Try cleaning up the Device maanger in Safe Mode and refreshing the USB Stack
Follow the guide here:

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup%20Device%20Manager%20Safe%20Mode.htm

If that doesn't work. Unplug all peripherals and do a clean install of the OS.

Guide here:

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

Jeff Roberts
USBMan

: I did everything you mentioned and still no luck. I left the option in BIOS "Assign IRQ to USB" set to disable. When I had no luck with your settings, I enabled that option and the same thing happened as before.
: When "Assign IRQ to USB" is enabled, the IRQ Steering gets disabled. When "Assign IRQ to USB" is disable, the USB Root Hub has an error (obviously).
: Why would enabling "Assign IRQ to USB" make my IRQ steering not work?
: This makes no sense because my USB ports used to work just fine. I ran a webcam and it worked great. I unplugged the cam for a while, then uninstalled the program because I wasn't using the cam. Months later I bought a digital camera and discovered this USB problem. I tried to use my old webcam and still came up with these problems. I may have changed some BIOS settings in the mean time but nothing that should have effected the USB ports. Even so, shouldn't setting my BIOS to "Optimal Settings" enable all the settings for USB?
: Would I be better off to install a PCI USB expansion card, or would I run into the same problems?

:
: : Leave the USB switch in BIOS enabled. Disable one or both Com ports in Integrated Peripherals. In the PCI section, either enable or disable "PnP OS", depending on what you have now. Enable "Auto" and "Reset Configuration Data". Boot into Safe Mode (F8) and remove the Root Hub(s) and Host Controller(s). Restart normally.

: : You have a VIA chipset? Go here:

: : http://www.usbman.com/Guides/VIA%20Tips%20and%20Tricks.htm

: : Bill

: : : I am running Windows 98 SE with an AMD K6-2 350 on a Soyo motherboard. VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Host Controller.
: : : Neither of my onboard USB ports will work. Right now the problem is the USB Root Hub. It has the yellow flag next to it in Device Manager and the error is this "due to hub transfer request failures, a hub has been disabled".

: : : I can get the USB Root Hub to function properly just by going into BIOS and set "Assign IRQ to USB" to "enable". But as soon as I enable Assign IRQ To USB, the IRQ Steering somehow gets disabled.

: : : I have loaded optimal BIOS settings, plus changed them according to USB faq's I have read. I have downloaded any patches/fixes from Microsoft and my motherboard's manufacturer website. I also re-installed Windows (not a full format)and successfully flashed my BIOS as a last resort. Nothing works! Thanks for any ideas.