USB Port Not Working

[LMO]

Aloha all. I bought a 4 Port USB Hub, but it is not working. It has a male
USB plug, to plug into the USB ports on my computer, and add 4 more. I
plugged it into the front USB port on my XP/SP3 system, but nothing is
recognized when I plug into the port. The Device Manager says it is an
Unknown Device under USB Controllers, and it says No Drivers Are Installed.
The Hub did not come with any drivers. Is there any way I can get this
recognized and working easily?
Thank you.

 

[Paul]

Aloha all. I bought a 4 Port USB Hub, but it is not working. It has a male
USB plug, to plug into the USB ports on my computer, and add 4 more. I
plugged it into the front USB port on my XP/SP3 system, but nothing is
recognized when I plug into the port. The Device Manager says it is an
Unknown Device under USB Controllers, and it says No Drivers Are Installed.
The Hub did not come with any drivers. Is there any way I can get this
recognized and working easily?
Thank you.

Plug it into a USB port on the back of the computer.

The way this works, is the electrical properties of USB
ports on the back of the computer, are superior to those
of the port on the front of the computer. The back port
can better handle ESD (because there is a bare metal contact
between the port housing and the chassis). And also, the
electrical connections from the Southbridge, to the USB
connector, are carried in the motherboard PCB. The
motherboard designer will have ensured the proper
impedance tracks were used to make the connection.

The front USB ports, sometimes use a small PCB that is glued
to the plastic fascia. There is no good ESD connection on
assemblies like that. Sometimes, the USB assembly is not
ready to carry USB2 signals, and things like your
"unknown device" are the result. The cabling to the
motherboard can also be poorly implemented (unshielded
for part of its length).

I'd try the connector on the back of the computer, before
concluding the new hub you bought is defective.

Using plug and play standards, the hub should have drivers
provided by your OS.

Paul

 

[LMO]

Thanks, Paul. Tried as you suggested, but still no joy. I contacted the
seller (EBay) and he fully refunded my $ without question, so obviously it's
a crap product, and he knows. I guess he hopes some people won't bother
asking for a refund.
Can you suggest a USB Hub that does work, so I can buy one without the
crapshoot?
Thanks again.

 

[LMO]

Many thanks again, Paul. Great idea. I know I should check things out before
I buy, but sometimes I just want to get it!