Often if you even switch the USB port a device is attached to... Windows will reload a device driver. These days USB port sets are on different chipsets on the motherboard - thus when moved the device is seen as ‘new’...
One just needs to go to Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager and - if a device is not working you’ll see a red or yellow flag or an indication that it is simply not installed by absence of an entry - Like Network Adapters.
I have a related problem and all suggestions are welcomed.
Last week during a storm, my ethernet connection died. The PC (XP) was OK in all aspects except I lost my ethernet connection.
I purchased a new PCI board, installed and the Device Manager recognizes the device; however I still cannot access the internet and the YELLOW warning sign is imposed on the device manager and indicates it “CANNOT BR STARTED”
I have uninstalled and reinstalled as well as downloading current driver.
Using my netbook so any suggestions are welcomed - thanks y’all!