USB Ports have a problem?

[DragonQ0105]

Hi. I have 2 Memory Sticks (Leadtek "My Memory" - USB2.0 128MB and Kingston USB2.0 256MB).

Anyhoo, on my main PC (4 rear USB, 2 Front), they both worked fine for a while, but now it always says "Windows cannot recognise the device.", or something similar. I try replugging it in, and trying other Ports, with the same result. Also, my Printer which is plugged into a rear USB Port is being weird (works fine, but asks to "install new printer" almost everytime the PC boots).

My other PC is not as good Spec, but has the same amount of USB2.0 Ports...and my Memory Sticks work fine in that PC. I did get the "Windows cannot recognise the device" message ONCE in this PC (resolved by unplugging and replugging in), but generally they work fine.

So is there something wrong with the USB Ports on the main PC? They worked fine when we got the PC (3 Months ago), and only started playing up about a month ago. I have also tried disabling and re-enabling the Ports in the BIOS, but I can't reinstall the Windows Drivers for them with the Motherboard CD for some reason (it just says "Installed", with no option to uninstall/reinstall, even in the Add/Remove Programs List).

Anyone got any ideas?

P.S. using Windows XP Pro SP2 on both PCs.

 

[felixc]

Hmm, did it start doing this after you upgraded to SP2? Have you checked on your motherboards's web site for the latest drivers?
The USB ports suck on one of my PCs too. I'll probably disable the local USB controllers and install a good PCI USB2.0 card. (one with a NEC chip on it).

 

[DragonQ0105]

I guess it woud've started soon after SP2, but I can't really remember.

I can't get USB Drivers for my Motherboard from the Website because it says "Win2000 Drivers ONLY: For Windows XP, use Windows Drivers

 

[AcidScars]

I came accross this error too with USB Drive on my computer. I finally figured out that I had reversed the jumpers for the USB Headers for my front USB ports. What wierd is I know they were working for a while too and then they just stopped and gave that message.
I'm assuming you have a custom built computer since you have a M/B CD, so if you have the M/B manual handy, double check to make sure you the headers are correct. Also you may want to drive other USB devices besides RAM drives in those questionable ports, like a mouse or digital camera.

 

[DragonQ0105]

I don't think that's the problem... Surely if they were working before, they can't be the wrong way round? Also, since they rear ones wont work properly either, the problem isn't exclusive to the Front USB Ports...

Any other suggestions?

 

[bcastner]

thread779-941991

 

[DragonQ0105]

I did what the other guy did on my Secondary Computer, using that program on

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

- these are my USB bits:

USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

I take it these are all normal, but I can't use my Main PC until Tuesday (don't ask ), so I can't report the results of that comp yet.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Can anyone give any other suggestions before I do this on my main comp tomorrow? Please?

 

[micker377]

Have you accounted for ALL the USB ports on your computer? The reason I ask is that I had the exact same problem until I found (yes it WAS in the manual), that by using the internal "card reader" special port on the mobo, that would dis-able one of the regular ports on the back of the mobo (of course that was the one my printer was on!).

 

[DragonQ0105]

Yeah, I've tried all the ports and all have the same problem. I think it's a driver problem, but I can't find a way to reinstall them (without reformatting). I've got no such option in my BIOS - just enable USB2.0 Ports or disable. Ideas?

 

[DragonQ0105]

SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
SiS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller

USB Composite Device
USB Mass Storage Device (Printer Memory Card Port)
USB Printing Support
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

Sorry about this, but I got the error message wrong - it says "A USB Device has malfunctioned" or similar. Also I tried it a few tiems but it only worked 1 out of 5 tries.... This is weird.

So it works every now and again, what could be causing this? There are no yellow/red marks in the Device Manager, and everything seems to be present. And the devices are fine, because they work in another computer perfectly.

Suggestions anyone?

 

[felixc]

Can you check in Windows if the IRQs assigned to the USB controller are shared with other devices? Some drivers don't like shared interrupts. If you have devices that you don't use like the serial or parallel ports, disable them in your BIOS, this may make the BIOS reshuffle the IRQ assignments and put the USB back on track.

 

[DragonQ0105]

How would I check that? In device manager?

 

[felixc]

Yep. The device manager will tell what resources are used by the different devices. You have to look at each of them to make a list.
Also in your BIOS, is the IOAPIC mode enabled? This can free more interrupt lines for the integrated peripherals.

 

[bcastner]

An external, powered, USB Hub may resolve this issue. Connect it to the front port that is causing the issue, and then connect the problematic USB device.