Underpowered USB Ports?

[Kel Varnsen]

I received my second mp3 player today and this is the second one that my media players have failed to recognize.

I thought the problem was with my player, but now I have done a little research and am wondering if my usb ports are underpowered.

I don't know much about this, so I was hoping someone here does. Is this a legitimate problem? If it is, how can I tell if that is what my problem is?

Thanks!

 

[Mike Olbinski]

DO you have USB 2.0? or the 1.0 version?

You need the later one for most things these days it seems...

 

[Chaz]

If you are plugging them directly into the computer they should be fine.

If you are using a USB hub you may need a powered one.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

They are 2.0, but they are on a laptop, which I've read may be part of the problem. Dell sent me some downloads that were supposed to fix the problem, but they didn't help.

I am plugging directly into the computer. I am reading that I may need to get a powered hub, but the directions on the portable media player say that I shouldn't use those.

Are there any "Settings" for the usb ports? Is there any way I can find out what mine are and what they need to be?

Ugh...this is a mess.

 

[Ryanwb]

They are 2.0, but they are on a laptop, which I've read may be part of the problem. Dell sent me some downloads that were supposed to fix the problem, but they didn't help.

I am plugging directly into the computer. I am reading that I may need to get a powered hub, but the directions on the portable media player say that I shouldn't use those.

Are there any "Settings" for the usb ports? Is there any way I can find out what mine are and what they need to be?

Ugh...this is a mess.

The best way to test it is to plug them into another computer's USB

 

[nathan]

Low voltage issues do occur with some electronics. Who makes your MP3 player?

 

[Ryanwb]

Low voltage issues do occur with some electronics. Who makes your MP3 player?

Emachines

 

[Kel Varnsen]

It's the new Creative Zen Vision M.

My computer is a Dell laptop.

I tried it on my computer at work, but they won't let me do it as a regular user. I need to be an administrator.

 

[Chaz]

They are 2.0, but they are on a laptop, which I've read may be part of the problem. Dell sent me some downloads that were supposed to fix the problem, but they didn't help.

I am plugging directly into the computer. I am reading that I may need to get a powered hub, but the directions on the portable media player say that I shouldn't use those.

Are there any "Settings" for the usb ports? Is there any way I can find out what mine are and what they need to be?

Ugh...this is a mess.

If you go to device manager (right click My Computer and select manage) Under the USB root hub properties it should list the power available and the power required. It should also tell you if a device is connected.
Max power any USB device should draw is 500mA.

Also look for errors in the Event log.

Does the computer install the device when you plug it in?

 

[CardFan67]

I had some USB problems with my laptop as well... I had to go and turn off power management because the lapop was trying to conserve energy... After that worked I just set up a profile for everything being left at full power while the laptop is on AC.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Thanks, guys. I can't wait to get home and try these suggestions.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

If you go to device manager (right click My Computer and select manage) Under the USB root hub properties it should list the power available and the power required. It should also tell you if a device is connected.
Max power any USB device should draw is 500mA.

Also look for errors in the Event log.

Does the computer install the device when you plug it in?

Well, the window says that there are two ports available even when the device is plugged in. What does that mean?

I also have four instances of "USB Root Hub" in my Device Manager. Is that how it is supposed to be?

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I had some USB problems with my laptop as well... I had to go and turn off power management because the lapop was trying to conserve energy... After that worked I just set up a profile for everything being left at full power while the laptop is on AC.

You turned it off completely? I don't think I have that option.

 

[nathan]

Have you installed the stuff off the creative cd?

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Have you installed the stuff off the creative cd?

Yes.

I've tried so many things to get this to work. The only thing left is to try a self-powered USB hub, but I have no idea if that will work or not.

 

[Chaz]

It may be the usb ports.

Instead of a USB hub you could try a different (add in) USB card.



You have several instances because your computer is equiped with multiple "root hubs". Usually there are two ports per hub.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

It may be the usb ports.

Instead of a USB hub you could try a different (add in) USB card.



You have several instances because your computer is equiped with multiple "root hubs". Usually there are two ports per hub.

Well, the powered usb hub doesn't fix the problem. I didn't really think it would since it connects to the same USB port that didn't recognize the device before.

How do you add in a USB card? Through the PCMCIA slot (or whatever it's called)?

 

[CardFan67]

How do you add in a USB card? Through the PCMCIA slot (or whatever it's called)?

That is a good idea, that might fix the problem...

http://www.techadvice.com/info/item.asp?cid=20&pid=991&iid=16640

and the turn off power management, I just changed it all to never, no standby and no hibernate on anything while on AC..

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Still working on the problem.

Latest idea is a setting revision somewhere, but I need to backup my settings first.

I have installed the backup function from the XP cd. If I were to backup everything on my computer, what/where should I back it up to? How much space does that require? Do I need to partition the hard drive or something like that?

 

[Chaz]

Still working on the problem.

Latest idea is a setting revision somewhere, but I need to backup my settings first.

I have installed the backup function from the XP cd. If I were to backup everything on my computer, what/where should I back it up to? How much space does that require? Do I need to partition the hard drive or something like that?

Easiest thing to backup to is an external hard drive.

But then those are USB.


If you get an external HDD get one that is at least as big as the hard drive you are backing up.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Easiest thing to backup to is an external hard drive.

But then those are USB.


If you get an external HDD get one that is at least as big as the hard drive you are backing up.

LOL. Just my luck, huh?

Good news - I finally got it to work! I had to run regedit. I had no idea there were so many places you could change USB settings. Yeesh.