Question : NTKERN.VXD device loader ... could not load the device

I'm trying to help out a friend here with his Win 98 SE computer. Compaq Presario 5441. The internal USB  is not working. When you check the Device Manager, the USB Root Hub has the yellow exclamation point and it's properties state

"The NTKERN.VXD device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver. (Code 2)"

I have already tried these fixes,
updated the driver,
Removed the ntkern.vxd from the HD and restored it from the WIN98SE installation disk,
removed and replaced the  Hidusb.sys, Hidparse.sys, Hidclass.sys files,
purchased and installed a new USB 2.0 PCI card with 5 ports.
Removed the sound card entries in the Device Manager and reinstalled.,
Removed the USB Root hub (and anything else USB) from the device manager and allowed it to re-install,
removed a bunch of software,
Removed the mouse from the DEvice Manager and reinstalled it,
Removed the modem, PCI USB card, and network card (these are still out)
There are no entries for windows directories in the autoexec (as suggested by several forum posts elsewhere)
Read about 80 posts from forums and help sites.
There is no option in the BIOS to enable or disable USB,
There is no bios or system upgrade available for this system.

And I still can't get this computer to install the USB Root Hub without the yellow exclamation. Do you have any suggestions that I have not tried yet?

PS another symptom is the mouse hesitates sometimes. You move the mouse, the cursor doesn't respond for a few seconds or more, then zipps over to the new spot like it just woke up. This is only an occasional problem. SOmetimes it responds perfectly. I don't know if these two issues are related - but maybe they are.

Thanks,  Mark

Answer : NTKERN.VXD device loader ... could not load the device

Try starting in Safe Mode and go to Control Panel > System > Device Manager and delete ALL entries related to USB.

Reboot and let Windows reinstall the drivers and hopefully solve the problem.

If that doesn't help, try updating the chipset drivers (Compaq states Intel 845):

http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-009236.htm

First download and install the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility, then do the same for the Intel Application Accelerator.

But be aware, as you probably have already found out, that this problem is usually solved with a clean reinstall of Windows.

But give it a try.

Good luck,

Zee