Initially I updated from Gutsy to Hardy Heron and since then only the usb mouse can be read by the computer. Then I decided to do a clean install from cd in the hope of solving the problem, it hasn't. I can put the mouse in any of the usb ports and it will work. But neither the printer (Epson RX685) nor the camera or card readers will work in any of the usb ports. I really do not know what to try next.

One thing to look at is whether the USB driver is even recognizing the presence, or change of presence, of devices as they are plugged in and out. Use the following simple commandline (may need to be root):
This will find most, if not all messages related to the USB subsystem since last boot. Now, as you plug in or unplug your various devices, run the command before and after. If the USB is finding the new devices, it should create a record to that effect. If it isn't ... ummm, I'll have to think about that. If it is, there may be information that will lead to the next step in the diagnosis.
Post pertinent results here (use [CODE] tags please).
--- rod.

Thank you for that. I did as you suggested and here are the results. I am posting the part that was different.
First when I put the card reader into one of the ports:
[ 1389.942934] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[ 1390.054890] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.270812] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.486765] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 1390.598683] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.814605] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1391.030527] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[ 1391.438383] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[ 1391.550339] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[ 1391.958195] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 6, error -32

Then when I moved the mouse (for convenience of access) and put the printer into the port
[ 1389.942934] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[ 1390.054890] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.270812] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.486765] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 1390.598683] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.814605] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1391.030527] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[ 1391.438383] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[ 1391.550339] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[ 1391.958195] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 6, error -32
[ 1572.359397] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 2
[ 1592.265246] usb 2-3: new low speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 3
[ 1592.479348] usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 1592.489603] input: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input7
[ 1592.521228] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse] on usb-0000:00:03.1-3
[ 1611.442264] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 8
[ 1611.554219] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1611.770150] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1611.986105] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 9
[ 1612.098059] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1612.313984] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1612.529901] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 10
[ 1612.937726] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 10, error -32
[ 1613.049700] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 11
[ 1613.457534] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 11, error -32

and with both in
[ 1389.942934] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[ 1390.054890] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.270812] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.486765] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[ 1390.598683] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1390.814605] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1391.030527] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[ 1391.438383] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[ 1391.550339] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[ 1391.958195] usb 3-5: device not accepting address 6, error -32
[ 1572.359397] usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 2
[ 1592.265246] usb 2-3: new low speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 3
[ 1592.479348] usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 1592.489603] input: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input7
[ 1592.521228] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse] on usb-0000:00:03.1-3
[ 1611.442264] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 8
[ 1611.554219] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1611.770150] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1611.986105] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 9
[ 1612.098059] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1612.313984] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 1612.529901] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 10
[ 1612.937726] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 10, error -32
[ 1613.049700] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 11
[ 1613.457534] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 11, error -32
[ 2523.358210] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 12
[ 2523.470141] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 2523.686058] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 2523.901985] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 13
[ 2524.013957] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 2524.229871] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 2524.445787] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 14
[ 2524.853652] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 14, error -32
[ 2524.965589] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 15
[ 2525.373731] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 15, error -32
[ 2525.613361] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 16
[ 2525.725311] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[ 2525.941240] usb 3-5: device descriptor read/64, error -32

Thank you for your interest

Well, I was hoping to see something more illuminating, however nothing jumps out at me. I did some research into the subject, and the best I could find was a few people with the same problem. The conventional wisdom is that this seems to be a kernel bug. If you are able, can you try installing/upgrading to a new kernel? Do you have the spec's for your motherboard, with respect to the USB chipset that is used? It would be prudent to verify that the correct driver is being used for the installed chipset. You may be able to use
to find the hardware manufacturer and model/rev of the chip.

Also, there seems to be some belief that the ACPI system is playing a part in the problem. You may be able to find some useful information about this by scanning the output from dmesg & the system logs, probably in /var/log/messages. Is there any kernel argument related to ACPI in the grub config file (probably /boot/grub/grub.conf or /boot/grub/menu./lst)?

Sorry not to be more helpful. Hope you can discover something.

--- rod.

Thank you for your efforts. I have just plugged my usb 'pen' in and this appeared in /var/log/messages

Jun 11 21:26:31 mary-desktop kernel: [ 1938.857829] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 7
Jun 11 21:26:31 mary-desktop kernel: [ 1939.401637] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 8
Jun 11 21:26:32 mary-desktop kernel: [ 1939.945458] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 9
Jun 11 21:26:32 mary-desktop kernel: [ 1940.465242] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 10

I then switched the printer on and this appeared

Jun 11 21:30:08 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2156.656619] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 11
Jun 11 21:30:09 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2157.200426] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 12
Jun 11 21:30:10 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2157.744305] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 13
Jun 11 21:30:10 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2158.272093] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 14
Jun 11 21:30:11 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2158.791862] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 15
Jun 11 21:30:11 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2159.335654] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 16
Jun 11 21:30:12 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2159.879475] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 17
Jun 11 21:30:12 mary-desktop kernel: [ 2160.399288] usb 3-5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 18

Is this giving out any new information?
I also typed in lspci-v but cannot interpret the information

I would have a go at installing or upgrading a new kernel and to this end went to kernels.org and found 2.6.25.6 go that as far as my desktop as patch-2.6.25.6.bz2 and then could get no further. I'm not very good at unzipping files, tho' I have mastered tar files.( You are dealing with a 68 year old retired female teacher here!! It was Maths that I taught so I have some logical reasoning!!) Thank you for your patience

Hmmm. Those look like happy messages. Are those devices now working?
You are to be commended for your attempt at kernel upgrading, however you would have been making a lot more work for yourself by downloading from kernel.org. Your Linux distribution website may have a revised kernel, which you could download as a compiled binary. At the least, they should have some kind of system that can build kernels that will be the most compatible with your Linux distribution.

Re:
This should supply a list of th principal hardware subsystems found in your system. Network, disk drives, video components, etc. Among the list should appear one or more USB components. Here is the USB related output from a computer I'm using to write this:
Okay, now one thing that's got me bugged is the messages you grepped out of dmesg never showed anything about the loading or initialization of any USB driver(s). In looking at the dmesg output from a recently booted system that I use, I see lots of such messages. Did you see those, and simply edit them out of your posing here, or were they not found at all? If they were there, it may be helpful to see them. Here's a sample similar to what should show up during a reboot:
Everything in there looks good, as I would expect since the system is fully functional. I was hoping to see some sign of failed loading or initialization from your posting.

Keep up the good effort. Warms my heart.
--- rod.

EDIT: PS: spooky. I've just replied to a message that won't be sent for another 6 hours...

OK here we go again!!
Now I first did lspci, print out enclosed.
mary@mary-desktop:~$ lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 741/741GX/M741 Host (rev 03)
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32
Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS AGP Port (virtual PCI-to-PCI bridge) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 99
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff
Memory behind bridge: ec000000-ec0fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e0000000-e7ffffff

00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO] (rev 25)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:02.1 SMBus: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS961/2 SMBus Controller
Flags: medium devsel
I/O ports at 10c0 [size=32]

00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE] (prog-if 80 [Master])
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 128, IRQ 17
[virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
[virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]
I/O ports at 4000 [size=16]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:02.7 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC'97 Sound Controller (rev a0)
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 21
I/O ports at e000 [size=256]
I/O ports at e400 [size=128]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.1 Controller (rev 0f) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at ec123000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]

00:03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.1 Controller (rev 0f) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 19
Memory at ec120000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]

00:03.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 20
Memory at ec121000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:04.0 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet (rev 91)
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 16
I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
Memory at ec122000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 10000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Foxconn International, Inc. Unknown device 0c4d
Flags: 66MHz, medium devsel, IRQ 10
BIST result: 00
Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
Memory at ec000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
I/O ports at d000 [size=128]
Capabilities: <access denied>

Then I did dmesg with printer (and mouse) switched on, print out enclosed.

mary@mary-desktop:~$ dmesg | grep -i usb
[ 25.551724] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
[ 25.551764] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
[ 25.569769] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
[ 25.571166] ohci_hcd: 2006 August 04 USB 1.1 'Open' Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
[ 26.632860] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
[ 26.657145] sda1 sda2 < sda5 sda6 sda7<6>usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.688168] hub 1-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.790161] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.1: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2
[ 26.848070] usb usb2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.848106] hub 2-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.950393] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 3
[ 26.961867] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00, driver 10 Dec 2004
[ 26.962085] usb usb3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.962119] hub 3-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 27.597632] usb 2-3: new low speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 2
[ 27.811729] usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 37.484177] usbcore: registered new interface driver hiddev
[ 37.490530] input: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input6
[ 37.502319] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse] on usb-0000:00:03.1-3
[ 37.502350] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[ 37.502355] /build/buildd/linux-2.6.24/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-core.c: v2.6:USB HID core driver
[10073.423779] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[10073.535752] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.751667] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.967583] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[10074.079565] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.295474] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.511393] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[10074.919251] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[10075.031215] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[10075.439069] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 6, error -32
mary@mary-desktop:~$

Then I dmesg with only the mouse connected and this is the readout.
[ 25.551724] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
[ 25.551764] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
[ 25.569769] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
[ 25.571166] ohci_hcd: 2006 August 04 USB 1.1 'Open' Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
[ 26.632860] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
[ 26.657145] sda1 sda2 < sda5 sda6 sda7<6>usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.688168] hub 1-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.790161] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.1: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2
[ 26.848070] usb usb2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.848106] hub 2-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.950393] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 3
[ 26.961867] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00, driver 10 Dec 2004
[ 26.962085] usb usb3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.962119] hub 3-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 27.597632] usb 2-3: new low speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 2
[ 27.811729] usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 37.484177] usbcore: registered new interface driver hiddev
[ 37.490530] input: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input6
[ 37.502319] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse] on usb-0000:00:03.1-3
[ 37.502350] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[ 37.502355] /build/buildd/linux-2.6.24/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-core.c: v2.6:USB HID core driver
[10073.423779] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[10073.535752] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.751667] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.967583] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[10074.079565] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.295474] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.511393] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[10074.919251] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[10075.031215] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[10075.439069] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 6, error -32
mary@mary-desktop:~$ dmesg | grep -i usb
[ 25.551724] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbfs
[ 25.551764] usbcore: registered new interface driver hub
[ 25.569769] usbcore: registered new device driver usb
[ 25.571166] ohci_hcd: 2006 August 04 USB 1.1 'Open' Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
[ 26.632860] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
[ 26.657145] sda1 sda2 < sda5 sda6 sda7<6>usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.688168] hub 1-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.790161] ohci_hcd 0000:00:03.1: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2
[ 26.848070] usb usb2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.848106] hub 2-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 26.950393] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 3
[ 26.961867] ehci_hcd 0000:00:03.2: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00, driver 10 Dec 2004
[ 26.962085] usb usb3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 26.962119] hub 3-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 27.597632] usb 2-3: new low speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 2
[ 27.811729] usb 2-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 37.484177] usbcore: registered new interface driver hiddev
[ 37.490530] input: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/usb2/2-3/2-3:1.0/input/input6
[ 37.502319] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse] on usb-0000:00:03.1-3
[ 37.502350] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[ 37.502355] /build/buildd/linux-2.6.24/drivers/hid/usbhid/hid-core.c: v2.6:USB HID core driver
[10073.423779] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[10073.535752] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.751667] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10073.967583] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[10074.079565] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.295474] usb 3-4: device descriptor read/64, error -32
[10074.511393] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[10074.919251] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 5, error -32
[10075.031215] usb 3-4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[10075.439069] usb 3-4: device not accepting address 6, error -32
mary@mary-desktop:~$

I have not found a kernel other than tar or bz2 files on websites, each that I have tried has (so far) been unsuccessful in installing.
I wonder whether to go back to Ubuntu 7.04, which worked!! A friend who is now using this 8.04 finds it to be the greatest. I do except when I want to print!!!
Thank you for your patience

Well, I don't see anything there that explains your problem. It appears that you have one or more USB-attached disk drives or possibly flash memory drives attached ([ 26.657145] sda1 sda2 < sda5 sda6 sda7<6>usb usb1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice). Are these actually present? working? It appears you have not rebooted the system for about 6 or 7 days (possibly since the upgrade?). Have you tried simply re-booting as a remedial step?
--- rod.

Yes I do have 5 usb sockets, but the only thing that will work in any of them is the mouse. I have tried the mouse in each in turn and it always works, but nothing else will. As for re-booting the system, does that not occur each time I switch on? The computer is switched off every night, and every time we are both out, does that not constitute rebooting?

What kind of computer do you have, ie laptop, desktop PC, other? Is it a real Linux-based PC, and not a virtual OS running under VMware on Windows?

Is it using an external hard disk? The message I referred to:
is suggesting that there is some form of mass storage device (a hard disk or a flash memory or 'pendrive/thumbdrive') device hanging on the USB. Is that correct? If so, is it presently working?

Yes, the system boots on power up. I must be misinterpreting the number in square brackets on each record of the mdesg output; I thought it was time since boot, in seconds. That's where I got the 6-7 days calculation.
I cannot believe that I completely forgot to get you o post the output of '/sbin/lsusb'. Can you do that please? That should clear up my question of what is attached to the USB interface.

There are some people who have solved a problem similar to yours by removing a parameter that is used at boot time. Can you do
to see if it is there?

Sorry this isn't moving along more quickly. Its sometimes difficult to diagnose things when you can't just 'browse' for problems.

--- rod.

Thank you once again for your trouble. I do own an external hard drive,and a usb 'pen' but they are also not being read and so are disconnected. The only items I have connected for testing have been the mouse and printer. Here is the printout from bin/lsusb

mary@mary-desktop:~$ /usr/bin/lsusb
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 045e:0084 Microsoft Corp. Basic Optical Mouse
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
mary@mary-desktop:~$

I also typed in cat /boot/grub/menu.lst | grep noapic as you suggested and no new message appeared, only my mary@mary-desktop:~$ readiness message. I am using a desktop PC which has only Linux on it. I gave up on Windows 18 months ago, originally installed Ubuntu 6.06 and have kept upgrading from there. The present one is a clean install from a cd after formatting the hard drive. Does that answer the question you asked? (At the moment I have just received notification of updates, I wish what I already have worked fully!!!) Mary

Okay, I'm pretty much out of ideas. Just that reference to storage devices that pops into the initialization messages for the USB controllers has me bugged. I will have to admit defeat on this one. Perhaps that upgrade will solve your problem.
Maybe try re-posting your question and someone else can be more helpful. Sorry I wasn't able to get to the root of it.
--- rod.

Thank you for all your time and trouble. I installed 'Mint' but am no further on with it. Still no acknowledgement of my usb devices. At the moment i am e-mailing documents (using pdf) to a friend who prints them out for me, but this is only a short term solution. many thanks, Mary

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