USB not recognized with flash drive only

Hi all, I hope someone can help me with this.  I have a PC with Windows XP SP2.  My flashdrive/thumbdrive started stating "USB device not recognized".   Other USB devices work in the ports and only flashdrives will not work.  I have tried more than one flashdrive and they all get the USB device not recognized but they all will work on other computers.  When you go into the device manager it states unknown device.  I have searched all over the net for this and nothing has worked.  If someone can help me get through this I would be grateful.  Let me know what other information you need to help me.

Thanks in advance
Rob

Just to give more information that might help.  I have AVG virus that was installed about one week before this started.  This is a Compaq Presario SR1550NX with no modifications.

Again thank you in advance
Rob

[Moderator]

What happens in safe mode?

have not tried that, I will try now

Let us know how it turns out.

Sorry it took me so long had a problem other than with the computer.  I started the computer in safe mode and there was NO balloon that stated USB device not recognized when I plugged in the flashdrive.  I went to device manager and it still had unknown device listed and in "my computer" the USB flashdrive is still not visible.

[Moderator]

Let me make sure I understand - did the USB drives work until recently and then they stopped after you installed KAV? If so, I suggest you do one of the following:

1) Post the question on the support forum at Kaspersky.com. They do a GREAT job responding there.

2) You can also check for an updated bios flash.

3) You can do a repair install of the OS - though I'm really not sure it will solve the problem.

The USB recognize everything except when I plug a flash drive into them.  Again they will not recognize my flashdrive/thumbdrive only.  I am not sure of KAV, I see that is an anti-virus.  I installed AVG anti-virus.  The problem did not start until a week or two after I installed AVG, so I am not sure that is related.

[Moderator]

I'm so sorry. You said AVG and for some reason my brain saw KAV. I apologize for that. Try the bios flash and just for the heck of it try uninstalling AVG and see if the usb drive (that's a flash drive, by the way ) works. Do not go online while the av is uninstalled. If everything works without AVG I'd suggest using a different AV.

Ok, then how do I do a bio-flash. 

[Moderator]

You need to check the support location for your system provider or mobo / bios provider to see if you have the current bios release. But that would be my second choice. I'd try removing AVG first. It might even just be a setting somewhere in AVG's options that's messing with you (I don't use it so I'm not sure). Go ahead and uninstall avg (while not online) and see if the usb drive works.

Ok, I uninstalled AVG and restarted the system and I still get USB not recognized.

[Moderator]

Okay, then clearly the two are not related. At least we now know that. Please reinstall the av before you do anything else.

As long as you are certain your system will not recognize ANY flash drive, you can try the bios flash. You can also try the repair install (or just run sfc /scannow if you prefer). But be advised these are only guesses not guaranteed fixes. Candidly I've never seen this problem before.

Ok, I will re-install AVG.  I know I have tried two different flashdrives and both get the USB not recognized, but will work on other computers fine.  I know a neat receipt scanner and microsoft mouse work out of the USB.Give me the steps I need to follow to not screw this up.  I will be re-installing AVG

[Moderator]

Let's do the simple stuff first. After reinstalling AVG insert the XP CD and go to START - RUN and type sfc /scannow (then press ENTER) and let it run (all changed or missing system files will be overwritten / replaced with their original versions). Let's make sure it's nothing simple.