Hello Arduino Forum users.
After getting annoyed at the USB installation fail (like so many people here seem to have had) and going round and round installing/uninstalling the IDE and various driver attempts, I did a little research and have found one solution so far. If I find more, I'll post them here.
Solution 1:
Computing platform: Laptop, Samsung X60
OS: Windows XP Pro, 32 bit, SP3
Hardware platform: A non-genuine UNO bought on ebay for a few £UK.
The key is to check the USB interface chip on the board. This one is a CH340G:
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Use this link to download a zip file containing the drivers: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7226wnzkklwrop5/CH341SER.ZIP?dl=1
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Extract the files to some suitable folder. I used C:arduino/ch340g_drivers.
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Install the Arduino IDE. Cancel Windows attempts to install the drivers.
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Run setup.exe in the extracted driver folder CH341SER. This should install the drivers.
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Run the Arduino IDE and go to Tools.Port and check for the new port. Select the port then use Tools.Get Board Info to check that the UNO communicates.
The above solution worked for me on the specified platforms. Good luck!