Weird Issue

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Just today my laptop suddenly started to indicate a new device has been plugged in, even when no device has.  When I go to check on what is causing this issue, the icon on the system tray goes away.  My concern is that there is something loose on the inside of the laptop.  Its been doing this often, sometimes 3-4 times in a 10 second block.  Any ideas on what may be causing this issue?

My laptop is a 3 year old Dell running Vista Home Premium.  Would be a great gaming unit except for the graphics card.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

Clearly your laptop has been possessed by poultrygeist.

Have you had any issues with any of the USB ports otherwise? 

-- JT

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Nope.  I haven't even plugged anything into an USB port for a few months.  That is what makes me a little concerned and stumped.

[=JHF= Smoke]

did a little digging
http://helpdeskgeek.com/free-tools-review/see-history-of-all-usb-devices-connected-to-your-pc-using-usbdeview/

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308549
if you use the msinfo tool, at the top, click view, then system history.  it will give you an entire list of anything that has ever  been installed on your computer.  im just now looking at it, so i'm not sure how easy it will be for you to figure it out.

It appears that it will only show something in the history, if it's not already in the currently installed items.  On my computer at work, there has never been anything else attached that isn't already on there, so the history is blank.

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Thanks Smoke.  I'll give that a try once I find the Vista option for that.  Can't wait until I can ditch that OS.