USB Printer Connection

[wilder]

This morning I uninstalled two printers, one LPT1, and one usb printer in order to install a new usb printer. After installing the software for the new printer my usb devices were no longer listed in device manager, hardware profile.
The software for the new usb printer troubleshooting said if a usb connection cannot be made, install to LPT1 printer port, then later in printer properties it can be changed to usb (since the printer will not print to LPT1). In my new printer software properties the usb port is not listed in the dropdown menu so that is not an option.
All usb ports are now apparently gone or disabled in my hardware profile. I have spent all day uninstalling, installing, connecting, disconnecting, unplugging and plugging back in!! My camera is still working even though it is no longer listed in hardware profile but I can not get the printer to connect using the usb port.
I have spent an hour and 7 minutes with Lexmark tech. support and am now ready to return the printer and exchange for an LPT printer, but that will not solve my usb problems. I have searched these forums and tried any suggestions I found so far,( unplugging all usb's and plugging one in each port etc.) but nothing works.
How can I enable(?) my usb ports again?

I am running W98se.
In system information:
VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
VIA PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB 2.0 Root Hub

[glc]

Uninstall and reinstall the Via USB drivers. If you want or need to run USB 2.0, you should seriously consider an upgrade to WinXP.

[ManaKnight]

Also, if you are installing your VIA USB drivers from a CD, you may want to check www.viaarena.com to see if an updated driver will solve your problem... instead of just installing the same old driver.

Ya never know sometimes :)

[wilder]

"Uninstall and reinstall the Via USB drivers"
I did that, didn't work.

"consider an upgrade to WinXP"
I've tried it, didn't like XP as much as w98.

"see if an updated driver will solve your problem"
One of the first things I did was download updated drivers from Lexmark, installed fine but still won't recognize usb. I believe I have a corrupted cd anyway, kept getting "error copying lexgo.exe from cd".

The printer properties are set to network printing-print offline and it will not let me change settings and will not let me add usb port. I'm giving it about one more hour then it's going back. I have a little Lexmark 1100 that has worked great for over 6 years, the only reason I bought this new one was because they were out of refill cartridges for the 1100 and the price of the Z600 was less than the cost of one ink cartridge for the old one and it came with two ink refills!!
I appreciate all the help and suggestions!! Thank you!
Darlene

[glc]

I don't like XP either, but there will come a time when one must face reality. Have you considered Win2000? Its USB support is a lot better than 98 but not quite as good as XP's. If you are going to return the printer, look for one that still has a parallel port if you are going to stick with Win98.

The suggestion for finding an updated driver was for a USB driver, not a printer driver.

[wilder]

I returned the printer and got one almost exactly like it but was about 10$ more, because of the extra photo software, I imagine, which I won't use anyway. The new one almost instantly was detected and the software installed perfectly. It was USB also because I could not find one with parallel port that I could afford :( After my 12+ hours pulling my hair out I had to give up and assume it was the software, which it most likely was.
Yes, I had removed all USB related drivers and reinstalled.
I have tried XP and Millenium but not 2000. I've wondered what the difference is between millenium and 2000 anyway. XP and Millenium have so much junk in them that I would never use and seem to be designed for multiple users. I am only one (simple) person and can't keep track of all the different "users" documents and folders. Someday I may have no choice, but until that day comes I'll stick with 98se. Almost nobody bothers to write viruses for 98 anymore and all the new hardware works with 98 even though I sometimes have to go to websites and download new software it's worth it.
Now I'm off to print more shipping labels...Thank you all very much for your help!!!
Darlene

[glc]

2000 is XP without all the gingerbread. Its interface looks just like 98's and it has the stability of a NT-based OS. Yes, it's multiuser, but you don't have to set up multiple users.

[wilder]

I like the looks and the simplicity of 98, so maybe I would consider 2000. If I may ask what some would think is a dumb question, just what is NT or what does it stand for? My daughter-in law asked me that today and I have no idea.