USB HUB Problem

[Guest]

I recently bought a hub from IBC Computers. I guess the brand is Powerdata,

or something like that. Anyways, the hub is USB 2.0 and backwards compatible
(or so the back oof the box says), but when I plug it all in and everything,
and plug my printer into it, it wont print. But if i plug the printer
directly to the computer, it prints beautifully. That tells me that the
problem lies in the hub. all the green LED's are on in the hub, so there's
power to each port. The thing is, my computer isnt exactly brand new (maybe 4
years now). It has a USB 1.1 port in it. So when I plug anything into the USB
Hub, a bubble comes up on my screen (like the Add New Hardware one) and it
says "This device could be faster" and it goes on about installing a USB 2.0
drive. Well, if this Hub is backwards compatible, how come it's not working
on my computer? I didnt get a CD with it either so.... What do I do?

I posted this message yesterday but it was late at night so i didnt get many
replies. So far, I have figured out that the hub is giving power to the
ememory card reader I plugged in, but as far as I can tell, it is not letting
the products that get plugged in, to communicate with the computer. I tried
plugging my camera into it, and normally when i turn it on, the computer says
"New Hardawre Detected" or something like that, but not when it's plugged
into the hub.. so that tells me that there isnt communication. Someone told
me yesterday to get the drivers from the CD, but like I said, i dont have a
CD. So what do I do now?

 

[R. McCarty]

First, you need to check Device Manager and make sure the Hub
itself is properly enumerated. Quickest access to DevMgr is just
to call up the msc. Click Start, Run (type) Devmgmt.Msc [Enter]

Click the text option View and tic/check "Show Hidden Devices"
Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category. Ensure that
no devices are shown with either a Red or Yellow flag. Next look
for Phantoms - devices shown in a lighter shade. These are devices
that XP knows about, but either aren't currently connected or no
longer present (Powered Off). Phantoms can be uninstalled and
should be re-enumerated the next time they are connected and on.

Collapse USB category and check that Device Manager does not
have a category called "Other Devices". This is where XP places
devices it has detected, but unable to load a driver.

Once you've cleared the Phantoms and made sure the Hub is
properly detected, re-try your printer USB plug into that Hub.
You shouldn't need any 3rd-party/custom drivers, as USB hubs
are generic and use native drivers.

 

[Richard Urban [MVP]]

Windows XP, the original CD, was introduced well before USB 2.0 was released
for general consumption. It therefore does not support USB 2.0.

You need Windows XP SP1 or SP2 (preferable) to enable USB 2.0. Do you have
either of these?

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"

 

[Guest]

Have you went to the mfg web site and looked for drivers ? Have you tried the
hub in another computer to see if it works ?
Foxhole

 

[Guest]

R. McCary, I tried checked everything you said, and all was fine.... Should I
mention again that, then i unplug the hub itself, then plug it in again to
the computer, a message pops up saying "This device could be faster" or
something along those lines about USB 2.0.... That means that the computer is
sensing the USB Hub itself, but nothing plugged into the HUB.... what do you
mean by mfg website? Do you mean the manufacturers website? if so, I checked
it and it had nothing.... but if by mfg, you mean something else, please
elaborate for me.

 

[Anna]

First, you need to check Device Manager and make sure the Hub
itself is properly enumerated. Quickest access to DevMgr is just
to call up the msc. Click Start, Run (type) Devmgmt.Msc [Enter]

Click the text option View and tic/check "Show Hidden Devices"
Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category. Ensure that
no devices are shown with either a Red or Yellow flag. Next look
for Phantoms - devices shown in a lighter shade. These are devices
that XP knows about, but either aren't currently connected or no
longer present (Powered Off). Phantoms can be uninstalled and
should be re-enumerated the next time they are connected and on.

Collapse USB category and check that Device Manager does not
have a category called "Other Devices". This is where XP places
devices it has detected, but unable to load a driver.

Once you've cleared the Phantoms and made sure the Hub is
properly detected, re-try your printer USB plug into that Hub.
You shouldn't need any 3rd-party/custom drivers, as USB hubs
are generic and use native drivers.

R. McCary, I tried checked everything you said, and all was fine....
Should I
mention again that, then i unplug the hub itself, then plug it in again to
the computer, a message pops up saying "This device could be faster" or
something along those lines about USB 2.0.... That means that the computer
is
sensing the USB Hub itself, but nothing plugged into the HUB.... what do
you
mean by mfg website? Do you mean the manufacturers website? if so, I
checked
it and it had nothing.... but if by mfg, you mean something else, please
elaborate for me.

thunderstruck_302:
The USB hub you purchased is a USB 2.0 compliant device. That, of course,
means that when you connect that hub to your computer and you plug in a
device (jump drive, memory card reader, USB printer, etc.) that is *also* a
USB 2.0 device, then you have USB 2.0 capability. But *only* if your
computer supports USB 2.0. The fact that the hub is USB 2.0 doesn't in
itself mean that you will get USB 2.0 higher speeds out of your USB 2.0
devices. If your computer supports only USB 1 (1.1) speeds (as the older
computers do), then your USB 2.0 devices will run at the lower USB 1 (1.1)
speeds. I assume that's the case in your situation. While the hub is
designed for USB 2.0 it senses that your computer supports only USB 1 (1.1)
and reports this back to you. If this is the case, there are ways to
"upgrade" your computer to USB 2.0.

Now the other problem you mentioned is that when your USB printer and other
USB devices are plugged into your USB hub, the system doesn't recognize the
existence of these devices. Unfortunately we've come across this problem
time & time again, particularly with USB printers. There's no problem when
they're *directly* connected to the computer's USB port, but they just don't
function when connected through the USB hub. Many of the printer
manufacturers specifically state in their installation guides *not* to
connect their printers through USB hubs. I know you've mentioned that the
same problem exists when you plug in your memory card reader through the hub
so it is possible there is a defect in the hub itself. Is it still under
warranty so that you can return it?

Anyway, follow the suggestions by the others who've responded to your query,
especially mind the suggestion from Richard Urban to install SP2 on your
machine. That could be important.
Anna