printer wont work, after running windows update

Xref: kermit microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax:53854

Recently I was advised to use a program called Belarc
Advisor, as part of the solution to another problem. When
I ran it (Belarc being a system diagnosis tool) it told
me that I was missing a lot of the windows update
hotfixes. (I also fixed the other problem, which was
caused by the lack of a video driver).

I ran windows update and installed everything, which was
a few of the SP1 hotfizes, and most of the Sp2 hotfixes.

Since then, I've been upable to print. I'm using an HP
Deskjet 880C. Its connected via USB001. It tells me that
it is running online, when I look at the HP printer icon
in controlpanelprinters and faxes.

I cannot print from the command prompt with echo hello
ctrl+L dir USB001 as it advises in the troubleshooter.

The diagnostic program, AIDA32, recognises the printer,
but I don't know whether it does this just by reading the
driver info, or by actually querying the printer
itself... so I don't know how useful that is.

The printer is on, and connected. I've tried connecting
it to some of the other USB ports, and I've tried
restarting the computer. The printer light is green,
indicating that there is no problem at the printer end.
It has ink and paper.

It appears that there could be something wrong with the
USB ports, as just tonight I noticed that I'm unable to
retrieve photos from my digital camera either, nor use
the scanner. These are the only other devices that are
connected via USB.

Control panel says they are all working correctly, with
no conflicting devices. AIDA32 has no conflicting devices
icon available, and it used to.. before I fixed the other
problem. I assume this means that it doesn't detect any
conflicts.

Does anyone have any advice? I've reached a dead end and
have no idea what to try next.

Thanks & Regards
Brett