How to repair USB ports on Vista

[Rich T]

Hello,

Is there some sort of diagnostic tool that I can download to try to
understand what is going on with my USB ports?

I now only have one USB port (out of nine) working. Ports just fail and then
re-appear at random. Some devices work on a failed port, others don't.

I have tried going into device manager to uninstall hub drivers etc, but
there seems absolutely no logic in the way device mananger is laid out - eg
"generic hub" appears ten times and it is impossible to understand what is
attached to what.

I have installed all the USB "fixes" from the Microsoft website already.

 

[Mac]

It could be your motherboard... One option is installing a USB card. They
cost around $30.

 

[NoStop]

Hello,

Is there some sort of diagnostic tool that I can download to try to
understand what is going on with my USB ports?

I now only have one USB port (out of nine) working. Ports just fail and
then re-appear at random. Some devices work on a failed port, others
don't.

I have tried going into device manager to uninstall hub drivers etc, but
there seems absolutely no logic in the way device mananger is laid out -
eg "generic hub" appears ten times and it is impossible to understand what
is attached to what.

I have installed all the USB "fixes" from the Microsoft website already.

That's what you get when you put lipstick on a pig. Vista is really just XP
with some eye candy added, along with greater DRM restrictions, UAC and
confusing interface. XP had *serious* problems with handling USB properly
and this continues in Vista. XP would get so screwed up (after a time) with
handling USB ports properly the only "solution" short of wiping and
installing from scratch and hoping it would run USB properly for a time is
to install a PCI USB card and start using those new USB ports. Some have
reported this same "solution" here with Vista. Maybe some day Microsoft
will figure out how to correct this? They've been working on it since XP
SP1 with little success. Maybe if Microsoft figured out a way to properly
innumerate the USB devices that connect to its o/s like modern Linux boxes
do now, they can finally fix the problem? Because this hasn't happened to
date, there must be some more inherent problems within the NT kernel that
prevents them doing so. Or else, the MS developers are into this
development way over their heads. I suspect it is the latter and they are
now working with a code base that is so patched and convoluted they have no
idea how to fix it.

Cheers.


--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.

 

[Rich T]

I think you are right that they just don't know how to fix Vista USB
problems. The errors are persistent but random, which must make them
impossible to fix.

Doesn't help that it is impossible to relate the USB map in Device Manager
to the physical ports.

 

[NoStop]

I think you are right that they just don't know how to fix Vista USB
problems. The errors are persistent but random, which must make them
impossible to fix.

Doesn't help that it is impossible to relate the USB map in Device Manager
to the physical ports.

It's obviously a plug 'n pray problem where there isn't consistency in
allocating the ports that have already been "discovered". Similarly, if the
unique device id of an external hard drive, for example, was the
determining factor of how/where the system mounted that device regardless
of what USB port it was plugged into, this could alleviate the problem
somewhat. There can be NO dispute that since XP, USB has been a total crap
shoot. Over time, the o/s is unable to keep track of what's happening in
the USB subsystem and simply starts turning off ports. Sometimes a wiping
out of the USB ports in Device Manager and a rediscover will unlock them,
but, this only appears to work for awhile. Eventually those ports just get
permanently closed. The silliness of having to search for an appropriate
driver EVERYTIME a familiar device is replugged in, is an indication of the
failings of this system from a user's perspective.

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Astronomy2/PreformanceMonitor.jpg

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.

 

[Frank]

That's what you get when you put lipstick on a pig.

Is that what you call it when RS puts lipstick on you doris?

Vista is really just XP

with some eye candy added, along with greater DRM restrictions, UAC and
confusing interface.

That statement proves you've never, ever installed or used Vista have you?

XP had *serious* problems with handling USB properly

and this continues in Vista.

Wrong! You've never used XP either have you?

XP would get so screwed up (after a time) with

handling USB ports properly the only "solution" short of wiping and
installing from scratch and hoping it would run USB properly for a time is
to install a PCI USB card and start using those new USB ports.

Do you and the other linturds sit around and make up these lies about
Windows or did you come up with this sh*t on your own?

Some have

reported this same "solution" here with Vista.

They have?

Maybe some day Microsoft

will figure out how to correct this?

You actually think most XP/Vista users are having a USB problems? Guess
what bozo...they aren't!

They've been working on it since XP

SP1 with little success.

Liar!

Maybe if Microsoft figured out a way to properly

innumerate the USB devices that connect to its o/s like modern Linux boxes
do now, they can finally fix the problem? Because this hasn't happened to
date, there must be some more inherent problems within the NT kernel that
prevents them doing so. Or else, the MS developers are into this
development way over their heads. I suspect it is the latter and they are
now working with a code base that is so patched and convoluted they have no
idea how to fix it.

OMG...your outright hatred of MS has made a real lair out of you!
Frank

 

[NoStop]

Is that what you call it when RS puts lipstick on you doris?
No.

Vista is really just XP

That statement proves you've never, ever installed or used Vista have you?

XP had *serious* problems with handling USB properly

Wrong! You've never used XP either have you?
Sigh.

XP would get so screwed up (after a time) with

Do you and the other linturds sit around and make up these lies about
Windows or did you come up with this sh*t on your own?

No lies. Only the truth.

Some have

They have?

Ever read this newsgroup or do you just stalk?

Maybe some day Microsoft

You actually think most XP/Vista users are having a USB problems? Guess
what bozo...they aren't!

Never said most. But it IS a problem that MANY Windoze users have
confronted. Do you bother to read this newsgroup or do you just stalk and
add your Village Idiot bullshit comments?

They've been working on it since XP

Liar!

Just because you're clueless doesn't mean that these problems don't exist.
You really are a total ****tard.

Maybe if Microsoft figured out a way to properly

OMG...your outright hatred of MS has made a real lair out of you!

This has NOTHING to do with hatred of MS. What I stated are the FACTS. A MS
fanboy like you just won't accept any criticism of your beloved operating
system, even when the FACTS prove otherwise. Frank, you are the Usenet
Village Idiot and totally dishonest!

Frank

Get a fscking life and quit stalking. Surely you have more important things
to do, like seeking help for your mental problems.

Cheers.

--
A PDF Book for Windows Users new to Linux:
http://www.suseblog.com/dl.php

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.

 

[JeremyP]

Is that what you call it when RS puts lipstick on you doris?

Vista is really justXP


That statement proves you've never, ever installed or used Vista have you?

XPhad *serious*problemswith handlingUSBproperly


Wrong! You've never usedXPeither have you?

XPwould get so screwed up (after a time) with


Do you and the other linturds sit around and make up these lies aboutWindowsor did you come up with this sh*t on your own?

Some have


They have?

Maybe some day Microsoft


You actually think mostXP/Vista users are having aUSBproblems? Guess
what bozo...they aren't!

They've been working on it sinceXP


Liar!

Maybe if Microsoft figured out a way to properly


OMG...your outright hatred of MS has made a real lair out of you!
Frank

Now now children. I would confirm that USB in XP is a mess, and that I
constantly lose ports.

Connected

Keyboard (disappears until plugged into a different port, maybe once a
fortnight)
Mouse - usually OK
Soundcard - usually OK
DVD drive - ditto
Four external drives - inconsistent, have to switch ports sometimes to
re-connect.
Photo memory card. Won't download on USB any more. Fine on the other
PC in the house, stopped the other day and nothing I do gets it
recognised by USB.

So for my money, USB is a VERY flaky hardware protocol, and hugely
unreliable.

 

[NoStop]

Now now children. I would confirm that USB in XP is a mess, and that I
constantly lose ports.

Connected

Keyboard (disappears until plugged into a different port, maybe once a
fortnight)
Mouse - usually OK
Soundcard - usually OK
DVD drive - ditto
Four external drives - inconsistent, have to switch ports sometimes to
re-connect.
Photo memory card. Won't download on USB any more. Fine on the other
PC in the house, stopped the other day and nothing I do gets it
recognised by USB.

So for my money, USB is a VERY flaky hardware protocol, and hugely
unreliable.

I know Frank isn't going to like hearing the truth, but USB isn't the
problem. It's how Windoze handles USB that is the problem. One doesn't have
to put up with this crap when using Linux. I can get into more details of
why this is so, but what's the point? You want to use Windoze, you'll have
to live with it's shortcomings (just one of many) when it comes to how it
handles USB devices.

Cheers.

--
A PDF Book for Windows Users new to Linux:
http://www.suseblog.com/dl.php

How a Windows Firewall protects your computer:
http://tinyurl.com/2z9qdn

AlexB (another Vista expert): "I ruined at least 5 or 6 installations of
Vista before I realized what was going on."

Contact AlexB to find out how to "delouse" your Vista system.

 

[DarkSentinel]

I think you are right that they just don't know how to fix Vista USB
problems. The errors are persistent but random, which must make them
impossible to fix.

Doesn't help that it is impossible to relate the USB map in Device Manager
to the physical ports.

That is incorrect as I have posted to you before. All 12 ports work on my
system. 8 on the computer, 4 on my monitor. I have yet to find anything that
hasn't worked when I plugged it in. As I and others have told you, it is
more than likely something on your system board as I have had the same
problems as you did on an old Tyan mobo I had. Wound up having pop in a USB
2.0 card to make it work. It has nothing to do with Vista.

 

[wf4b]

For what it's worth--I have an open ticket now with Microsoft and have spoken to four
different suppor people. They have downloaded all kinds of stuff to my PC none of which
has solver the problem including doing an upgrade with the Vista disk. Now they're
talking about doing a complete re-install (well that's not going to happen!). It's
running pretty good except for the USB issue. They've even tried installing 32 bit
drivers and then using a third party package to upgrade them to a 64 bit-nothing! The
thing is my scanner used to work with Vista and now it doesn't, a thumb drive doesn't
work either. I do have an external hard drive which is working OK. I've even gotten a far
out solution that has to do with the Parallel printer cable, someone claiming there was a
conflict. A complete analysis of the system shows everything working fine. I'm not
expecting a solution here since if Microsoft doesn't know what's wrong I guess we're
screwed!