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Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.

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LAN_403

Part Scavenger

Tue May 02 2006, 02:18AM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

I've got a problem with Windows XP (who doesn't, but anyway...) I've got an "external mass media device" hooked up via USB. It's an external hard drive enclosure. While transferring information, Windows XP makes a sound like a media device disconnecting, and then another exactly like the one you hear when you plug in a new USB/IEEE/anything plug+play device. It's completely random as far as I can tell.

After this, the transfer rate skyrockets, the CPU goes to 100% and the rest of the file is corrupted.

This didn't used to happen but only once in a while, but then our computer got a virus and consequently a fresh format, install of XP, etc. It was irritating before, now I simply can't transfer files anymore.

I have unplugged every unnecessary device from the computer, restarted, and it still happens. Same in safe mode. I turned off the "allow turn off of USB port for power saving" feature on all the USB hubs, disabled antivirius, everything I can think of. Note, it's really pissing my dad off that he can't transfer his files, so any help would be appreciated.

What am I missing?

Another question I have is how do you up the allowable bandwith on a certain port? All my USB ports are locked between 9 and 11% bandwidth, and I'd like to be able to use one full blast every once in a while.

I've got Windows XP Professional SP2, 2.4GHz chip, ~512Mb RAM, USB 2.0/1.1 ports and I'm trying to move ~500Mb to 2Gig files from a USB drive to the Comp's HD.

Desmogod

Tue May 02 2006, 02:29AM

Registered Member #139 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 11:01AM
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 358

Ahhh, plug and pray :)

What make is your external drive? Not a LaCie is it?

Part Scavenger

Tue May 02 2006, 03:16AM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

El-Cheapo Inc. Actually, I don't remember it having a name. I really don't think that's the problem however, it does it with other devices too, like flash drives, etc.

Electroholic

Tue May 02 2006, 04:03AM

Registered Member #191 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 02:01AM
Location: Esbjerg Denmark
Posts: 720

The female usb jacks on my laptop are a little lose, but it is find as long as i dont' touch it during file transfer.

Part Scavenger

Tue May 02 2006, 03:07PM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

I don't think that's it either. I will do it with no one in the room as well...

Bjørn

Tue May 02 2006, 05:39PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

Another question I have is how do you up the allowable bandwith on a certain port?

Usually there are reserved a small amout for realtime applications, if a large amount is reserved then there is probably something wrong. If the normal amount is reserved then devices and drivers expect that and you should not change it. There used to be a utility for changing settings like that, I can't recall the name.

Your problem in general does not sound like a plug and play problem. It could be a bad driver, a bad USB controller or a power supply problem. Maybe you are pulling too much power from the USB port and the polyfuse trips and resets itself.

Since it got worse after a new install it points to a bad driver, locate the latest driver for the USB chipset and all other chips on the motherboard.

Part Scavenger

Tue May 02 2006, 07:51PM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

That sounds like a good idea. I'll try to find some new drivers. I don't think it's the power supply; according to windows, I was pulling 10mA out of an allowable 500mA for the USB bus. Thanks for the input, I don't know why I didn't think about new drivers.

EDIT=> I re-did the drivers, and it's still being a pain. The ports will reset without it doing anything, so now I'm sure it's not power. BTW, there were no new drivers. I just re-installed them.

Bjørn

Tue May 02 2006, 08:53PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

Did you check all the other drivers needed for the motherboard? Have you checked the system event logs (contriol panel/administration) to se if there are any messages that coincides with the events? Does it still happen in safe mode?

Part Scavenger

Thu May 04 2006, 01:20AM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

Well, I don't know what happened. It went from doing it about every 2-3min, later over and over, then without changing anything, it started working and worked for about 2hrs until we were through.

Does that ring a bell to anybody? It's pretty weird to me.

Desmogod

Thu May 04 2006, 01:49AM

Registered Member #139 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 11:01AM
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 358

Does it "fix itself" when the computer has been left switched on for a while? Could be a heat/expansion related issue.

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