USB power problem

[CiaranB01]

I have an AMD K7 computer which has a consistent problem. USB devices running from this computer stop (seeming to lose power) at random intervals. This has happened on a number of different devices, the latest being an Actiontec wireless network card. I have enabled USB keyboard support in the BIOS (I thought this might help), but have now run out of ideas.

 

[Grenage]

Is you go into "Control Panel" in windows, and into "system".

Under the hardware properties if you right click and go into the properties of one of your USB devices there is normally an option to stop windows de-powering the device.

Assuming of course that this is the problem.

I had a friend with the same chipset who had problems regarding USB power failure, there was a fix for it and I'll post it up if I find it.

 

[mainegeek]

Does your PC have a 300w power supply?

 

[knporter]

Are you using a powered USB hub? If not you could be drawing too much power and your computer is unable to power every device.

 

[CiaranB01]

First of all, I would like to say thanks to everyone for your help so far.

I have unticked the box in Control Panel to stop Windows de-powering the device, but that didn't do the trick.

I do have a 300W power supply and I am not using a USB hub (the wireless USB card is the only USB device being used by the computer.

I have checked that the BIOS is completely up to date and I am now at a complete loss.

 

[knporter]

I would definately think you need a powered USB hub. I do not believe USB is powered through the computer power supply directly but uses power off of the motherboard. Having too many USB devices connected without a powered hub will cause problems.

 

[Grenage]

In my experience you dont need a hub unless your out of USB sockets. Although I guess there will always be a machine that cant hack the power drain I guess.

If you dont have more than a couple of USB devices I would say you are suffering from the bios issue as written above. There are fixes that are pretty simple and you just need a hexeditor and a flasher.

A search on google.com will most likely get you what you want.

 

[CiaranB01]

Grenage is right, a hub is irrelevant here. I have used a powered (Belkin) four-way hub with this computer and the same problem occurs (everything ont he hub blanks out periodically). Besides, I am only using one USB device (the wireless network card) so there shouldn't be a problem.

I am interested in this last post. I have never heard of a hexeditor (and don't know how to look for one or how to use one) and I have already flashed the BIOS up to its latest version (and fiddled around with all of the settings that I thought relevant, to no avail).

Thanks again for all of your help, by the way.

 

[DorothyDix]

Hi Ciran

Have you checked Device Manager/USBcontrollers and their properties? Are all available ports showing? Do you have any IRQ conflicts?
Assuming you are running a VIA chipset,try updating the VIA drivers to the latest ones.You will notice(in device manager) that there are VIA usb controller devices. They will be automatically upgraded when you install the new ones.
This MAY cure the problem- I had a similar one with another MB I was running....tried a USb hub etc. but to no avail.
I tried every option,but nothing worked.I wound up getting a new MB just so I could run more than one USB device.

Give it a try anyway

PAUL

 

[CiaranB01]

Chaps,

Thanks for all of your help, but I think it's all sorted out now.

I did two things, so I don't know if either one would have worked. I went to the AMD site and downloaded every driver file that seemed relevant. I installed all of those that would install. I then went back to the Device Manager and unticked the 'allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' box (I had previously only done that for the device itself).

All now seems well. Thanks to everyone for their help.

Ciaran Brennan

 

[Grenage]

Good to hear you got it sorted