Problem Installing USB Drive

[heschm]

I bought a Lexar USB Jump drive. Works fine on one PC (and even on
a Mac!), but it's a no go on another PC. That's a real problem for me
as that's the PC I really need to transfer files from.

Am using ME. The USB drive is never acknowledged by the system.
When I go in to check my hardware profile, I see that there is a
problem with the USB drive. Reinstalling drivers does nothing. I get
the warning message that either the drive isn't present (it is) or
there is some problem. It isn't the cabling - took what I had from
the other PC that acknowledges the USB drive and installed it on the
one PC that doesn't acknowldege it. Still no go.

Think I've got the Bios settings correct (Award Bios on a FIC AT
mainboard). Either something is fried on the mainboard (never used
the USB port until a few days ago) or there's some obscure setting
written in invisible ink in the manual for the Bios that I haven't
set.

Anybody seen this or got an idea? Maybe have to get another
mainboard?

 

[Rod Speed]

I bought a Lexar USB Jump drive. Works
fine on one PC (and even on a Mac!),

Thats the problem, you've polluted it now.

but it's a no go on another PC. That's a real problem for
me as that's the PC I really need to transfer files from.

Am using ME. The USB drive is never acknowledged
by the system. When I go in to check my hardware
profile, I see that there is a problem with the USB drive.

Is the USB actually enabled in the bios etc ?
Do other USB devices work on that PC ?

Reinstalling drivers does nothing. I get the warning message
that either the drive isn't present (it is) or there is some
problem. It isn't the cabling - took what I had from the
other PC that acknowledges the USB drive and installed
it on the one PC that doesn't acknowldege it. Still no go.

Then most likely there is a problem with the USB on that PC.

Think I've got the Bios settings correct (Award Bios on
a FIC AT mainboard). Either something is fried on the
mainboard (never used the USB port until a few days ago)

Thats possible. Its also possible that you are using
the wrong USB header cable with that motherboard.
Those older AT motherboards with USB headers instead
of the built in ATX USB connectors have a number of
header patterns, and some you can put it on backwards too.

Which exact FIC motherboard ?

or there's some obscure setting written in invisible
ink in the manual for the Bios that I haven't set.

There is often an enable/disable, but you've presumably seen that.

Anybody seen this or got an idea?

See if you can get more basic USB ops working like with a mouse etc.

Maybe have to get another mainboard?

Probably not, tho if its only USB 1.1 you wont like the speed
much and it may be worth adding a USB2 card to that PC.

 

[Lynn McGuire]

Am using ME. The USB drive is never acknowledged by the system.

When I go in to check my hardware profile, I see that there is a
problem with the USB drive. Reinstalling drivers does nothing. I get
the warning message that either the drive isn't present (it is) or
there is some problem. It isn't the cabling - took what I had from
the other PC that acknowledges the USB drive and installed it on the
one PC that doesn't acknowldege it. Still no go.

Move to Win2K or WinXP. WinME is brain damaged.

You can try an USB addon board also.

Lynn

 

[heschm]

Thats the problem, you've polluted it now.

Never used a Mac before. Not as great as the Macophiles say,
but ok.

Is the USB actually enabled in the bios etc ?
Do other USB devices work on that PC ?

Yup to one, Nope to two.

Then most likely there is a problem with the USB on that PC.

Thinking that's it, as my other PC is comparable to the one
that's giving me problems - same OS, same CPU, same Bios (Award 4.51
vs 4.60), though a different brand of mainboard.

Which exact FIC motherboard ?

FIC VA503+ - never used the USB port until a few days ago - so it
could of been defective from the day I got it. If I plug the mouse in
there, PC freezes up.

Probably not, tho if its only USB 1.1 you wont like the speed
much and it may be worth adding a USB2 card to that PC.

Maybe that's an idea. Hadn't really thought of that before, but those
cards fit in a PCI slot, I think, so the path to the circuitry has got
to be somewhat different than from the USB port, so maybe that would
bypass anything defective right where the USB port is on the
mainboard.

 

[heschm]

Move to Win2K or WinXP. WinME is brain damaged.

Actually, once I got the hang of it, wasn't all that terrible!

You can try an USB addon board also.

Yes, now thinking that's an option. Am overdue for a system upgrade,
but would like to push that back to save some money, and that might be
a cost effective approach. Just a pity this had to happen on this
specific PC, not the other one I use. Ain't computers grand!

Mucheos Gracias.

 

[Rod Speed]

Never used a Mac before. Not as
great as the Macophiles say, but ok.

You're obviously infect yourself now |-)

Yup to one, Nope to two.

That last is the most important.

Thinking that's it, as my other PC is comparable to the one
that's giving me problems - same OS, same CPU, same Bios
(Award 4.51 vs 4.60), though a different brand of mainboard.

FIC VA503+

That motherboard is one of the older AT format motherboards
which have a USB header on the motherboard. There are quite
a few different pin configs with those and it may be that the
header cable being used isnt the correct one.

Its also one of those that can be plugged in backwards.
I forget whether the motherboard header is shrouded so
you cant plug it in backwards with that motherboard, and
the manual doesnt say.

never used the USB port until a few days ago -
it could of been defective from the day I got it.

Or just has the header cable plugged in backwards.

If I plug the mouse in there, PC freezes up.

Thats unusual with a mouse.

And thats all it is, even if you can get it to work.

Maybe that's an idea. Hadn't really thought of that
before, but those cards fit in a PCI slot, I think,
Yep.

so the path to the circuitry has got to be somewhat different
than from the USB port, so maybe that would bypass anything
defective right where the USB port is on the mainboard.

Yep, should work fine and MUCH faster, very noticeable
with an external hard drive. USB1.1 isnt really that viable
for those, tho its fine for mice, printers, cameras etc.