USB problem

[Winston]

Every time I connect a USB device, I get the message "USB high speed unit is connected to a slow hub", in other words, the computer has decided to downgrade my USB 2.0 to 1.1. That is the way it seems, at least.

I am absolutely certain that I have 2.0. I used to be able to burn a DVD in 12-13 minutes on my external Sony burner, now it takes me 1½ hours. The problem, i.e. the "downgrading" started after I bought and installed a USB connected scanner, which i never use anymore, and which is permanently disconnected from the pc. But since it was first installed last fall, I've had a permanently slow USB connection.

I've tried switching to different USB plugs/outlets, I've looked for driver upgrades on my Windows XP CD-rom and my mainboard CD-rom which came with the computer, I've installed the updates from Windows Update, and looked for clues in the Microsoft online library - and I can't find anything that will help solve the problem. All I can find is instructions on how to turn off the message of "High speed/low speed USB..", not how to make the computer recognize that I actually do have high speed USB.

I would very much like to hear if anyone has a solution to this. It's mostly a problem when I burn DVD's, as I always do a manual copy/read check after burning, which now takes another 1½ hours. So it's 3 hours total every time, compared to ~25 minutes the way it used to be.



Thanks in advance for any help.

[Asher]

You need USB 2.0 drivers from your motherboard maker.

[Winston]

Cool, I'm looking into it now. I've found out it's an Elitegroup L4S8A2 mainboard. I'm checking their website to see if they have the driver there. If this works, I will be eternally indebted to you.

[Darius871]

Drop a little trojan in behind the firewall and set up a linux server to execute a worm on the Internet. Then check the url and put some gigs on the hyperlink.

[Winston]

There seems to be a number of USB 2.0 drivers available for download, but if I search for "L4S8A2", no USB results show up. There's an "IDE - SiS Mini IDE driver" download link, but that won't do me any good, will it?

[Asher]

n/m

[Asher]

The latest version of the USB 2.0 driver is included in Windows XP SP2...do you have that installed?

[Winston]

No, I considered it while I made other updates at Windows Update earlier today (29 of them ), but I was unsure whether it was needed, and I didn't want to risk "complicating" things further, so I passed it by.

Should I get it now, or rather, do you think it will solve my USB problem?

[Asher]

Well, apparently SiS uses the Microsoft USB 2.0 drivers. I know they're included in SP2, but they might also be available independently on Windows Update.

[Winston]

I looked very hard for anything USB-related at Windows Update and didn't see anything that looked right for the situation I'm in.

But in view of what you say, about the drivers being included there, I think I'll go ahead and get the Service Pack 2. I'll report back as soon as it's done.

Thanks for helping me figure this out.

[Winston]

Hmm. I've now installed Service Pack 2, and it hasn't helped. The only difference is that the message I get is differently worded. It now says "This device can operate faster if it is connected to a high speed port" or something along those lines. If clicked, the message then brings up a list of USB hubs/ports, of which the bolded ones will support the DVD burner at high speed. It's exactly the same as the old message did. I have one bolded USB root hub with 6 open ports. And it recommends that I disconnect the device from its current port, and connect it to one of the ports under the bolded hub. Same as before.

[Jon Miller]

perhaps you have it manually set for lower speed?

JM

[Winston]

No Jon, I've even checked the BIOS settings to verify that USB 2.0 is indeed enabled.

But hey, there may be a little hope emerging. I tried right-clicking and "removing" the hubs under the device manager, then selected install new hardware, and it said it had located the USB and installed the drivers. Now, when I turn on the DVD-burner, for the first time I don't get the "High speed/low speed" message.

Keeping my fingers crossed, I will now try burning a DVD and see what the speed is. It shouldn't take long to see if, by some miracle, it's back to its old level.

Please, please, please, please, please, !! [/homer]

[Winston]

Shute. No need to start burning. As soon as I start Nero, the damned message is there again.

Not only is it not working the way I want it to, it has also added cruelty into it, just for kicks.

[SpencerH]

Do you have anything else that is 2.0 that you could plug in and see what happens? As far as I can tell, this seems to be a common problem (although I dont have it - crosses fingers and spins widdershins) but I havent found a solution yet.

Something I just came across - the usb hub has to actually switch from low speed to high speed when a 2.0 compliant device is attached. That switch requires shifting from 1.5v to 3.3v (during a reset). So I'm wondering whether you've got too many other usb devices attached i.e. you dont have the power available to make the switch despite that the hub is compliant? I was reading a thread where someone could make one device work at 2.0 but not his HD (when plugged into the same connector).