Windows USB Setup

USB drivers

Windows requires a device driver be present for any device in order to access it. It has some generic drivers, typically for storage devices such as CompactFlash readers and external hard drivers. For communication devices, the vendor must supply a device driver.

Clearing out stale USB information

For Power Users who have too many COM devices, you can remove all knowledge of existing ones by following these steps. Note that you could seriously mess your machine up (ie it won't boot) if you are not careful.

Device Manager - Uninstall USB Root Hubs
Regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB
Clear out all corresponding keys (eg Vid_1004 is LG)
Need to right click then permissions then everyone full control first otherwise get permission denied error
Find classes. Click on key, right hand pane should give class. Numbered instances below that. Click on each one.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E978-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} is ports
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} is modems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\COM Name Arbiter COMdb key is a bitmask of which com ports are in use (8 ports per byte). Set to 3 to reserve com1 and com2

Previous: Mac USB Setup Up: USB Next: Vendor and Product ids

BitPim Online Help built 17 January 2010