On 2004-08-03 20:14:58 PST Mike Yates (myates5@nc.rr.com) wrote
(in microsoft.public.windowsme.general):-
> I recently upgraded my computer with a new motherboard, case, processor,
> and memory. I used my existing hard drive. My USB worked without incident
> for a while and then just locked up my system. Everytime I try to reboot, it
> makes it to the point of asking for my Networking ID and then it halts
> execution of boot up. By disabling all USB controllers in my bios I am able
> to boot up and operate with no apparent issues except for no USB access. I
> tried a PCI USB card, which I used in my other computer and know it works,
> and it too halts boot up and locks up the system.
>
> Any ideas?
>
Hi namesake!
Possibilities:-
1) A "remnant" USB hub driver on the hard disc, incompatible with the
hub on the new motherboard. Have you tried deleting all USB items from
the Device Manager and doing a refresh?
2) Physically faulty USB hub on MB
3) Faulty or outdated BIOS program. My main MB here often used to
freeze on bootup into WinME, less often into WinXP and rarely into
Linux until I upgraded (by "flashing") the BIOS for another reason. I
had suspected USB but having various or no devices connected seemed to
make no difference. It always booted OK on 2nd attempt, but had got
far enough to offer "Safe Mode", which wasn't necessary. I thought it
might be temperature, for that reason, but then had quite a few
first-time boots when the room was freezing. When I'd flashed the
BIOS, 3 sub-versions on, it suddenly prompted for different USB OHCI
drivers in WinME, WinXP, Win2003, Mandrake Linux, SuSE Linux and
Fedora Linux and now they all always go first time! (I use those
multi-boots to different partitions to support various clients - oh
and DOS6.22/Win3.11 too, but that knows nothing of USB!)
You'd have thought MB manufacturers would flash the right program into
the BIOS, wouldn't you?
But then, who does get it right the first time?
Have you tried installing a fresh WinXP? If you can spare about 4Gb of
your disc, you could shrink your partition with Partition Magic and
install a fresh XP in a second partition. It will automatically get a
multi-boot so you can still run the old one, too. A second disc fitted
as slave would do the same. That would prove if it was
hardware/firmware or software (residual drivers) at fault.
If the BIOS firmware needs upgrading, that would affect PCI USB hubs
as well as the MB one because the BIOS is the central controller for
any hub fitted. My own problem persisted after I fitted a PCI hub but
cleared on BIOS upgrade. You need to be very sure you get the correct,
genuine software, not some hacker's "clocked up" effort! Only the
MB-maker's own website (Taiwan?) will do. If you've had the MB less
than 12 months, push for a replacement under warrantee instead.
--
Have fun,
Mike
--
http://fonehelp.co.uk - PC support, no fix, no fee!