USB Port Problems on Win98se

[zetagirl]

Can USB ports simply "go bad"? I've searched the posts here and didn't see THIS problem, if it's here, I'm sorry. I have Win98se, with two USB1 ports. I have tried to install a new printer; the software loads fine until I get to "connect USB" then get "msgsrv32" error. Same thing with a new digital camera, software loads, when I connect USB, "msgsrv32" error. My old printer/scanner hasn't worked in a while thru these ports. I've tried using USB1 cables as well as USB2 cables(I understand the difference, and that the speed will be USB1 regardless, that's not a problem). The Device manager shows no problems, so I thought I'd try to upgrade the drivers and that's a new problem, when trying to update ANY driver, now I get "Rundll32" error message. I can provide more details, but I don't know where to start, any help is appreciated!!!

 

[ski]

What is the exact text in the "msgsrv32" and "Rundll32" error messages(incl. 'Details')?

 

[zetagirl]

Thanks for replying! The exact details in the error box read:"MSGSRv32 caused a general protection fault in module KRNL386.EXE at 0002:00002b8c". I'm confused, because the help info I found for this message said this happens during set-up or installation of Win98.
The other error message that happens when I try to update the drivers:
error while trying to update USB Driver:

RUNDLL32 caused a general protection fault
in module COMMCTRL.DLL at 0001:00000afc.
Registers:
EAX=657ea24d CS=1c4f EIP=00000afc EFLGS=00000282
EBX=0001feb0 SS=7367 ESP=00006694 EBP=0000669a
ECX=0001a9ae DS=1cd7 ESI=0003a164 FS=0000
EDX=0000a9ae ES=a9ae EDI=00033fac GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
66 26 89 07 8e 46 0e 26 ff 04 8b c7 1f 5e 5f c9
Stack dump:
a24d27ef 66ac0011 28d79e40 657ea24d a1643fac 27ef840e 9a486826 a24d28d7 3fac657e 840ea164 0001a164 657e0000 575c3a43 4f444e49 495c5357 445c464e

error in trying to update driver for USB hub:
RUNDLL32 caused a general protection fault
in module COMMCTRL.DLL at 0001:00000afc.
Registers:
EAX=95fea2bb CS=1c4f EIP=00000afc EFLGS=00000286
EBX=0001feb4 SS=9da7 ESP=00006694 EBP=0000669a
ECX=00010000 DS=1cd7 ESI=0003b568 FS=0000
EDX=000095fe ES=afc6 EDI=00033fad GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
66 26 89 07 8e 46 0e 26 ff 04 8b c7 1f 5e 5f c9
Stack dump:
a2bb27ef 66ac0011 28d79e40 95fea2bb b5683fad 27ef840e 9a486826 a2bb28d7 3fad95fe 840eb568 0001b568 95fe0000 575c3a43 4f444e49 495c5357 445c464e

I really (!) appreciate your time!

 

[micker377]

I have a nice SOYO RAID mobo that works fine EXCEPT for the USB ports. I plugged a defective USB device in one day - the computer re-booted - and no more USB! I use the board for test when I don't need USB. Have you tried a PCI add-in USB board? This may tell you if it's hardware or Windows.

 

[cdogg]

micker377,
Unfortunately that test wouldn't tell you if it was a hardware problem. I had the same thing happen to me on an old Dell that came with WinME. I threw in a PCI USB card and it worked fine. At that point (like you suggested), I thought that maybe the USB ports were bad. But soon after, the owner decided to upgrade to XP. After doing a clean install, voila! The ports came back. So the PCI card test misled me to believe it was hardware.

zetagirl,
USB is tricky in older versions of Windows. I tried all sorts of fixes on that Dell and in the end, a clean install worked and would have been a much quicker solution. Consider that before you assume it's a hardware issue.

~cdogg
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[DaveGoTech]

I would try a new usb card before getting radical and reinstalling. These cards cost next to nothing and are quick to install - just make sure it comes with Win98 drivers. Having more usb ports is always handy too, better than those flakey hubs. The problems you mention are usually caused by drivers. Reinstalling probably would correct it, but that's a real time consuming process. However, if you are up for the reinstall, if you have a 500mhx pc or better, I would install XP instead, but make sure you have 512m ram and don't do an 'upgrade' - purchase an upgrade package and do a clean install - it will run much better than the existing machine with win98.