Need windows 7 Guru. USB hubs do not work

[P4man]

Hi,

Im looking for someone who knows more about windows than I do.

My neighbours PC has a very weird and annoying problem. USB hubs do not work. Ive tried 4, some powered, some passive, all of them only work if you insert just *ONE* device. The moment you insert a second device (no matter what, mouse, USB stick, whatever) it stops working until you remove the second device.

Sometimes its just stops working, sometimes windows complains it cant install the hardware.

Its not a hardware problem; Ive booted ubuntu and all the hubs work just fine. Even when I boot from windows CD in the installer it works.

I tried a 4 port PCI USB card, and it gives the exact same problem; hubs only work if you attach just ONE device to it. Even if you can load the card with 4 USB devices if you use all 4 ports on the card without hub, its fine. The moment you use a hub, it stops working when you attach a second device to any of the hubs.

Ive tried removing all the USB devices in device manager and let windows reinstall the drivers, didnt help.

Ive tried removing any software I could find that could be remotely related (any 3rd party drivers for USB devices like webcams, printers, EID readers etc), didnt help.

Im stuck. Does anyone have an idea other than reinstalling?

 

[LumbergTech]

Did you show all currently unconnected and hidden devices and uninstall those as well?

I would do a bit of research on the registry and USB. I have more experience with old school serial ports than I do with USB, but it sounds possibly like a registry type problem.

 

[P4man]

Aha. Thanks for the tip, I never even knew you could show hidden devices. I see the option now, and you can even stop those devices without uninstalling then, which is perfect for trial and error, Ill give that a try tomorrow, thanks!