USB help
 

Okay, I had this pc built, and haven't been able to use any of my usb ports. I had loaded win 98 (don't laugh, I was trying to save money), and finally upgraded to XP thinking that would help. I still can't get anything to work. Should I uninstall XP, then re-install? Would that wipe everything off my HD? Thanks for any advice.

Here's my system
Celeron 2600
XP
512 ram
Can't remember the mobo
80 gig Western dig hd

does the MB have some drivers for it?

and you should probubly just install XP from scratch, its just better.

Check the BIOS to see in USB is enabled.

Are the USB ports built directly into the mobo? If so then o14real is probably right, you might have to enable them in the bios. If the USB ports plug into the mobo through some type of connector you might want to try inverting the leads, they may have been inserted incorrectly.

4 of the 6 are built right into it. I've looked in the BIOS, and I thought they were, I'll check again.

Sometimes USB ports won't work unless you download the chipset drivers for your motherboard. I'd download those drives, install them, and then check in BIOS to see if USB is enabled. Other than that, I have no clue!

-Lasereth

The person who built your computer might have simply forgot to actually plug in your USB ports.

have you looked at your device manager?

Yes, the device managaer shows they are working. The guy who built it has sort of left me high and dry. I'll check to see if they are even connected, once I get home. Thanks for the ideas, I wasn't sure where to start looking.