IT Professionals

Hair Pulling USB Hassles

Posted by on Apr 12, 2010 | 5 Comments

Not too long back I talked about some USB related frustrations. Well, it looks like this issue is not clearly defined as being OS related. I am seeing growing indications that this could be something related to the USB ports on the board or possibly even with the ports being poorly powered.

It’s even more frustrating as this is not my own computer — rather, one that belongs to a family friend. So every time it has a problem, I must either deal with it at his location or bring it back to my own home. Honestly, I am to the point where I’m ready to simply buy him a new one.

Having gone through every possibility known to man to make this work, at the OS level down to a clean installation on a new partition, I about at my wits’ end. I am now looking to add a new USB PCI card for the PC, then doubling up with a powered USB hub, just so I know that the ports are all being well powered.

If this doesn’t work, I can only conclude that something might be up with the motherboard or even the PSU. Have any non-software suggestions? I have proven that this is not a Windows/software solution. So I am definitely open to any suggestions on the hardware level… especially if you’ve dealt with a similar set of circumstances.

[awsbullet:USB Gadget Mini Display]

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  • DOIDD M

    USB…Universal, forget it! I bought a USB western digital drive to use on a latest Humax satellite decoder. Via USB! Well the satellite detected it and then said it was not in FAT or EXT3 format. So remove NTFS, format with linux EXT3 and try again…. still not recognised though the Decoder knows there is a USB device.
    After many hours one discovers there is a ‘firmware’ software in the USB part of the drive (electronics hardware not on the disk software) that prevents the Humax recognising the EXT3 partition / drive format. Told by WD this firmware is to help people to use the disk!
    Back to the suppliers and get a disk drive that is virgin clean with no software embedded and finally after the same process all works!
    USB is by no means universal…. hopes this helps someone else.
    M

  • http://newsline.mindvacant.com Moindvacant
  • http://newsline.mindvacant.com Mindvacant

    I screwed up typing my name on the previous post.

    It should be Mindvacant, not Moindvacant.

    Sorry

  • Mike Weiler

    thoughts for action but may have been done. Update the firmware for the Motherboard…many hardware problems are fixed from manufacture here! Also make sure all drivers are current I assume you have…they make USB hubs that power devices that are really bad with power….just some suggestions…hope something works out for you….