usb flash drive locks up system??

[L.S.]

Not sure if this is correct group. If not, please redirect.

Winxp fully updated.

Have three different thumb drives and all lock up system when I insert into
front usb slots. All 3 work on my other system with no problem running xp.
Have searched Google and find several references but not sure if this is a
system problem or xp.
The system completely locks up and I have to 'reset'.
IF I turn system off insert drive and power up it works fine.
The only thing I have plugged into each system(USB) is a wireless mouse.

As stated above, I found several references but not sure if it's Winxp
problem or not!
Not sure what, if any, settings I can check/change.

Thanks,

L.

 

[Paul]

Not sure if this is correct group. If not, please redirect.

Winxp fully updated.

Have three different thumb drives and all lock up system when I insert into
front usb slots. All 3 work on my other system with no problem running xp.
Have searched Google and find several references but not sure if this is a
system problem or xp.
The system completely locks up and I have to 'reset'.
IF I turn system off insert drive and power up it works fine.
The only thing I have plugged into each system(USB) is a wireless mouse.

As stated above, I found several references but not sure if it's Winxp
problem or not!
Not sure what, if any, settings I can check/change.

Thanks,

L.

What is the make and model number of the computer ? If you built
the computer yourself, what is the make and model of motherboard ?
Is the computer case made by Antec ?

Have you been installing custom USB drivers or applying hot fix
USB patches to your system ? Or are you using the USB drivers
that accompany the OS installation ?

Paul

 

[L.S.]

************
See below each ??
************

What is the make and model number of the computer ? If you built
the computer yourself, what is the make and model of motherboard ?
Is the computer case made by Antec ?

**************
Had it built.
It's a Biostar Mobo M7NCG 400 with a AMD Sep. 2800+.
Have 2 USB ports on back card and 2x on front of case.
Not sure of case name?
***************

Have you been installing custom USB drivers or applying hot fix
USB patches to your system ? Or are you using the USB drivers
that accompany the OS installation ?

*************
The only USB driver I loaded was for an HP 5440 printer which isn't hookup.
Went back to Deskjet 722c. I have not uninstalled printer.
No hot fix patches that I know of. Except for the printer I just let winXP
run it.
The only updates I do is from MS.
*************

 

[L.S.]

Update...

I just tried plugging a Kingston 128mb card in the back slot and it worked
fine.
Not the back built-in USB slot but the added card.

 

[L.S.]

Not to drive you nuts but trying to give info.
Update2

I unplugged my wieless mouse from back and plugged it in front USB port and
it worked ok. As soon as I plugged in flash drive(front) it locked up.

 

[Paul]

************
See below each ??
************



**************
Had it built.
It's a Biostar Mobo M7NCG 400 with a AMD Sep. 2800+.
Have 2 USB ports on back card and 2x on front of case.
Not sure of case name?
***************

*************
The only USB driver I loaded was for an HP 5440 printer which isn't hookup.
Went back to Deskjet 722c. I have not uninstalled printer.
No hot fix patches that I know of. Except for the printer I just let winXP
run it.
The only updates I do is from MS.
*************

I have an Nforce2 motherboard, and I can't say I ever had any problems
with USB interfaces.

There is a motherboard manual here. JUSBV1 and JUSBV2 are 1x3 pin headers
with a jumper plug on each. The header controls how the USB ports are powered.
JUSBV1 controls the power choice for the rear (I/O area) two USB jacks. JUSBV2
is for the 2x5 USB headers, which would normally be cabled to a front panel USB
if one was present. I've seen a couple different pictures of your motherboard,
one with USB 2x5 headers installed, and another where there are no USB 2x5
headers installed. So I can't be sure that is what is wired to your front
panel. You say you have a USB card, so some of those have one or
two interfaces suitable for connecting to front panel USB as well.

http://www.biostar-usa.com/upload/Manual/NCG0624C_B.exe (self-extracting RAR)

There are two choices for JUSBV1/JUSBV2. They can be set to +5V or
+5VSB. The latter choice would be useful for a USB keyboard, where
you wanted the "wake up" function to work from the keyboard. If
you're not waking the computer from a particular USB interface,
then the +5V choice might be better for operation. On my current
computer, all the USB ports run from +5V. +5V is a stronger power
supply rail.

Your Biostar board does appear to have taken precautions for the USB
interfaces (like my Nforce2 board did). There is an electrolytic cap
next to the USB ports, to filter the power fed to the USB interface.
That is supposed to reduce the impact on system power, when a USB
device is plugged in. So it probably isn't a problem like that.
I'm suggesting +5V as a power source, more as a test case, than
as a sure-fire cure.

I doubt it is the USB Mass Storage class driver that is screwing up.
What are the odds of that happening ? Especially when the rear port
works OK with your Kingston 128MB.

Do you see anything in Event Viewer, in terms of any error message
logged during the jam-up ? Have you ever got a blue screen from
it, with an error number or message ?

Paul

 

[L.S.]

I have an Nforce2 motherboard, and I can't say I ever had any problems
with USB interfaces.

There is a motherboard manual here. JUSBV1 and JUSBV2 are 1x3 pin headers
with a jumper plug on each. The header controls how the USB ports are
powered.
JUSBV1 controls the power choice for the rear (I/O area) two USB jacks.
JUSBV2
is for the 2x5 USB headers, which would normally be cabled to a front
panel USB
if one was present. I've seen a couple different pictures of your
motherboard,
one with USB 2x5 headers installed, and another where there are no USB 2x5
headers installed. So I can't be sure that is what is wired to your front
panel. You say you have a USB card, so some of those have one or
two interfaces suitable for connecting to front panel USB as well.

http://www.biostar-usa.com/upload/Manual/NCG0624C_B.exe (self-extracting
RAR)

There are two choices for JUSBV1/JUSBV2. They can be set to +5V or
+5VSB. The latter choice would be useful for a USB keyboard, where
you wanted the "wake up" function to work from the keyboard. If
you're not waking the computer from a particular USB interface,
then the +5V choice might be better for operation. On my current
computer, all the USB ports run from +5V. +5V is a stronger power
supply rail.

Your Biostar board does appear to have taken precautions for the USB
interfaces (like my Nforce2 board did). There is an electrolytic cap
next to the USB ports, to filter the power fed to the USB interface.
That is supposed to reduce the impact on system power, when a USB
device is plugged in. So it probably isn't a problem like that.
I'm suggesting +5V as a power source, more as a test case, than
as a sure-fire cure.

I doubt it is the USB Mass Storage class driver that is screwing up.
What are the odds of that happening ? Especially when the rear port
works OK with your Kingston 128MB.

Do you see anything in Event Viewer, in terms of any error message
logged during the jam-up ? Have you ever got a blue screen from
it, with an error number or message ?

**************
As soon as I insert the drive into a front plug everything locks. No blue
screen, can't Ctrl,Alt, Delete nothing.... even if I pull it out. I'm
forced to reset.
I did find one reference in my searching that stated to turn off 'usb device
legacy support' in bios but not sure about this.
**************

 

[Paul]

**************
As soon as I insert the drive into a front plug everything locks. No blue
screen, can't Ctrl,Alt, Delete nothing.... even if I pull it out. I'm
forced to reset.
I did find one reference in my searching that stated to turn off 'usb device
legacy support' in bios but not sure about this.
**************

This is the description in my motherboard manual, for the computer
I'm typing this on.

"Legacy USB Support

Use this item to enable or disable the support to emulate legacy I/O
devices such as mouse, keyboard,... etc. Or you may select [Auto] so
that the system will start to auto-detect; if there is no USB device
connected, “Auto” option will disable the legacy USB support."

There is another description here.

USB Legacy Support
http://www.techarp.com/showFreeBOG.aspx?lang=0&bogno=342

The one thing that stands out in your description so far,
is that the back port works, and the front one doesn't.
You'd think the USB Legacy setting would apply equally to
all ports, so if some port works, then that probably isn't
the problem. (The USB Legacy setting only applies to the
motherboard USB ports. If you're using a PCI USB card
as well, the legacy setting doesn't apply to it. As well,
the BIOS would not be using the USB PCI card during system
startup. I don't think you can plug a USB keyboard into
a USB PCI card, and make BIOS setup screen changes with it.)

Are you actually using a PCI USB card ? If so, please
clarify which port is working in your tests. If the Kingston
128MB flash works when plugged into a PCI USB, then that is
different silicon than if you're using ports wired to your
Southbridge. The motherboard has a two jack stack on the
back, in the I/O plate area. The 2x5 motherboards headers
(if present), could be wired to a front panel connector.
If you actually have a PCI USB card, they can have
rear ports (in the PCI area), or on some of them, there
is a connector intended for front panel wiring.

Paul

 

[L.S.]

Found it after running test.
Dumb me. I have a USB scanner plugged into pci usb card and that was causing
conflict.
I pulled tower away from wall and then noticed scanner was plugged into
card. My last scanner was not a usb so wasn't thinking and it was plugged in
right below where my Lan card is so didn't notice cable.
Once I unplugged scanner, inserted drive in front, it worked fine.
Have tested all 3 drives and they all work.

Not sure why this is working because all I've done is replug scanner into
the other port on the pci card, plugged drive's' in front slot and they all
work fine.
Why would plugging scanner into other slot on card make a difference?

If you want to beat me about the head and shoulders, go ahead.

**************
As soon as I insert the drive into a front plug everything locks. No blue
screen, can't Ctrl,Alt, Delete nothing.... even if I pull it out. I'm
forced to reset.
I did find one reference in my searching that stated to turn off 'usb
device legacy support' in bios but not sure about this.
**************

This is the description in my motherboard manual, for the computer
I'm typing this on.

"Legacy USB Support

Use this item to enable or disable the support to emulate legacy I/O
devices such as mouse, keyboard,... etc. Or you may select [Auto] so
that the system will start to auto-detect; if there is no USB device
connected, “Auto” option will disable the legacy USB support."

There is another description here.

USB Legacy Support
http://www.techarp.com/showFreeBOG.aspx?lang=0&bogno=342

The one thing that stands out in your description so far,
is that the back port works, and the front one doesn't.
You'd think the USB Legacy setting would apply equally to
all ports, so if some port works, then that probably isn't
the problem. (The USB Legacy setting only applies to the
motherboard USB ports. If you're using a PCI USB card
as well, the legacy setting doesn't apply to it. As well,
the BIOS would not be using the USB PCI card during system
startup. I don't think you can plug a USB keyboard into
a USB PCI card, and make BIOS setup screen changes with it.)

Are you actually using a PCI USB card ? If so, please
clarify which port is working in your tests. If the Kingston
128MB flash works when plugged into a PCI USB, then that is
different silicon than if you're using ports wired to your
Southbridge. The motherboard has a two jack stack on the
back, in the I/O plate area. The 2x5 motherboards headers
(if present), could be wired to a front panel connector.
If you actually have a PCI USB card, they can have
rear ports (in the PCI area), or on some of them, there
is a connector intended for front panel wiring.

Paul

 

[Paul]

Found it after running test.
Dumb me. I have a USB scanner plugged into pci usb card and that was causing
conflict.
I pulled tower away from wall and then noticed scanner was plugged into
card. My last scanner was not a usb so wasn't thinking and it was plugged in
right below where my Lan card is so didn't notice cable.
Once I unplugged scanner, inserted drive in front, it worked fine.
Have tested all 3 drives and they all work.

Not sure why this is working because all I've done is replug scanner into
the other port on the pci card, plugged drive's' in front slot and they all
work fine.
Why would plugging scanner into other slot on card make a difference?

If you want to beat me about the head and shoulders, go ahead.

Maybe there is a problem with that particular port on the
PCI USB card.

Cards with NEC brand chips, have been known to blow out ports
on a regular basis. But I'm not aware of any side effects from
that, other than the port no longer works on the USB PCI card.

There is one other device with known issues. That is the Intel
ICH5 Southbridge chip. The ports on that can blow, and a lot of
the time it seems to be ESD (static discharge) related. While it
is claimed ICH4 has a problem like that too, I've never run into
anyone having a problem with ICH4. But I've probably conversed
with at least 20 people that have lost motherboards due to ICH5.
And I also happen to own a board with ICH5, and I'm extra careful
to not use the USB ports on it

This is what a failed ICH5 looks like. A little burn mark, over
where the chip gets power for the USB ports. Since the chip
typically does not have a heatsink on top of it, it allows
the unlucky user to look at it.

http://onfinite.com/libraries/179057/2ea.jpg

Paul

 

[L.S.]

Wanted to thank you for your help.

Even though it was 'my bad' you gave me things to look at and remember IF
this happens again.
Seems usb conflicts are the first thing to check and if I'd found/remembered
the scanner running usb, this problem would have been fixed immediately.
Hopefully others will read this and look for such problems before offering
messing with Reg. and bios settings.

Have a great day.