IBM Netvista S42 - USB drivers

JPT, did you solve the problem? I have the same problem now on a re-loaded XP on a Netvista.

First figure out which machine type you have (an 8317, 8318 or 8319) and then go here

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4MVU6P

and follow the instructions.

I already show that. That's Not the fix. That's only for W2K, Not XP and that will fix the USB but I don't see the USB. I think the USB controler chip is bad on the Mother Bd...

Not sure what you mean by you "don't see the USB" ... are you looking in Device Manager? If so, is Device Manager set to "View" "Devices By Type"?

Start>Settings>Control Panel. Select and double click "System". In the System window that pops up, click the "Hardware" tab, then click the "Device Manager" Button. In Device Manger, select "View" from the toolbar at the top of the window, and select "Devices By Type"

Scroll down to find "Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller". Depending on your machine, the USB Controller may be within a heading called "Other Devices" - if you see that, but not "Universal Series Bus ... ", click the plus sign to open the "Other Devices" tree and scroll through it.

Once you've found it, right-click on that, select "Uninstall", confirm, and exit. Restart your machine. Windows should detect the USB Controller on bootup and automatically install the inbuilt Windows drivers.

Short version: Fully update your Windows XP. Then go into Device Manager and uninstall your USB Controller. Reboot, and it ought to reinstall just fine.

On the other hand, if it really doesn't show up in Device Manager, your machine doesn't detect and recognize a USB Controller - prolly a hardware issue, and that's likely to be a problem for a physical repair.

In the link I provided above (which is very clearly labeled as being info for both Win 2K and XP) it states that this is a known problem with the machine and that for Windows to recognize and install the USB drivers you have to connect a USB device with the machine powered off and then turn the machine on.

I don't think there is any malfunction in the hardware - more of a quirk in the system design that IBM isn't really interesed in addressing.

Went and looked at your link fishin' - yeah, coulda saved myself some typin'. Does seem its somethin' IBM knows about, and rather than actually fix it, they offer a workaround. Oh, well.

I agree too that the likelihood of a real hardware issue is very slim.

Thanks for your replies, Not to dis anyone, I do this for a living. This is a customers p/c. After reloading from the restore disks, I noticed that the USB's are NOT showing up on Device Manager. I checked BIOS (USB Enabled) and also upgraded to the latest BIOS. No help. The IBM 'fix' is for W2K only (I know it says W2k/XP). It's NOT a fix they want you to load/reload SP4. After 'googling' it, I found that this guy has the same problem...That's where I'm at now. I believe the USB controller chip is bad and it needs a new M/B...

Well then, if the BIOS is suitably configured and the USB Controller still doesn't show in Device Manager, with Device Manager configured to "Show devices by type", it then would be reasonable to assume that however slight the possibility of hardware failure might be, that's likely whatchya got there - no matter whatchya do for a livin'. Bear in mind that, absent indication to the contrary, fixes and suggestions posted here (and on most other non-übergeek forums) are aimed at the average user, not the pro.

One thing you might wanna try would be to shut the machine down, connect a known-to-be-functioning, non-bus-powered USB device - somethin' like a Zip drive (powered up, of course) with a data-containin' disc inserted, would be ideal - power the machine back up, and see what happens. If still no joy, I'd say it was screwdriver time.

Note: Fresh-squeezed orange juice, strained to remove the pulp and seeds, just a dash of lemon juice, premium, pre-chilled vodka, a toothpick garnish of orange peel, maraschino cherry, and a sprig of fresh mint, along with a gentle dustin' of cinnamon, served over ice in a tall chimney glass which itself has been well chilled in the freezer, makes for an excellent screwdiver.

That's why I want to hear from JPT...

Looks like JPT doesn't seem to be followin' along. Anyhow, if you don't mind my curiosity, didjya try connectin' a USB device while the subject machine was powered off, then rebootin'?

That's how I first found out that the USB was down. I plugged in my USB NIC and it never showed up. So last night I re-installed windows with the USB NIC plugged in and still there's no USB...the owner is going to see if he's still under warranty. I can't see what can cause this except the M/B...
I like IBM laptop's but NOT their desktop's...

Bummer - yup, that's most likely a hardware issue. Thanks for your feedback.

Oh, and ditto re IBM's laptops vs their desktops. I have a special hate spot in my heart for Compaqs and HPs in general, BTW, for their ridiculous pre-installed proprietary bloatware. Gateways aren't far from there, either.