USB Ports messed up

I was using my Gravis USB Gamepad Pro perfectly on my
Gateway 400SD laptop, when I got the bright idea to get a
mini USB hub. I decided to go cheap and got a cheap
Robanton USB mini hub for a few bucks on EBay. When I
plugged it in, it's recognized perfectly, and my gamepad
(my only USB device present, I'm home for the summer from
college) is also recognized, only now it's recognized as
an unknown device. Regardless of whether the mini hub is
connected, or if the gamepad is connected through it or
directly into the computer's USB port, it's eternally an
unknown device it seems. When I try to install the drivers
for it they won't install since WinXP doesn't recognize
them as being the correct drivers and it's too stinking
user-friendly to allow me to manually install them to the
device. When I purchased the computer (also off Ebay) it
was third-hand, and without it's discs, so to reformat the
HD to fix this problem (and introduce my mini hub and my
trash can so it didn't cause the same problem again) would
leave me with a blank hard drive and a CD-R or 2 of backup
files with no place to go. Any help?

Thanks,
Greg

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If you would, please copy your reply to an email and send
it to me (legit address listed) so I don't forget about
this and end up with no help at all. Thanks.