Using Dell Dimension 8300 with Windows XP Professional. USB devices not recognized. Have flashed BIOS, downloaded and installed Firmware, and loaded appropriate drivers. Still, computer cannot communicate with any devices. Computer clock tracks time and date accurately and USB devices show as working properly in Device Manager. A possible ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) may have occurred during plug-in process of mass storage device. USB currently enabled. Additionally, have shut down computer for one minute while unplugged which restored ability to use USB flash drive. Question: could the issue be related to USB only being able to operate at the 1.1 but not 2.0 speed? If so, what is the fix? Could it be something else?

Hi, 1. Did you make any software changes to the computer recently?Method 1.Let us start with running the FixIt in the article below and check if the usb devices get detected.A computer that is running Windows XP cannot detect a USB flash drive, an Apple iPod, or an external hard disk drivehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/925196 Method 2.If the issue still persists let us reset the usb controllers and check if the issue is resolved.First, please disconnect all USB devices and then perform the following steps:a. Click "Start" button, type “devmgmt.msc” (without quotation marks) in the “Run” and press "Enter". Click “Continue” if necessary.b. In Device Manager, double click to expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right click on the Host Controller, click "Uninstall" and click "OK".c. Repeat the step 2 to uninstall all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers".Then, restart your computer and Windows XP will reinstall all USB controllers automatically. Hope this helps.Thanks and Regards:Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think. If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

Answer to question 1:Over the course of this problem were changes to find a resolve. Some, as outlined in the original question, others came in the form of Windows updates. As in the aforementioned, a possible ESD event may have occurred while writing to a CD. During the process plugged in a Coby Mp3 and video player and heard a “click” sound. Immediately, the CD writing process stopped and ejected the disk. Subsequent to that none of the USB ports worked.Answer to question 2:On several occasions, all the USB ports uninstalled as suggested but no resolve. The Fix-it diagnostic identified only the CD write/read but nothing for USB. CD works fine with no changes.Question to you:It is my understanding that Windows programmed (or perhaps was built in by manufacturer) USB 1.1 and 2.0. The flash drive (Scandisk) now operates after powering down and leaving PC unplugged for 1 minute. Is it possible that whatever occurred, corrupted ability for USB to operate at 2.0?