Device recognition by USB.

[Girl Guider]

I posted the following under "plug and play with usb" and received an answer
from RJK but I was then unable to access the group to reply so have signed on
with another email address.

"If you can "see" your camera in Windows Explorer, (indicating that a drive
letter has been assigned to it !), ...then I'm not sure what you mean by "My
pc has recently stopped recognising devices when plugged into the usb
ports."

Regarding "...safely remove hardware" icon, the camera is not listed for
removal." ...I'm guessing it's the drive letter assigned to the "mass
storage device" i.e. camera memory card, that you could be seeking to
"safley remove" ?

I've come across so many people that assume they MUST shove in that cd/dvd
ROM disk that came with a particular piece of hardware, when in many cases,
it would have been best to NOT to have even put it in the drive. Very
often - all that "bells and whistles" software, and that "auto detect that
you've plugged in that particular piece of hardware - device driver," often
cause more trouble than they're worth. ...not to mention that YET ANOTHER
"lite" version of a graphics app. that globally changes file type
associations in your XP platform !!

I suspect that, "...purchased an "all-in-one driver" device for the
external connection of HDD's, CD/DVD
drives etc. via USB...," is interfering with XP USB port enumeration,
.....in other words I haven't a clue as to what this thing is, ....could you
be talking about a USB hub ?

Occasionally one comes across an older system box with a motherboard that
shares a "rear" ATX USB port, with a USB pin header on the motherboard that
connects to USB port/s on the front of the case. THAT can cause problems.
i.e. make sure that a shared "rear" USB port is not used at the same time as
its' case front "twin."

This is a pretty good site :-
http://www.usbman.com/Reviews/ratoc_usb_20_5.htm

I've found answers to USB problems in the past, on it.

regards, Richard

My pc has recently stopped recognising devices when plugged into the usb
ports. If I plug my camera in I can access it through explorer but there
is
no indication that the pc has seen it and if I highlight the "safely
remove
hardware" icon, the camera is not listed for removal. I recently purchased
an
"all-in-one driver" device for the external connection of HDD's, CD/DVD
drives etc. via USB. The pc does not see it at all and I cannot access it
via
explorer, but if I plug it into my laptop running XP home edition it
reports
"new hardware" and installs it. Does this sound like an OS software or
hardware problem?

Since my original posting I have reinstalled the usb drivers and can get my
camera to be recognised. The IDE to USB "all-in-one driver" adaptor still
does not work on the desktop but is fine on the laptop. The list of USB
Controllers is:
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Controller
USB Composite Device
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

The Supplier of the desk top claims 10 USB ports but I can only find 6, 4 at
the back and 2 on top. Should I disconnect one at the back and try that?

Regards

Michael

 

[RJK]

I've read and re-read this, and still cannot fathom out exactly what is your
problem !
you say "Since my original posting I have reinstalled the usb drivers and
can get my
camera to be recognised." ..."in Windows Explorer..." ...as you previously
mentioned.

This indicates that the "camera / mass storage device / i.e. MEMORY CARD has
been recognised by Windows, and Windows has assigned the next available (on
your particular system) drive letter.
What more could you want ? This drive letter IS "the camera" 's "mass
storage device !!!

If you are saying the drive letter recently assigned to the camera / mass
storage device is not listed in system trays' "Safely Remove USB Mass
Storage Device," but, you can still see that drive letter in Windows
Explorer - that's a different kettle of fish.

I've been digging around for this item, ...is it:-
http://www.yesbuy.net/sata-esata-and-ide-to-usb-2-0-with-one-touch-backup-converter.html
....like one of these ?

regards, Richard

 

[Girl Guider]

Yes that is the device. When I plug it into my laptop, I get a popup saying
New hardware found, New Hardware installed. The device then appears as a
drive and I can access it, either a HDD or a CD/DVD drive. When I plug it
into my desktop nothing happens at all. Before I reinstalled the USB drivers,
by uninstalling via the control panel/system and restarting the pc, when I
plugged my camera in there was no indication the pc had seen it, but I could
view it as a drive using explorer although it did not appear in the system
tray "safely remove USB mass storage device". Now it says "found Pentax
camera" and installs it. I bought the all-in-one to use with spare HDD's and
to modify the region of a replacement DVD drive for a PVR. My concern was
also whether the symptoms indicated a problem with my desk top as I had a lot
of trouble when I first got it. I was interested to read your point that all
USB ports are not equal and some may be sort of piggybacked onto others. Is
this the case if you install an expander card/unit?

Hope I have made myself a little clearer and thank you for your patience.

Regards

Michael