Boot problem: new USB2 hub on old USB1 laptop!

[Albo]

I thought all would be well, but: when I hooked up a 7-port USB2 hub to
my IBM A31, XP/SP2 refused to boot or restart correctly. When I unhook
the hub everything goes fine. Seems the laptop wants to prefer booting
off the faster device (I had a MAXSTOR hooked up there for backups but
even unhooking it didn't solve the boots: got weird static screen). Is
this a hardware issue and NOT XP, and therefore something I shouldn't
be posting here?

 

[its_my_dime]

I thought all would be well, but: when I hooked up a 7-port USB2 hub to
my IBM A31, XP/SP2 refused to boot or restart correctly. When I unhook
the hub everything goes fine. Seems the laptop wants to prefer booting
off the faster device (I had a MAXSTOR hooked up there for backups but
even unhooking it didn't solve the boots: got weird static screen). Is
this a hardware issue and NOT XP, and therefore something I shouldn't
be posting here?

One suggestion from an amateur:

Go to the Device Manager, remove all the USB stuff and let it reinstall.

 

[R. McCarty]

Make sure the expansion hub is powered by it's own AC/DC adapter.
It's possible you've overloaded the 500mA current limitation or maybe
the total bandwidth of the USB 2-Enhanced controller.

 

[Lem]

I thought all would be well, but: when I hooked up a 7-port USB2 hub to
my IBM A31, XP/SP2 refused to boot or restart correctly. When I unhook
the hub everything goes fine. Seems the laptop wants to prefer booting
off the faster device (I had a MAXSTOR hooked up there for backups but
even unhooking it didn't solve the boots: got weird static screen). Is
this a hardware issue and NOT XP, and therefore something I shouldn't
be posting here?

ummm...how are you connecting this USB2 hub if there's only a USB1 port
on your laptop?

as far as the boot issue is concerned, do you have the BIOS configured
to look at the usb port first for some reason, or is it correctly trying
to boot from the hard drive?

any error messages?

 

[Albo]

USB2 hub is USB1 compatible, has its own power source, has USB1 devices
plugged in; I went into BIOS and re-configured for preferred boot from
hard drive. I even configured for boot *only* from hard drive!!!

 

[Albo]

I hadn't thought about a current or bandwidth limitation, as all seems
to run okay once the system comes up and I then plug in the USB hub
with all its devices (MAXstor, printer, wireless mouse, two camera
ports...light load there except for the MAXstor).

 

[R. McCarty]

Check both the Enhanced Controller for bandwidth and the associated
Root Hub for power consumption. Also if your motherboard supports
Legacy USB, then the problem may be trying to mount the USB drive
prior to XP startup. I used to use a Maxtor LE5000 and having legacy
USB support enabled with it powered on caused all types of issues.

 

[Albo]

Yes I definitely tried to mount the USB before startup - lazy as I am,
I had hoped to leave it plugged in all the time. As it turns out, the
"laptop" is a replacement for a desktop. I had also hoped to leave the
USB powered up all the time: lazy as I am, I had hoped to be able,
merely, to shut down the laptop at night without going through lots of
other guff. But I see from your comments I am no doubt wrong.

I know the motherboard supports legacy USB (if I understand what
you're saying). (In fact it doesn't support USB2: such devices send
messages about "this device will work faster...").

So I guess I'll just out of curiosity check the bandwidth on the USB2
hub, let all the other stuff run on the old unpowered hub, then plug in
the Maxstor only now and then to run a backup...Thanks very much for
the clarity!

 

[Plato]

I thought all would be well, but: when I hooked up a 7-port USB2 hub to
my IBM A31, XP/SP2 refused to boot or restart correctly. When I unhook
the hub everything goes fine. Seems the laptop wants to prefer booting
off the faster device (I had a MAXSTOR hooked up there for backups but
even unhooking it didn't solve the boots: got weird static screen). Is
this a hardware issue and NOT XP, and therefore something I shouldn't
be posting here?

You may need a powered hub.