Have USB2 but XP says USB1 when using Flash Drive

[Plato]

A buddy sent me this question and I have no clue as to the answer(s).


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lately I have been plugging in my 512M flash drive into USB ports on
boxes with XP and SP1 and SP2 installed only to be told that the port
is running on USB1 drivers and that one should use a HighSpeed USB2
port. I thought USB2 was installed by default on the XPSP1, these
boxes already had SP2 installed and still no USB2. IS there a
lightweight utility to check these USB ports?

 

[Sharon F]

A buddy sent me this question and I have no clue as to the answer(s).


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lately I have been plugging in my 512M flash drive into USB ports on
boxes with XP and SP1 and SP2 installed only to be told that the port
is running on USB1 drivers and that one should use a HighSpeed USB2
port. I thought USB2 was installed by default on the XPSP1, these
boxes already had SP2 installed and still no USB2. IS there a
lightweight utility to check these USB ports?

If the hardware - the actual USB ports - are USB 2, they will use the USB 2
drivers in XP and fully support USB 2 devices. Most USB 2 devices plugged
into a regular USB port will still work. Not at optimal speeds but the will
be usable.

A message will appear, notifying the user about the higher speed USB 2
device being plugged into the slower port. This is all normal behavior and
I believe that this is the message that your friend is seeing.

 

[Plato]

If the hardware - the actual USB ports - are USB 2, they will use the USB 2
drivers in XP and fully support USB 2 devices. Most USB 2 devices plugged
into a regular USB port will still work. Not at optimal speeds but the will
be usable.

A message will appear, notifying the user about the higher speed USB 2
device being plugged into the slower port. This is all normal behavior and
I believe that this is the message that your friend is seeing.

In other words, the pcs he's using only have USB1 hardware. Correct? Now
that I reread his question I assume they are older pcs and that's why he
was asking about a utility.

Thanks for writing back BTW.

 

[Plato]

Actually my buddy just said they were new pcs that have USB2 onboard.

 

[Kenny]

Look in Device Manager for enhanced USB controller. it's the "enhanced"
which tells you it's USB2. If not there and you know the m/b supports USB2
re-install chipset drivers. Also make sure you've got SP1 or SP2 installed.

 

[Kenny]

Also check USB2 is enabled in BIOS.

--

Kenny

Look in Device Manager for enhanced USB controller. it's the "enhanced"
which tells you it's USB2. If not there and you know the m/b supports USB2
re-install chipset drivers. Also make sure you've got SP1 or SP2 installed.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Lately I have been plugging in my 512M flash drive into USB ports on
boxes with XP and SP1 and SP2 installed only to be told that the port
is running on USB1 drivers and that one should use a HighSpeed USB2
port. I thought USB2 was installed by default on the XPSP1, these
boxes already had SP2 installed and still no USB2. IS there a
lightweight utility to check these USB ports?

USB 2.0 also requires USB 2.0 hardware controllers. Probably this
machine does not have them - they are fairly recent - hence need for at
least SP1 of XP - and while plug in cards have been around some time it
is comparatively recently that they have made their way onto
motherboards. So check motherboard specs

There was also a catch 22 in installing SP1 (and possibly SP2) by the
express Update method. If there were originally only 1.1 drivers, from
pre SP1, the process missed the need to install 2.0 drivers for what
seemed to be a 1.0 device

 

[Darrell S]

Have him send you the exact message he is receiving. Perhaps it is a USB 1
device plugged into a USB 2 port. It will only operate at USB 1 speed.
Also if you have a USB 1 Hub plugged into a USB 2 port it will operate only
at USB 1 speeds. Some computers came with USB 1 and have been upgraded with
a card to USB 2. But only those ports leading from the card will be USB 2.

 

[Art]

USB 2.0 also requires USB 2.0 hardware controllers. Probably this
machine does not have them - they are fairly recent - hence need for at
least SP1 of XP - and while plug in cards have been around some time it
is comparatively recently that they have made their way onto
motherboards. So check motherboard specs

There was also a catch 22 in installing SP1 (and possibly SP2) by the
express Update method. If there were originally only 1.1 drivers, from
pre SP1, the process missed the need to install 2.0 drivers for what
seemed to be a 1.0 device

Plato:
Presumably SP1 (and I guess, SP2) will automatically install the USB 2.0
drivers, but I've run into a number of situations where it just didn't do
so, at least where SP1 was concerned.

I'm not certain the following is relevant in your case, but give it a look.

Check in Device Manager to see if yellow question marks appears at the
"Other devices" section and next to the "Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Controller" listing that section. If they do, check the Properties | General
tab, which will probably indicate "The drivers for this device are not
installed. To reinstall the . drivers for this device, click Reinstall
Driver." Click the Reinstall Driver button and the Hardware Update Wizard
opens. Accept the default option, "Install the software automatically..."
and click Next. The Wizard will indicate that it has installed the software
for the "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller". Click Finish.

The USB 2.0 controller will now be listed in the "Universal Serial Bus
controllers" section of Device Manager and the OS should now support USB 2.0
capability.

Also, see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822603
It probably would be a good idea to install this update, even if there are
no suspend/hibernation problems affecting USB 2.0 devices. On the other
hand, if SP2 has been installed, this update may have been included in that
Service Pack.

Art

 

[Art]

Plato:
Presumably SP1 (and I guess, SP2) will automatically install the USB 2.0
drivers, but I've run into a number of situations where it just didn't do
so, at least where SP1 was concerned.

I'm not certain the following is relevant in your case, but give it a
look.

Check in Device Manager to see if yellow question marks appears at the
"Other devices" section and next to the "Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Controller" listing that section. If they do, check the Properties |
General tab, which will probably indicate "The drivers for this device are
not installed. To reinstall the . drivers for this device, click Reinstall
Driver." Click the Reinstall Driver button and the Hardware Update Wizard
opens. Accept the default option, "Install the software automatically..."
and click Next. The Wizard will indicate that it has installed the
software for the "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller". Click
Finish.

The USB 2.0 controller will now be listed in the "Universal Serial Bus
controllers" section of Device Manager and the OS should now support USB
2.0 capability.

Also, see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822603
It probably would be a good idea to install this update, even if there are
no suspend/hibernation problems affecting USB 2.0 devices. On the other
hand, if SP2 has been installed, this update may have been included in
that Service Pack.

Art

An addendum to my previous post. In re:reading the OP's original posting I
now find that I may have mistakenly assumed that his motherboard supported
USB 2.0 capability.. Obviously if it doesn't (and he has not installed a USB
PCI card) the mere addition of SP1/SP2 to the OS will not give him USB 2.0
support.
At

 

[Plato]

Thanks to you, Kenny, Art, and Darrell for all your help.