Calling All USB Geniuses: Help Needed for Older Notebook

QUICK BACKGROUND
Greetings! I have an HP Pavilion zv6000 that I got from a family member. It's running XP SP2. None of the 4 USB ports work. Until recently, that was ok with me, since I just used the touchpad and never had need for a USB port. Things have changed and I now need at least one working USB Port.

If I plug anything into 3 of the the ports (memory stick, printer), the computer freezes like a glacier after a few seconds and I have to unplug the machine, pull out the battery, then turn the computer back on. By the way, the memory stick and printer work fine with other computers in our home.

One of the USB ports (left side, closest to screen) allows a memory stick to be plugged into it without freezing the computer, but the stick is not recognized (this same stick will freeze the computer when plugged into one of the other port and it works fine on another PC). Device Manager appears to show only 3 ports, so I assume this particular port is the one missing from the list.

As best as I can recall, I was told that the notebook had been examined in the past by a couple of tech places and that one place said it would cost $200 to fix the problem. I don't know what they found wrong, but rather than pay $200 I'd probably just buy a new machine. In the section below titled "Detailed Background," I've listed some solutions I tried without success in the past week or so. I found these solutions on the Internet. But first, here's "the question."

THE QUESTION
This question is incredibly obscure, but I'm hoping there's a USB Genius reading that might have the answer: This notebook has a port called "Expansion Port 2." My understanding is that the sole purpose of this port is to connect with a docking station. I have found a docking station on Ebay that appears to be compatible with the zv6000 plus it's pretty low priced (the connection cord might not be included, so I might have to find one of those too).

This docking station has 3 USB 2.0 ports of its own. Would connecting a docking station to "expansion port 2" give the notebook access to USB devices via the station's ports, or do the non-working USB ports on the notebook indicate a deeper problem that might affect any such workaround?

DETAILED BACKGROUND
FYI, here are the solutions I tried to "fix" the USB ports. None met with success:
(1) Disabled power management on the USB hubpower management.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc [...] 5&sw_lang=

(2) Start -> Run -> services.msc and make sure any plug n play or USB related services are running.
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic52162.html

(3) In Device manager, uninstalled / reinstalled all items under "Universial Serial Bus Controllers." Note: Reinstallation occurs automatically after rebooting.

(4) "disable the USB Selective Suspend feature as a workaround by editing the registry"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817900

(5) Removed all power source to notebook (power cord and battery) and let notebook sit for 8 hours.
http://www.ntcompatible.com/Desper [...] 32356.html

(6) Added this to registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment]"DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES"="1"

Then:
- Went through uninstall / re-install procedure again in Device Manager for all devices under USB Controllers.
- Uninstall / Reinstall device under "Storage Volume."
http://forums.techguy.org/hardware [...] nsfer.html

(7) This is more of an FYI than an attempted fix, but in Device Manager, I loooked at the "General" tab for all items under "Universal Serial Bus controllers." In the "Device Status" box, all items said, "This device is working properly."

Note: I have read about flashing the BIOS, but I didn't see anything at HP that convinced me this would solve the problem. I am a little fearful of flashing the BIOS -- I'm afraid of totally messing up the machine. The zv6000 has been a faithful notebook, despite its not having working USB ports.

Thanks for reading.

Try plugging the device in with the computer off, then try turning it on

And try plugging in USB cables with the device end of the cable not plugged into anything

and try using things like USB lights

uh...I think you should do a clean reinstall of the operating system...there seems to be a problem with your USB drivers...if it doesn't freeze at BIOS/POST but with the OS, then reinstall the OS then...