Can't use modem with USB hub

[DocA]

Hi,

I have a pc running W2K Pro SP4. It has two USB ports. However, I have three
USB devices--a printer, a 3comADSL modem, and an external HDD, so I've been
unplugging one device to put another in. All devices work fine.

Fed up with moving cables, I bought a Trust 4 port USB hub. Now one USB port
on the PC is used by the printer directly and the other is used by the hub.
I've plugged the other two devices (the external HDD and the modem) into the
hub. The printer continues to work fine. The external HDD works fine. The
modem doesn't work: whenever Windows starts it reloads the modem drivers and
eventually crashes with a blue screen and an error message along the lines
of "IRQ not less than or equal".

If I don't use the hub, I don't get a crash.

I tried killing the driver installation process...that avoids the crash, but
still leaves me without a working modem. The only thing I can do right now
is revert to my original method of unplugging and replugging, without using
the hub at all.

Anyone got any advice?

Thanks a lot,

Adrian

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

I tried killing the driver installation process...that avoids the crash, but
still leaves me without a working modem. The only thing I can do right now
is revert to my original method of unplugging and replugging, without using
the hub at all.

Have you tried the modem on one of the USB's, and the printer and the HDD on
the hub?

 

[DocA]

The modem works fine when connected straight to the USB port on the pc.

The HDD works fine when connected to the hub.

Haven't tried the printer on the hub yet, but I'll check it tonight. I
didn't want to do this originally because to run the USB printer from the
hub requires a power source for the hub, which it doesn't need for the modem
or the HDD. (The hub can be used in "autonomous" or powered mode.)

Thanks Wolf

Adrian

 

[DocA]

The printer works when connected to the hub. But it still reinstalled the
drivers when I first connected. Is this normal? If you connect devices to a
hub, do you usually have to reinstall the drivers?

Another thing that seems strange to me is that when I click the "Unplug or
eject hardware" icon, the dialog box only lists my modem, which is connected
directly to the pc, but does not list either the hub or the devices
connected to it -- the external HDD and the printer. Is this normal?

And finally, a question directly related to the Trust 4 port USB hub (model
12780)...

The word "power" is printed on the front of the hub and below it is an LED.
The LED lights up when the hub is connected to the pc, as expected. However,
I also expected the LED to light up when plugging in an external 5v power
source, even before connecting it to the pc. It doesn't. Is this normal? I
know the power supply is working.

Thanks,

Adrian