USB comms problem

[Pete L]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about
four years old now and is coming up with various problems (like an old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out and I
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I also have
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and it gives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found -
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that is not
working properly.

So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what I might
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I have got to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would be far
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem in this
laptop.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about

four years old now and is coming up with various problems (like an old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out and I
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I also have
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and it gives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found -
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that is not
working properly.

So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what I might
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I have got to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would be far
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem in this
laptop.

See if installing the Intel Chipset Software helps any:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884

Otherwise, see if there's a BIOS update for your model. Let me know
how it goes.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Pete L]

See if installing the Intel Chipset Software helps any:http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884

Otherwise, see if there's a BIOS update for your model. Let me know
how it goes.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........ I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?

 

[Elmo]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about
four years old now and is coming up with various problems (like an old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out and I
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I also have
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and it gives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found -
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that is not
working properly.

So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what I might
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I have got to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would be far
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem in this
laptop.

Open Device Manager, disable the power saving feature under the
properties of each "USB Root Hub" entry.

 

[Pete L]

Open Device Manager, disable the power saving feature under the
properties of each "USB Root Hub" entry.

Nope - all were ticked and I have now disabled but no change.....

 

[Elmo]

Nope - all were ticked and I have now disabled but no change.

If all is well after a reboot, turning off power saving, followed by a
reboot, should prevent them from losing connection to the devices during
standby, or sleep mode.

Perhaps the ports are bad.. Here are some other things to try:

USB Help sites:
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

Or here
http://www.everythingusb.com/aboutus/

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........ I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?

No, of course not. And if the hardware worked fine before, it should
always going forward. The only other thing I can think of is the USB
port is somehow damaged. Did you try all other ports? What driver
version is installed and is there a newer one? What make and model of
wireless hardware adapter?

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........ I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?

Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001


This information comes from:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Pete L]

Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........  I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?

Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001

This information comes from:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Just a quick reply - I figured that if there is a USB port that is
damaged then (I have 3 on th elaptop) try the one that has the working
mouse in. Still the same - PC does not recognise my weather station
USB plug in. I am in SP3. I'll have a try at your suggestion of
disabling USB Selective Suspend......

 

[Pete L]

Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001

This information comes from:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Just a quick reply - I figured that if there is a USB port that is
damaged then (I have 3 on th elaptop) try the one that has the working
mouse in. Still the same - PC does not recognise my weather station
USB plug in. I am in SP3. I'll have a try at your suggestion of
disabling USB Selective Suspend......

Disable Selective Suspend - found it ok and it is already set to 1
(Suspended)?

 

[Pete L]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about
four years old now and is coming up with various problems (like an old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out andI
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I alsohave
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and it gives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found -
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that isnot
working properly.
So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what I might
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I have got to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would be far
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem in this
laptop.
See if installing the Intel Chipset Software helps any:http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884
Otherwise, see if there's a BIOS update for your model. Let me know
how it goes.
- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]
Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........  I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?
Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001
This information comes from:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274
- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Just a quick reply - I figured that if there is a USB port that is
damaged then (I have 3 on th elaptop) try the one that has the working
mouse in. Still the same - PC does not recognise my weather station
USB plug in. I am in SP3. I'll have a try at your suggestion of
disabling USB Selective Suspend......

Disable Selective Suspend - found it ok and it is already set to 1
(Suspended)?

Just got on to the company who supply my wetaher station. They talked
me through changing the data input from USB to serial. It worked fine
then. So, although I am happy that my weather machine is working ok on
my laptop now I'd still like to know why and if there is any reason it
suddenly refused to work using USB. Also is this a sign that perhaps
my laptop is on it's way out?

 

[Guest]

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about
four years old now and is coming up with various problems (likean old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out and I
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I also have
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and itgives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found-
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that is not
working properly.
So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what Imight
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I havegot to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would befar
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem inthis
laptop.
See if installing the Intel Chipset Software helps any:http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884
Otherwise, see if there's a BIOS update for your model. Let me know
how it goes.
- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]
Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........  I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?
Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001
This information comes from:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274
- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]
Just a quick reply - I figured that if there is a USB port that is
damaged then (I have 3 on th elaptop) try the one that has the working
mouse in. Still the same - PC does not recognise my weather station
USB plug in. I am in SP3. I'll have a try at your suggestion of
disabling USB Selective Suspend......

Disable Selective Suspend - found it ok and it is already set to 1
(Suspended)?

Just got on to the company who supply my wetaher station. They talked
me through changing the data input from USB to serial. It worked fine
then. So, although I am happy that my weather machine is working ok on
my laptop now I'd still like to know why and if there is any reason it
suddenly refused to work using USB. Also is this a sign that perhaps
my laptop is on it's way out?

Laptops, even Sony Vaio models are now so cheap that I would go ahead
and buy a new one before your old Vaio does actually die.
Better to spend the couple hundred bucks, if you're lucky, to make any
repairs on your old one and use the money towards the purchase of a
new one. I bought a $600 Vaio with 64 bit Windows Home Premium and for
the money, you get a more capable laptop so the money is well spent.
Make your old one into a hobby project.
I love my cheap Vaio but for reasons irrelevant, to this discussion it
was an emergency purchase so I still had access to my on line
business. I had already ordered a Dell Studio 17 with 64 bit Windows
Home Premium but some options I added meant I would have been without
a computer for 3 weeks; about as long as it takes my local computer
repair shop to fix anything. I opted for a 500GB HD instead of the
320GB drive, 4 GB RAM and a back lit keyboard which is really nice
when working in the dark.
I was disconcerted that Sony Vaio laptops do not come with any
recovery discs so you have to create your own either using about 6
high capacity CD's or on an external HD which is what I did. I have a
terabyte external HD so it easily handles everything on my 3 laptops.
I was able to fix my old Dell Inspiron E1505 and max the RAM to 2GB
for about $200. All three are now on a home WLAN and the odds are
virtually nil that I will ever be without at least one working
machine. I use a Linksys WRT610N wireless router which has 3 antennae
and dual channels for "g" and "n" protocols.
This router has a USB port which I used to connect my External HD so I
can back up any of the 3 laptops wirelessly. I can access any other
computer on the network from any other. I have a Brother AIO wireless
printer which any computer on the network can use.
I still like Windows XP but it is getting long in the tooth and it is
about time to begin getting used to the newer OS. Win 7 is actually
pretty nice and I feel fortunate the 4+ year old XP Dell Inspiron
lasted long enough to have allowed me dodge the Vista "bullet." It is
amazing how the Inspiron which cost me closer to $800 only included 80
GB HD, 1 GB RAM(Now upgraded to 2 GB) and the $600 Vaio came with a
320 GB HD and 3 GB RAM. Bless "Moore's Law/"

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)]

On 25 May, 22:52, "Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]" <.@.> wrote:

I have a Sony Vaio laptop VGN-FE38gp running WinXP Pro. It's about
four years old now and is coming up with various problems (like an old
car). From time to time the light on the WLAN keeps going out and I
lose the Internet on wireless. The cure is a reboot and all is well.
Ok, so perhaps a loose connection in the wireless adaptor. I also have
a little weather station running. The module picks up the latest info
by wireless and it is then connected to my laptop by USB and it gives
a display and I am able to download historic data. After working fine
for six months it has suddenly decided to say 'device not found -
please plug in device'. I have deleted and reloaded the driver but it
still doesn't recognise my weather station. I have tried the station
on my wifes' laptop and it works fine. So, it's my laptop that is not
working properly.

So, there is something wrong. I have checked everything and nothing in
device manager shows anything wrong. Can anybody suggest what I might
try next to find out what is wrong? Is there any software that might
tell me? Is it worth taking my laptop to a repair place? I have got to
the point now of thinking about getting a new PC but I would be far
happier to know exactly what is wrong and to fix the problem in this
laptop.

See if installing the Intel Chipset Software helps any:http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884

Otherwise, see if there's a BIOS update for your model. Let me know
how it goes.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Thanks - I have tried the download of Intel Chipset Software - no
effect unfortunately........  I'll just have a look at a BIOS update.
What I do not understand is even if my drivers etc are out of date,if
something worked happily before and there is no change why should it
suddenly fail. Software doesn't go 'off' with age?

Try disabling USB Selective Suspend. Save the below info to a .reg
file and import it into your registry. BY the way, you are on SP3,
right?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usb]
"DisableSelectiveSuspend"=dword:00000001

This information comes from:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902274

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

Just a quick reply - I figured that if there is a USB port that is
damaged then (I have 3 on th elaptop) try the one that has the working
mouse in. Still the same - PC does not recognise my weather station
USB plug in. I am in SP3. I'll have a try at your suggestion of
disabling USB Selective Suspend......

Disable Selective Suspend - found it ok and it is already set to 1
(Suspended)?

Just got on to the company who supply my wetaher station. They talked
me through changing the data input from USB to serial. It worked fine
then. So, although I am happy that my weather machine is working ok on
my laptop now I'd still like to know why and if there is any reason it
suddenly refused to work using USB. Also is this a sign that perhaps
my laptop is on it's way out?

Not likely the laptop. Any way to get warranty service on the device?