The problem may be that if you plug something into USB port 1, then later plug it into USB port 2, Windows doesn't recognize it as the same hardware that it already knows from before. Then, if you plug in a hub and plug the device into the hub, it's seen as yet another new piece of hardware. Same thing happens if you then plug the hub into the other port. The problem you then run into is figuring out which of the HP Photosmart C4200 printers you see is the one to print to.

My advice below is based on experience and not favoritism. To qualify my advice I have to give a little rundown on what I did. I really hope it helps those looking to buy a new computer. I think the advice from damccoy is good solid advice. I'll share my information with you and try to keep it as short as possible. For several years I was an IT Manager for a portion of AT&T and had about 50-60 thousand users in that area. We went through a phase where we would give the users several different computers to choose from, depending on their usage. The choices were any of Gateway, Dell, HP, Sony, IBM, Compaq (pre-HP). The population of users were very heavy users and were in Sales, Engineering, Customer Service, Warehousing and a small Com. Arts group. They had to be up and running and productive each and every day. We had a contract with IBM to do our desk top support. Over time and from the complaints I was receiving from the IBM personnel I realized Dell, Compaq(pre-HP units) and Gateway were too proprietary to effectively keep everyone in production and minimize the number of desk top support personnel. The real work horses with the least amount of hardware problems turned out to be the HP, hands down. The majority of problems with these were cockpit problems where the user screwed up some settings. A close second was IBM and Sony, third was Compaq (now HP). The junk pile was full of Dell, Gateway. Since all of these groups were networked and many of the applications were grid based, super powerful computers with tons of memory, super large hard drives and fancy video just were not necessary. However, there is still a perception that if folks didn't have those things, they were working in the dark ages. I opted to disregard the "choice" issue and only provided 1 type computer with ample memory, fast processors, variety of video acceleration complimented with LCD monitors. If anyone needed something more, we would review the use and determine what was needed and procure anything determined essential. This of course minimized the variety of spare parts and made desk top support much more efficient to the tune of a savings of 4 million per month which is small change to a big company but was a savings non the less. Since they were already in the door, IBM came in quickly with an offer we couldn't refuse so we ended up going with their offer. So with that experience and being responsible for the budget and keeping people productive and allowing for future growth innovations that don't require getting all new equipment, I recommend an HP mid range computer line for the home and light business user. If you might be interested in Internet TV, you may want to go with the series that offer TV cards. If you are into gaming, you petty much already know what you want and what you need. Just an FYI..the computer I am using right now and for all my web based stuff is an HP Omnibook XE2 laptop that is almost 10 years old..448 MHZ 256 Meg RAM. It originally came with Windows 98 and along the way I upgraded it once with Windows 2000 and then again later with XP. Networking is via USB wireless. I have an IBM laptop about 8 years old and 2 Toshiba laptops about the same age. As for laptops, any of these 3 are fantastic and are more than a home or light business user would need. So consider that if you are looking for laptops. Yes, I sure do have the latest and greatest desk top computer with all the bells and whistles...HP of course.

I started out on the Florida Gardening Forum, then found this one, and I spend the most time on these two. I have visited others out of curiosity: Pets, Sewing, Natives, Garden Junk, Recipes, Cookware, and some others. I think all of them are of value, but Quilting on the whole has the most supportive people who are willing to welcome newbies and share their knowledge and at the same time are comfortable in asking for advice without feeling intimidated. I posted a question once on one forum about a certain type of conifer that I had just bought and was derided for only buying the common stuff found at the big box stores so I knew right away they weren't very welcoming of non-experts' participation. So it seems that there are some forums that only encourage expert participation which is fine if you're searching for an answer to a question but not too friendly for us unwashed people who don't know everything about everything! I'm with Rosa, life is too short for grumps and trolls.

If lightning took out the computer it may well have taken out the cable modem too. You should check that first. I see far more damage to equipment through the phone lines than through power lines. That's the first thing I'd check.