GEATAFIX

hi everyone... i have had this problem for the last few months.... here is the story so far.... iv had a lexmark x5495 for a few years and have a intel powered desktop pc... i was re-installing the software for the printer after cleaning out the pc and and putting in xp again.. iv installed the printer and xp on a few computers in the past without any problems, im not as good with computers as most of you. but i do get allong with them verry well. in the past i have swapped power supplys heat syncs, dvd drives and have even swapped the whole inside's form 1 caseing to a new caseing without any problems. i try to diagnose and solve problems myself with the help and advice from others on the internet. but this is the 1 problem thatr has me stumped... while i was installing the printer software it went fine untill i got to the point where you have to connect the printer usb lead.. my mistake might have been that the printer had the power lead installed but i have installed that way before.. after i pluged in the usb lead i found that it did not show as useual that it had found the device so i could not continue on... also the usb mouse had no light showing from underneath. nor did the usb keybord work infact all the usb ports were now dead. although this is not strictly true as the external usb hub was showing power. so it seems that although power is going to the devices, they no longer recognice being pluged in... so i too now get the bubble telling me of the usb malfunction i have tried before the method of turning the pc power off.. but im now trying it again without the backup battery on the bord.. (not sure what difference this will make?? i have also tried the method of uninstalling the usb ports then restarting the pc.. without sucsess also i have re-installed xp and even tried a copy of windows 7 this makes me think its either a hardware problem or a bios problem i am wondering if when i pluged the printer lead i have caused a power surge in the ports the intel bord i have is D915GAG/D915PSY and it has a 3ghz pentium prossesor if anybody has any new ideas or can help with an idiots guide to trying some of the more complicated methods like changeing the bios id be verry gratefull... i have a second pc and will soon be able to replace the 1 im having problems with, so i am up for trying some of more risky fixes as long as i understand the prossess involved. the main reason i want to try this is for future referance and to learn more about computers.. also i hate giveing up on solving problems sorry this post is so big but i like to try to pass on as much info as i can