USB driver for an IBM Netvista 8305?

[deucemagnet]

So, my Dad fucked up his old computer *really* good this time, and now it's my little side project to turn it into a Linux box. After the fuck-up, my father thought it would be a good idea to reinstall XP using a disk with a license that expired around 2006, so now a) it has no drivers, and b) a windows OS would cost more than the machine is worth, hence the Linux project.

Anyway, by searching around the internet I've been able to locate and install most of the drivers, with the only exception being the USB driver. I thought this would be no problem after I finally got the ethernet card installed and got the machine online but Windows couldn't even find a driver online.

So here's my situation: I'm attempting to install Ubuntu right now, and the machine is still without a driver for the USB controller. The OS claims that it is a "common universal serial bus controller" oddly, although the USB ports on the front of the box don't work, the USB mouse does, making me suspect that maybe this is a USB 2.0 issue. My internet searches have been futile.

Any suggestions?

[hobbit709]

1. XP license doesn't expire

If he's got the original disk it should reinstall with the license key on the sticker on the case. XP should have USB drivers in it-otherwise your mouse wouldn't work. The front USB not working could be that the cable to the motherboard is unplugged. IMM/Lenovo doesn't have the drivers on their support page?
As far as Ubuntu or any other form of Linux goes, it should find drivers automatically in its database during the install.

[deucemagnet]

3. Interesting.

I tried to use the same disk and license key around 2005-2006 and it didn't work. Supposedly, it was good for installing XP on 3 machines, and it was used up. Anyway, it's a moot point since he bought a new computer.

[hobbit709]

7. The phoning home part is the problem

Though there are ways around that.

[PennDem]

2. Double check the BIOS

There may be a setting to enable/disable the ports on the front panel.

[deucemagnet]

4. Good point.

One of the few things I didn't download was the BIOS update.

[deucemagnet]

5. UPDATE

Once I got Ubuntu installed the USB ports worked just fine. The only problem now is that Ubuntu doesn't want to work with my extra wireless USB adapter, but I'll either work that out later or spring for a wireless PCI card.

[hobbit709]

6. All Linux version get fussy about wireless.

That's the only real drawback-making it work with wireless.