Fixing Dodgy USB devices on Windows
I've had to do this a few times so I thought I'd post it here to save me remembering. I found this nicely typed up version here (gist of it is below).
Removing the VID entries from the registry will cause them to be redetected at restart.
1. Click Start and click Run. Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor window will open.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB.
3. Highlight and delete all the VID_.... entries for usb devices that you cannot identify. Remember not to delete the entries mentioned above.
You may not have permssion to delete keys, do the following.
Permissions may be set allowing the deletion of the VID_ entries by following the steps below:
a) Right-click the key to be deleted, and then click Permissions. The VID_... Permissions window will open.
b) With Everyone highlighted in the Group or User name section, select Full Control in the Permissions section.
c) Click Apply, and then click OK.