can't boot completely with USB devices plugged in... (post XP format and reinstall)

[Ch33zst34k]

I recently did my periodic XP SR-2 reinstall (I was getting an
occasional BSD) and now have a shiny, newly formatted hard drive with
fresh and current drivers. My problem comes at boot time - if I have
my USB hub and/or various USB devices plugged in, XP doesn't boot
completely (it hangs during the boot sequence).

I can boot with only the USB keyboard in however, which leads me to
believe that its somehow tied to drivers. Anyone have some input
here ?

Thanks,
G

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I recently did my periodic XP SR-2 reinstall (I was getting an
occasional BSD) and now have a shiny, newly formatted hard drive with
fresh and current drivers. My problem comes at boot time - if I have
my USB hub and/or various USB devices plugged in, XP doesn't boot
completely (it hangs during the boot sequence).

I can boot with only the USB keyboard in however, which leads me to
believe that its somehow tied to drivers. Anyone have some input
here ?

Thanks,
G

Try replacing those devices, or installing other port cards and bypassing
the hubs. The format and reinstall probably have little to do with this,
rather it's timing quirks.

HTH
-pk

 

[M.I.5¾]

I recently did my periodic XP SR-2 reinstall (I was getting an
occasional BSD) and now have a shiny, newly formatted hard drive with
fresh and current drivers. My problem comes at boot time - if I have
my USB hub and/or various USB devices plugged in, XP doesn't boot
completely (it hangs during the boot sequence).

I can boot with only the USB keyboard in however, which leads me to
believe that its somehow tied to drivers. Anyone have some input
here ?

This is a 'know quirk' of Windows XP. It is usually USB hard drives that
cause the problem and less so USB Flash sticks. I have heard reports of
hubs causing problems.

However, I am not convinced that the blame belongs with Windows, becase some
of the boot problems occur before Windows even gets loaded (I am aware of at
least one machine where even the POST (Power On Self Test) won't run if a
USB hard drive is connected). I am more convinced that it is down to quirks
in the USB support chips on the motherboard, but as I say, that is purely my
theory.

 

[bertieboy]

I recently did my periodic XP SR-2 reinstall (I was getting an
occasional BSD) and now have a shiny, newly formatted hard drive with
fresh and current drivers. My problem comes at boot time - if I have
my USB hub and/or various USB devices plugged in, XP doesn't boot
completely (it hangs during the boot sequence).

I can boot with only the USB keyboard in however, which leads me to
believe that its somehow tied to drivers. Anyone have some input
here ?

Thanks,
G

I had something similar with my new Mesh/Asus P5VD2-VM mobo. If I went
into hibernation or standby, or sometimes when I did a cold boot, when I
tried to get it to start up again it just sat there and did nothing. The
disk activity light was flashing but whatever I did I could not get it
to start up. This went on for several days and by then I was getting a
bit jumpy! I did get it to start up once, by turning off the power
switch then back on quickly (not to be recommended) but it allowed me to
take some backups. I then decided to remove the 4 port USB hub and the
system came up OK. I should have done that a long time before but I had
'motherboard' stuck in my mind.
Anyway, I dumped the hub and managed without it. Its been fine since.

 

[Ch33zst34k]

I had something similar with my new Mesh/Asus P5VD2-VM mobo. If I went
into hibernation or standby, or sometimes when I did a cold boot, when I
tried to get it to start up again it just sat there and did nothing. The
disk activity light was flashing but whatever I did I could not get it
to start up. This went on for several days and by then I was getting a
bit jumpy! I did get it to start up once, by turning off the power
switch then back on quickly (not to be recommended) but it allowed me to
take some backups. I then decided to remove the 4 port USB hub and the
system came up OK. I should have done that a long time before but I had
'motherboard' stuck in my mind.
Anyway, I dumped the hub and managed without it. Its been fine since.

Bertie and all...

Thanks for the feedback. As it turns out, I have an Asus mobo - it
appears to be a symptom of the board itself. Like you, I boot without
the hub and simply insert the USB after boot. It strikes me as an
inconvenience but not a deal-killer. Hopefully a firmware/bios update
will address it. Thanks all..

 

[M.I.5¾]

I had something similar with my new Mesh/Asus P5VD2-VM mobo. If I went
into hibernation or standby, or sometimes when I did a cold boot, when I
tried to get it to start up again it just sat there and did nothing. The
disk activity light was flashing but whatever I did I could not get it to
start up. This went on for several days and by then I was getting a bit
jumpy! I did get it to start up once, by turning off the power switch then
back on quickly (not to be recommended) but it allowed me to take some
backups. I then decided to remove the 4 port USB hub and the system came
up OK. I should have done that a long time before but I had 'motherboard'
stuck in my mind.
Anyway, I dumped the hub and managed without it. Its been fine since.

I have heard similar stories before. AIUI, there is a fault with some hubs
in that they are not compliant with the USB spec. Under the spec. a hub
must not activate some of it's internal power lines until it has been
enumerated. Some hubs ignore this rule and the presence of 5 volts on one
of the data lines causes problems with the quirks of some USB ports. Such
hubs can usually be plugged in after the system has booted up without
problem (They can usually be left plugged into compliant hubs as well, as
they hold the power off until enumerated).

 

[M.I.5¾]

Bertie and all...

Thanks for the feedback. As it turns out, I have an Asus mobo - it
appears to be a symptom of the board itself. Like you, I boot without
the hub and simply insert the USB after boot. It strikes me as an
inconvenience but not a deal-killer. Hopefully a firmware/bios update
will address it. Thanks all..

Try another hub. That may fix it as well.

 

[bertieboy]

I have heard similar stories before. AIUI, there is a fault with some hubs
in that they are not compliant with the USB spec. Under the spec. a hub
must not activate some of it's internal power lines until it has been
enumerated. Some hubs ignore this rule and the presence of 5 volts on one
of the data lines causes problems with the quirks of some USB ports. Such
hubs can usually be plugged in after the system has booted up without
problem (They can usually be left plugged into compliant hubs as well, as
they hold the power off until enumerated).

This happened with 2 different hubs, and, if I remember rightly, there
was nothing actually on the hubs at the time.
Thanks for the headsup, I'm reassured by that, although if I were to buy
another hub how would I know if it was compliant with the USB spec?
Presumably the dearer the hub the more likely it will work?

 

[M.I.5¾]

This happened with 2 different hubs, and, if I remember rightly, there was
nothing actually on the hubs at the time.
Thanks for the headsup, I'm reassured by that, although if I were to buy
another hub how would I know if it was compliant with the USB spec?
Presumably the dearer the hub the more likely it will work?

Hmm. IME, that is not always the case.

 

[bertieboy]

Hmm. IME, that is not always the case.

I think I'll manage with the onboard ports for the moment then!