Installing Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI Host Card: D.I.D. (Damsel in Distr

[Nathan McNulty]

If the scanner works fine, it sounds like XP automatically recognized
and installed the card. There must be a different device connected that
is bringing up that Yellow !. Also, you don't really need to update the
BIOS unless the computer is not running properly, though it never really
hurts anything either. It doesn't matter if you update it or not, it
will probably still run the same way.

As for paying for the BIOS update, it should be free from your
(motherboard or computer) manufacturer's website. The ones that people
are charging for are modified BIOS files or replacement BIOS chips. I
wouldn't trust any of them.

 

[Guest]

I am in contact w/the vendor of the USB 2.0 card and they might help me, but
we'll see. I didn't notice when I purchased it that there was no brand name
on the card. It flashed by me at some point during installation, but too
quickly for me to see, and I didn't physically inspect the card before I put
it in. That is one problem. I just bought a firewire/USB 2.0 card that I
was going to install in my daughter's PC, but maybe I'll try it in mine and
see if the card and drivers I bought are just stinky. I bought the new one
from CompUSA and it's supposed to be delivered by today or tomorrow.

I was trying to update the BIOS because I kept reading on the forum that I
had to enable USB 2.0 on my BIOS in order to use those ports, but when I
pressed F2 at start up and looked at the BIOS, I did not see any place to
make such a choice. Hence the thought that I should update the BIOS. There
are two Sony BIOS upgrades that are online for my system, but only one
pertains to Windows XP and I already downloaded and installed that one. It
fixes only a minute problem, though.

Thank you again for the time you are putting in on this problem. It is most
appreciated.

 

[Guest]

There are two BIOS upgrades for my system there, but only one is for XP and I
already downloaded that one. I pressed F2 during reboot and looked at my
BIOS but did not see anything there to give me an option for USB 2.0
enabling. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate the efforts.

 

[Guest]

P.S. AWARD has merged with PHOENIX and their website directed me to a site
that charged for updating the BIOS. That's one thing that prompted my
question. Thanks again.

 

[Nathan McNulty]

Just a quick note, you do NOT have to enable USB 2.0 in the BIOS as your
motherboard does not have a USB 2.0 Controller _Built in_ to the
motherboard. PCI Expansion cards are controlled by the Operating System
which in this case is Windows XP. All that XP needs to operate a USB
2.0 PCI Card is at least Service Pack 1 and the proper drivers.
Everything else should be taken care of automatically

 

[WayneM]

PNW girl,

If you go into Device Manager and look under USB Controllers for the USB 2.0
and/or Enhanced entry, it will indicate who made the chipset but not who
made the card. Maybe you can go to the chipset vendor to see if they can be
any help.

In my case it is an ALI chip set on the PCI card, but the front hub I
installed has a NEC chipset.

Wayne

 

[Guest]

Oops forgot to add that as per SB instructions they recommend disabling the
on board soundcard before SB install begins. This is done in BIOS setup,
accessed by pressing DEL during post (depending upon the mainboard brand).
Consult your mainboard / Sony manual and or Sony website.

Also, your original USB ports can still be used for devices requiring only
USB 1.1 speed.

r.

 

[yabbadoo]

Concerning new "Soundcard" installation - your advice is certainly correct
for some, not for all (unless you know more than I've been able to find).
Just yesterday I added a new Creative Audigy Live! sound card, replacing the
on-board CMI8738/C3DX sound chip on my Asus A7V266-E m/b - having RTFM
carefully, it too said "disable sound chip - read motherboard manual"
(which I don't have).
(Reason for upgrade - CMI8738 driver did not give enhanced mic. support - I
need mic audio file in PPT presentation.)

I went to BIOS - there's absolutely NOTHING in the BIOS that I can find (and
I tried every screen) to disable sound chip.
My solution - in XP Device Manager, disabled the CMI8738 entry "in this
configuration", installed the Audigy software and card, it seems to work.
(Isn't this just as effective as pfaffing around in BIOS? Most users have
only one configuration...an added thought)

On the other hand, your knowledge far outweighs mine -
I've only ever done this twice, and first time it was possible in BIOS. So,
if you can point me to the BIOS setting in my m/b which needs disabling,
I'll be grateful. It certainly isn't obvious - the only remotely relevant
entry I found was something relating to AC97, which, when disabled, did
nothing to affect the sound chip, so re-enabled it.
Appreciate your thoughts ?
Sincerely, Len


----- Original Message -----
From: "edward" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: Installing Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI Host Card: D.I.D. (Damsel in D

 

[namniar]

I tried to download the manual for your board but the Asus website is busy
(so it says). Try this link from a Google search of Asus A7V266-E.

http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7v266-e/overview.htm

Download manual is listed on the left side.

Also, maybe someone with your motherboard can post and let you know how/if
the onboard sound can be disabled in BIOS.

On my MSI board with AMIBIOS disabling the onboard sound is done in
"Integrated Peripherals" - set onboard AC'97 to disable.

r.

 

[yabbadoo]

Thanks for coming back. I've been all over the world (literally) found
several sites that claim to have file A7V266E-100.pdf (the English manual)
but not one of them will download. Tried Google, Cnet, Znet - you name it.

This link somehow appeared - just came up when I was in middle of something
else

http://fbe001.etech.fh-hamburg.de/pub/pub/asus/mb/socka/kt266a/a7v266-e/a7v266e-100.pdf

and I was able to access (but not download) via Adobe Acrobat.

Seems that the AC97 thingy is indeed the sound deactivator, though why it
didn't deactivate when I disabled it I cannot explain.

Interesting fact - the manual is about 140 pages, most of it above my head.
However, buying a ready-to-go system seems to deny the user of not only the
manual, but also the motherboard set-up disk and various utilities which
seem to be useful (if I had them).
Another interesting fact - this manual makes no reference to XP (W2000/NT,
yes). My PC is 3 years old (just about) but apparently this motherboard is
much older

In desperation, also tried to get the pdf file by name from 2 different
file-share progs - in theory, that's accessing well over 2mm pc's. No joy.

You didn't comment on the effectiveness or otherwise of the "workaround" of
disabling the CMI8738 sound chipset in Device Manager - is this a valid
solution or am I storing up trouble for later?

Appreciate your help and comments - Len (and if you DO get the ruddy manual,
please tell me how and where from).

 

[yabbadoo]

CORRECTION - it DID download - I now have the manual!
Len

 

[namniar]

You didn't comment on the effectiveness or otherwise of the "workaround"
Len, I doubt it will cause you any problems.

Glad you finally got the manual. After disabling the on board audio in BIOS
don't forget to select "Save and Exit" and answer Yes to the prompt. This
should prevent any CPU/WinXP resources (I think) from being allocated to a
device you do not intend to use.

good luck,

r.