multiple gamepads not recognized or weren't successfully installed

What I did:

  • I created a 5 player game, I need 5
    gamepads to be connected to one
    machine
  • I connect 5 gamepads via a
    USB hub to a computer and I wait to
    let Windows “install” them
  • after a moment I usually get a message saying
    that some USB devices were not
    recognized or successfully installed

FACTS:

  • when I unplug the USB hub (and
    thereby all 5 gamepads) and plug it
    in again, some gamepads get installed
    correctly, and some don’t.
  • most of the time 4 or 3 out of 5 gamepads get
    installed correctly, and one or two
    don’t
  • gamepads tend to stop working
    during gameplay, even if they got
    installed correctly in the beginning
  • this happened on all/any computers
    when I tried to attach multiple
    gamepads
  • I have 3 different kinds of
    (brand new) USB hubs and 2 kinds of
    gamepads (one kind was quite
    expensive too), yet this still
    happens…

My questions:

  1. What could be causing this behavior? I’m almost positive it’s a Windows thing…
  2. Could it be that all computers lack the latest updates? If yes, why does the system recognize some of the gamepads and fails to recognize the rest?
  3. Is there a software, or a quick Windows workaround to fix this problem if it happens during gameplay?

Thank you for your help in advance.

I have a similar question… how many usb joysticks can be connected to a pc?
did you tried connecting only 3, and then connecting the other 2 to another usb ports?