You guessed it - Another computer question

[Ed62]

The computer I'm running did not come with USB 2.0. My son in law put in a 2.0 hub for me a year or so ago. Everything was fine until recently. If I turn on my scanner or other USB 2.0 device, I receive a message telling me This device can perform faster if you connect it to a hi-speed USB 2.0 port. For a list of available ports, click here.

When I click on the balloon, I see a list of 5 ports that are available. These ports have something plugged into them (my scanner, for one). If I check on the drivers, it tells me I have Standard enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller (the 5 ports mentioned above). If I try to update the driver, I'm told that there is no better driver available. I do have the CD with the original 2.0 driver, now installed. Should I delete the other driver, then re-install? Any other suggestions?

Ed

[herb fellows]

i SOMETIMES GET THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT IN REALITY i HAVE ALL HI SPEED USB'S. So I'm not sure why Iget them. That being said, the speed it was running at was fine so I just ignored it.

[steve-norrell]

If it were I, I would . . . .

1. Reboot the computer after turning it all the way off (not just 'reset').

2. Unplug the USB devices and let Windows reinstall them.

3. Remove and re-install the PCI - USB board.

4. If that all fails, or if you don't want to go through all that trouble, follow Herb's excellent advice -- especially if everything still works and there is no noticeable reduction in speed.

My computer has a mind of its own and does what it wants anyway.

Regards, Steve

[crokett]

Ed,

How are you trying to update the driver? When I try on my system I open Device Mangler, then right click the device I want to update, then choose 'Update Driver'. XP then asks me if I want to connect to the internet or not. I say not. Then it asks if I want to have XP detect it or install from a specific location. Try it again and select Install from specific location then browse to the drivers on your CD.

[LinuxRandal]

Maybe I am missing it, but you said hub. Is this really a hub or a multiport card?

If it is a hub, I am assuming it is connected to an older USB (1.1) port.

If this is a card, is there any slower hubs plugged into it, that your scanner is connected to first?

[LCHIEN]

if your computer has USB 1 ports and you plugged a USB 2 hub into it, all your USB devices will still be going thru the 1.0 port operating at USB 1.0 speeds; throttled about 10:1 in speed.
Your computer has correctly detected you have 1.0 hardware and a 2.0 device plugged into it.

If you want the speed a 2.0 hub alone will not fix it. Your computer needs a PCI card with USB2.0 ports on it. It will have 4 ports on it usually, then you won't need the hub. These cards usually cost about $20 or less.

If you dont need the speed, then all 2.0 devices should work fine with 1.0 ports, just at the slower speeds. You may get an ocassional warning/advisory about being able to speed up operations with a 2.0 port, but you should have no ill effects.

[crokett]

Loring, that was my initial thought as well, but then I thought that since it used to work he had the USB2.0 correectly installed. I've owned 3 USB hubs (none USB 2.0) and none ever needed a driver, but there is a first time for everything.

[Alex Franke]

This is a good example of why I prefer software to hardware

Is there a chance that you're using a thin, old, or very long USB cable? This could cause slower data transfer, which could be interpreted by software as a slower USB port... Just a thought... But again, I'm a software guy.

[crokett]

This is a good example of why I prefer software to hardware

What do you mean? The problem is with the software. The hardware works fine. Windows is complaining about a driver. The hardware isn't broken.

[dbhost]

Nope, never see that problem, must be a Windoze thing.

Okay, seriously though...

If you know how to access your device manager, are there any red X marks on anything, or any exlaimation points? The most common reason for this problem is a bum driver, possibly a new one from a Windows update, especially if your card is an add in card and not an Intel, Via, or Nvidia chipset.

Pre USB 2.0 mainboards are seriously old, so this can't possibly be Vista, I would hope anyway, and might be a little on the lean side for XP... But workable for basic stuff...

I haven't seen that error in a LONG time, but if I recall right, on XP Professional anyway, there was an option to run a troubleshooter through the error dialog box. Do you get that option, and if so did you run the troubleshooter? It should take you through uninstalling and reinstalling the USB driver...

Another, FAR less likely scenario is a bad cable with a lot of interference kicking the speed down. Cables can, and do deteriorate over time. You might have a bad cable. Do you have another cable you can test with?

By the way, I am making a HUGE assumption that you mean that you added a USB 2.0 controller card and not a hub in reality. If it's a hub, the error message makes complete sense. Install a USB 2.0 controller card (Frys, Best Buy, Circuit City, has them, buy one before they go out of business). Then connect your USB 2.0 stuff to that. In this day and age, the only use usb 1.x has is mice and keyboards, and even that can be iffy...

[Alex Franke]

What do you mean? The problem is with the software. The hardware works fine. Windows is complaining about a driver. The hardware isn't broken.

I suppose you could even argue that it's all software -- USB implementation, drivers, operating system, opcodes... I mean, what does the tangible stuff even care so long as it's plugged in correctly? It's just moving electrons around (or is it electron holes?).

I forgot about all the techies that are probably reading this thead So I should have said this: "This is a good example of why I prefer middleware and application software as opposed to hardware-layer stuff."

Although I still wonder if it might actually be a real honest-to-goodness hardware issue -- like the cable itself. Maybe it's kinked or old or too long or something. I think the driver is already USB 2 because it says "enhanced" (enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller). I wonder if the device is reporting itself as 2.0, but the OS itsn't seeing 2.0 speeds so it's assuming it's on a 1.1 port. Plus it's very easy to test -- just try out a different cable.

But again, this is just a guess. I prefer to stay a bit more abstract.

Edit: To elaborate, regarding the "Standard enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller" mentioned in the OP, my understanding is that "enhanced" and "2.0" are synonymous. The "Standard" part probably just means that it's a generic version of the USB 2.0 controller.

[mpc]

Many USB 2.0 hubs (and controllers) have both USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 electronic components... and some are not smart enough to "map" them correctly to what you've plugged into the USB hub/controller. I.e., plugging in a USB 1.1 peripheral (e.g. mouse/keyboard) can make many USB 2.0 hubs switch to USB 1.1 mode on all ports - not just the port talking to the slow peripheral.

Try unplugging all of your USB cables/devices. Reboot the system. Then plug in one device that is clearly USB 2.0 - something like an external disk or CD/DVD drive, maybe a scanner. See if the Windows error message shows up; if so, my idea isn't your problem.

Another thing is to go into Device Manager of Windows and go to the "view devices by connection." You may see that you do have USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports - and you just need to move your USB cables to some other (unused) USB port on the computer.
Right-click "My Computer" --> Properties --> Hardware --> Device Manager
-or -
START --> Control Panel --> System --> Hardware -- Device Manager
Then click on View --> Devices by Connection

A whole lot of names & numeric designations for computer hardware pieces will be listed. Clicking on the "+" will expand each device "tree."
The USB controllers are typically in something like:
ACPI Uniprocessor PC - or - ACPI Multiprocessor PC
--Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
----PCI Bus
-------NEC, Intel, etc. 12345whatever USB Univeral Host Controller -or -
-------NEC, Intel, etc. 12345whatever USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
Often PCs will have many lines similar to the above 2. Clicking on a "host controller" plus sign should spit out a "USB Root Hub" which is basically the 2 or 4 USB connectors that each controller operates. Any "USB Root Hub" that has a "+" sign has some peripheral plugged into it. See what peripherals are plugged into root hubs of "Universal Host Controller" devices (i.e. USB 1.1 controllers) and move those to hubs on "Enhanced" controllers.

mpc