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Name: Sebastian42
I have tried to add a USB2.0 card to my 1GHz PC running WinXP, but have had very inconsistent results for its functioning. It has successfully copied some files quickly, but mostly the response was slow and ineffective.
It has 4 external USB sockets and one on the card itself (inside the PC).
I have tried more than 1 card, and in various PCI slots, but the only consistency is a failure to copy because of I/O faults, as the dialog box says.
If I use the USB1.1 system, it works faultlessly.
Is there an alternative explanation to the batch of cards being faulty ?Basty
sounds like the motherboard chipset does not support 2.0
or, has exclusive 2.o drivers on the motherboard disk supplied.
service pack 2 will help if you already have not installed.
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There are many variants of the PCI standards. A card or series of cards built to a later standard may not work in a PCI slot built to an earlier standard. YOu should be able to track this down from the MBoard specs and the PCI cards you have been trying. This is just a possibility.
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Do you have XP SP1 or SP2 installed ? Those service packs contain all necessary drivers for USB 2 functionality.
You do not need USB 2 capable motherboard. Just a free PCI slot.
Your problem might arise due to the card's not having proper drivers for XP. Check the card's manual for Windows XP compatibility.
Regards
SuatCINI
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Good point about the need for at least SP1 in order to use USB 2.0. This applies to the OS, not the hardware.
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See if there is a bios update that addresses that. Around that time it was common to need a bios update.
As usual don't just update for no good reason.
I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.
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I am no longer getting notifications of replies, so did not know about the responses posted.
I have done much experimentation since my post, and am now in a better position to inform.Response 1 - Mountain
There seems to be no problems if I try to copy individual files to or from a Flash Drive (Pen Drive, Memory Stick ....), so I deduce that the system CAN handle USB2.0 SP2 was installed.Response 2 - OtheHill
PCI compatibility - I understand intellectually, but do NOT know the nuts and bolts of this.
I will look at the Wikipedia reference in case it gives enlightenment.Response 3 - Suatcini
SP2 is installed; there is a clear change (increase in functions) in Device Drivers from what displays with just USB1.1 and after USB2.0 is fitted - NO 'problematicals' indicated with '!'. The card had no instructions and its CD contains just folders, named for VIA, Ricoh, NEC, ALI, PCI&PCMCIA etcResponse 4 - OtheHill
SP2 is installedResponse 5 - Jefro
"See if there is a bios update that addresses that" - that sounds promising, but is totally new territory for me. Is guidance available for this ?Thanks so much 'guys'
Basty
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I do not understand from your post if you still have the problem with the PCI-USB card after you installed SP2.
If you still have a problem using the PCI-USB card, that might only indicate that all the cards you tested turn out to be either defective or of poor quality ( I assume you insert the card all the way down and fix it to the case with a screw ). It is also possible that you damage the cards during physical installation into a PCI slot by, say, careless handling and bodily electrostatic discharge. Human body generates 300 volts of electricity and this is more than enough voltage to damage many electronic components.
Hope the above helps.
Regards
SuatCINI
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If you have transferred files to an from a flash drive connected to the PCI card then there is nothing wrong with the installation. You are lean on system memory. That could be an issue when transferring large or multiple files.
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Is your flash drive USB2 compliant ? Did you test it on a friend's PC ?
Some flash drives labeled USB2 act worse than USB1 flash drives ?
Regards
SuatCINI
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Still no email alerts !
suatcini
SP2 was installed years ago. Yes, I still can't get to read external HDDs with the USB2.0 card. As I wrote, I have tested the card in a WinMe system where there is NO problem whatever - not only the card, but the cable and ext HDD caddy as well were also individually tested.OtheHill
I have the maximum allowable RAM - when I tried to fit more I was told (by the PC) that the maximum had been exceeded - 512Mb for 1GHz a processor. The files I deal with are not large (less than 1 Mb). But in any case, the HDD is not shown by Windows at all, so the issue of file tranfer is irrelevant. I have no trouble seeing the HDD and tranferring files if I use the USB1.1 socketsuatcini
The Flash Drives work perfectly - it's the external HDDs that don't. However, those ext HDDs work perfectly with USB2.0 in a WinMe system.Basty
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Please open Properties of the USB HDD in My Computer. What is the file system of the USB HDD ? If FAT, maybe you can format NTFS ( NOTE: If you want to share the USB HDD with the ME system, you won't be able to read it when formated NTFS ).
Click Hardware tab on the Properties window and select USB HDD. Click Properties button.
There you will have several tabs. Click Policies tab. What do you have there ? Can you select " Best Performance " button ?
One more question: Is your USB HDD powered externally or does it receive power from the PCI-USB card ?
Hope the above helps.
Regards
SuatCINI
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Further to my post above #12, please refer to the following MSKB article to see if it applies to your case.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915...
Regards
SuatCINI
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OtheHill
The CD with the USB2.0 card has many folders on it and some 10 setup.exe files hidden in those folders. I don't know how to chose between them. Device Manager is quite happy with whatever installs automatically, as it shows NO problematicals amongst the numerous new entries under USB.suatcini
I most definitely want to be able to access the HDDs with my WinME sytstem, so NTFS is out of the question - I would rather return to USB1.1 than move to NTFS.
The external HDD caddies are powered NOT through USB.
I will follow up your reference...PS I'm still not getting email alerts to replies.
Basty
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What about the Policies tab ( paragraph 3 )? Have you opened it up to see what there is under it ? It has nothing to do with NTFS.
Regards
SuatCINI
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suatcini
I could not follow the steps you listed, but I thought you meant "look in Device Manager"
USB HDD does appear there briefly, under
'Disc Drives', but then disappears, so I have no further access (to Policies). The ext HDD does not appear AT ALL in Windows. This is in stark contrast to what happens if I connect the ext HDD through the USB1.1 socket. It is accessible as USB Device in Device Manager AND it shows in My Computer as a Local Disk.Basty
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Do it like this:
Connect USB HDD to your PC.
Open My Computer.
Right-click USB HDD ans click Properties.
Click Hardware tab.
Select USB HDD and click Properties.
Click Policies tab.
There you are.
This may not help, but I think there may be a programming glitch either in Windows XP or firmware of this particular USB HDD for Windows XP. Did you check manufacturer's website for a firmware update ? What about the MS KB article whose link I provided regarding memory leakage ?
Regards
SuatCINI
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SuatCINI
Thanks for your perseverence.When I open My Computer, the USB HDD does NOT appear (UNLESS I use the USB1.1 socket).
THAT is why I can't follow your advice.
Recognition of it appears BRIEFLY in the Systray, then all sign of it disappears.I have not checked the HDD manufacturer's website, for several reasons - one being that different HDDs in different ext caddies all remain 'invisible'; another is that through USB1.1 all those HDDs in those caddies show perfectly well.
Although the details are now vague to me, I could not see any relevance or practical application in the MS KB article you referred me to.
Basty
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In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus Controller. Here you must see an entry
NEC PCI-USB Advanced Open Host Controller (B1)
where NEC is the chip on the PCI-USB 2 card. Yours may be different.
This is the entry for PCI-USB 2 card functionality. If you do not see it, you do not have USB 2 functionality. There will be other entries for the same card for USB 1 devices ( for backward compatibility )
Regards
Regards
SuatCINI
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Thanks for the correction. My Windows is not English. Therefore, I have to make translations and advanced and enhanced have the same meanings in my language. I am sorry for that.
In this case, the listing should be
NEC PCI-USB Enhanced Open Host Controller (B1).
NEC may be replaced with the chip on the poster's PCI card. My PCI-USB card has NEC chip on it and I solely use USB 2 ports on my PCI-USB card. I turned off all USB 2 functionality in the BIOS.
Best regards
SuatCINI
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OtheHill
Do any devices work in the USB 2.0 port?
Answer - Flash Drives work perfectly.I will deal with Suatcini's matter next time I visit this site.
Basty
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suatcini
"...turned off all USB 2 functionality in the BIOS."The BIOS which is of 2000, mentions USB only in so far as it lists IRQ5 for the 3 items : Intel USB Controller; Communications Device & Via USB Controller
Basty
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I now have access to USB2.0 functions.
Systematic testing reavealed 3 issues :
1. Once USB2.0 is installed, it will NOT work properly if something is still connected to a USB1.1 socket.
2. It turned out that the two most easily accessible of the 5 USB2.0 sockets are faulty.
3. One of the ext HDDs is too small/old for that particular combination; it works alright in USB2.0 in WinMe though. Other HDDs work OK.Basty
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