but I haven’t ‘lost’ a USB device, so I haven’t had to try it:

By design, devices that you have installed which are not currently connected to the computer (e.g. a USB device) are not displayed in Device Manager, even when you click Show hidden devices.

To temporarily display them, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
Now type ‘set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1’ (not the quotes but the space) and press Enter.
Now type ‘start devmgmt.msc’ (not the quotes but the space) and press Enter.
In Device Manager, click View > Show hidden devices.

By expanding a category, e.g. Disk drives or USB, then right-clicking a device you can determine if you want to remove it by clicking uninstall. Be aware that an important device like a printer that is not currently plugged in can be accidentally uninstalled by using this view.

Once you have finished with Device Manager, close the Command Prompt by typing Exit and pressing Enter.

If you want the devices to permanently appear, post back here and I’ll give you details.