Thanks for the reply.
1) I have been through the menus and manual and I can't see any way to select or change it to USB mode, I think it just works automatically.
2) The device is definitely getting picked up by Windows, I can see it in the Devices & Printers page but it doesn't seem to be sending any midi data over. I can see the ports in a few programs but I am not able to use them.
One of the programs I use, Vysex Editor, says that the USB port is already in use. Now, this editor is designed especially for this program and their troubleshooting manual saus that there can be issue with Logitech webcams. I have a integrated webcam on my Inspiron but I don't think it's a Logitech. ANyway, I tried to uninstall it and it made no difference and just installed itself again when I rebooted.
I have nothing else plugged in to the laptop. I just found a utility called USBDeview, which lists all the devices used previously and in use at the moment. It says that my Realtec card reader is in use (nothing in there at the moment) and that a USB Composite Device is in use. I have nothing plugged in.
I think this could be the problem. It seems that something is interfering with the USB port and somehow 'using' it. I have tried other ports but no difference. How can I find out what this phantom thing is? I don't want to start uninstalling things randomly just to try to find it in case I mess up my computer.
I also thought maybe it was something to do with the midi device limit that used to (and some say still does) exist. However, I removed them in the registry so that shouldn't be a problem now, even if it was.