USB port problem

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

my USB ports are starting to aggrivate the sh!t out of me.  in device manager everything looks ok, the ports are "functioning normally"

but when i plug in my g/f's digital camera, i get a communication error message.

i'm running xp pro on and ancient 750 Athlon processor.   whatever other info is needed just post up.  i'm at work now but will login again when i get home.

TIA

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Does this happen with any USB device?  Also do you know what chipset your usb port uses?

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

my USB ports are starting to aggrivate the sh!t out of me.  in device manager everything looks ok, the ports are "functioning normally"

but when i plug in my g/f's digital camera, i get a communication error message.

i'm running xp pro on and ancient 750 Athlon processor.   whatever other info is needed just post up.  i'm at work now but will login again when i get home.

TIA

If it make you feel any better . . . . . . you are not alone.

I just installed an expensive H-P Photosmart printer it commandeered my USB hub. If I unplug the printer, the software looks and looks and looks for it. When I plug my camera (USB-miniUSB), I also get some sorta comm failure. The 'puter 'sees' the camera drive, but never displays the contents. Plug the H-P back in and it's now happy.

I can see where the H-P locked onto/assigned itself to comm4, but I have no idea how to make it randomly use any of the four USB ports.

OK, my bitch with H-P is over for now,
'da angry Monster

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

There is USB 1.0 and 2.0 some devices don't like 1.0 while others just run slower.

Ie my USB memory stick works fine but I had a older clone running 98 that I use as a utility machine.
I had a similar problem with my HP Photosmart 1100 when I went to use it via USB.

I picked up a 2port USB card (PCI interface) for 19.95 at bestbuy and ignored the other onboard ports.

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Does this happen with any USB device?  Also do you know what chipset your usb port uses?

i've tried two different digital cameras in the last few weeks.  i don't have any other devices that use the usb so i'm not sure if this problem has been around for just a few weeks or for the past year.

how would i check the chipset?  thanks to all for trying to help

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

I picked up a 2port USB card (PCI interface) for 19.95 at bestbuy and ignored the other onboard ports.

sounds like a possible solution for my situation.  thanks for the idea 

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Stay away from USB cards that use the VIA chipset.  These are known to have all kinds of compatibility issues.

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Stay away from USB cards that use the VIA chipset.  These are known to have all kinds of compatibility issues.

thanks for the heads up,  i'll try to figure out how to learn which chipset my USB card has tonight. 

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

thanks for the heads up,  i'll try to figure out how to learn which chipset my USB card has tonight. 

Download Sisoft's Sandra and it will tell you all kinds of neat things about your system.  The "lite" version is free, it lacks a lot of benchmarking tools, but for your needs, it will do.

http://www.sisoftware.net/redirect/dload.php?id=9

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

hi, I too had a lot of problems with different devices - usb dvd burner, usb game pad, etc. etc. Couldn't burn mp3's to audio cd's, etc.
 My computer was a 2 year old Compaq notebook with usb 1.1.  I bought a new Acer aspire 9504ewsmi notebook a few weeks ago at Circuit City for $799.  Sold the Compaq for $500. net cost $299.  This notebook is great - 5 usb 2.0 ports, DVD dual layer burner, 17 inch widescreen, PARALLEL port ( for hooking up my Eprom burner).  NO problems with any of my devices.  It even runs AutoDesk Animator Studio (1996) that my other computer would not run.  For what it's worth, think about upgrading, instead of getting frustrated.

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Also, it never hurts to go to your PC's website (assuming it's a brand name PC) and download the latest and greatest drivers.  If you're running a "clone" PC then it's a little harder (but still "doable").

I installed XP SP2 on a Dell laptop and afterwards the thing just crawled...  It acted like it only had 128 megs of RAM...  Went to the driver page and there was a CPU fix.  Downloaded & installed the fix and it was back to being speedy as usual...