Vista not installing driver for any usb device

[aruneshdutta]

I have vista ultimate 32 bit with no service pack.It was working fine.But know it's having strange problem whenever I plug a new hardware even a pen drive a found new hardware window pops up and if clicked locate and install automatically it just can't install anything whereas previously it was simply plug and leave situation.The driver which are already installed I can only use those pen drive or any other usb but any other new pen drive or any other usb device isn't getting insatlled

 

[MilesAhead]

Do you have a Restore Point from before the onset of the problem?

If not that, a standard support "trick" is to boot into safe mode, open device manager, and delete the driver(in this case for USB.) Boot normally. When it comes up the machine should install the system USB drivers. I've seen this technique work quite often. I've never seen it make things worse. But I'd make a Restore Point first just to be cautious.

 

[townsbg]

I have vista ultimate 32 bit with no service pack...

I strongly suggest that you install the service packs. They fix a lot of issues in the Vista RTM. Perhaps one of them is causing the issue.

 

[MilesAhead]

The trouble with Vista Pre SP is it may just decide it won't take the SP. On my Vista I tried all the prep software, tests, yadda yadda, all said I could put SP1 on. 3 or 4 boots in I'd get "Service Pack was not installed... Rolling back." After a dozen of those I gave up and put W7 on.

Not every machine will take the SP1 no matter what you do.
Trouble is you don't know until you've wasted, er, invested about 30 hours.
I try to save myself the aggravation and buy with an SP already on. But it's not always clear how long the wait will be. As example, about 2 weeks after I got a Laptop with Windows 8.0, 8.1 is released. It's much harder than it has to be sometimes.

 

[townsbg]

I never had a problem installing a service pack on Vista but I always used the full download instead of windows updates. Still though I'm sure you'll agree that the OP should have the service packs on.

 

[MilesAhead]

I never had a problem installing a service pack on Vista but I always used the full download instead of windows updates. Still though I'm sure you'll agree that the OP should have the service packs on.

Well I did have a problem and I never use the updates. What "should" happen is fine. But what do you do if it won't go? And how many hours, days do you mess with it if it's not smooth? I try to keep changes to a minimum to reduce the number of variables. If there's a specific fix in the pack that explicitly addresses the issue, then it's worth a go. Otherwise it's too much like flinging paint at the canvas and hoping for a portrait.