Plug and play not working

[andrewjsmith32]

I'm running windows xp sp2 on a vaio laptop and plug and play doesn't seem to be working. Initially my internal CDRW stopped working. Although windows recognises new hardware - IDE channel and Sony DVD RW DW-U54A, using the 'found new hardware wizard' always comes up with the same message: "the hardware was not installed because the wizard cannot find the necessary software".

Initially I thought this was just a problem with the CDRW but I'm now having it with my USB controllers. After windows failed to install a driver for my new christmas ipod, I uninstalled all the USB drivers (as suggested by apple) before rebooting. Now windows recognises the USB controllers but I get the same message as above when I try and use the new hardware wizard.

Vaio-link's premium rate advice line could only suggest I reinstall the whole system with the system recovery discs. I've lost these and had to re-order them, but if anyone has anything else to suggest I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

[w1che]

Plug & play is working because from what I read windows reinstalled your USB controllers after you uninstalled them. When you say your CD/RW drive stopped working first. Did you get it working again? If not unplug it from your computer. What happens if you shut down your computer, plug your ipod in & boot up?

[andrewjsmith32]

Windows hasn't reinstalled my USB controllers. It recognises them as new hardware but is unable to find any drivers for them. The CDRW isn't working. Its an internal drive. If I plug my ipod in and then boot up, it recognises the ipod as new hardware but isn't able to find any driver.

[w1che]

The first thing I would do is open the case & completely unplug the drive that's not working. It could be defective & causing a problem.