: : Assign IRQ for USB must also be ENABLED for Win2000.
: : You really should be backing up your data at this point.
: : There is a guide for doing a clean install that outlines how to backup data. It will help to ease the pain.
: : See here:

: : http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Clean%20Install%20of%20Windows.htm

: : Jeff Roberts
: : USBMan

:
: : : : It's pretty obvious when there's no USB host controller using an IRQ. You wouldn't believe how much info I can glean from that paste.

: : : : The Legacy USB is the switch you want. You should check the Dell downloads for your unit. Look for a BIOS or "ROM" update.

: : : : Bill

: : : Hi Guys, me again.

: : : did as recommended - first checked whether lecacy USB was enabled, which it already was. so downloaded the last version of flash BIOS update from the Dell site and did the upgrade (now A11). Made sure that legacy USB was enabled and rebooted. Still no change. Uninstalled Iomegaware and went through the device manager to update plug & play hardware, rebooted and...... now the beast hangs at the windowas 2000 startup screen. AAARGHHHH!!!

: : : Getting a bit desperate now as the minute this happens, a colleague makes the immortal statement "can I just get that file I was working on yesterday from the Dell please?"

: : : Why do they always do that?

: : : Anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm getting a little desperate now - any thoughts?

: : : John

: Thanks Jeff, your point about backing up data is justified - my data is always backed up, but the computer is used by 2 other users who are not so thorough as myself.

: Only problem is there is no option in the BIOS which states 'assign IRQ for USB', so where do I go from here?

: John.

Hi Guys,

Finally managed to rectify the situation with a clean install of the system on my C: partition (luckily, all files are stored on the D: partition). All my troubles now seem a million miles away.

Many thanks for all the good advice which helped immensely when the going got tough (and it did).

John