This device can work faster if .....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rouke
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Rouke

Since I defragmented my hard drive (or perhaps something else caused it, but
I can't think of anything) whenever I connect anything to the USB-port,
windows XP displays the following message: "This USB device can work faster
if you connect it to a faster port" (Sorry, translated from the Dutch
message, so may not be exactly as in English). But it is the same port as
I've always used, but I didn't get this message before. It's not just a
message, reading and writing is really slow.

What's gone wrong and how can I fix this?

Thanks,
 
Rouke said:
Since I defragmented my hard drive (or perhaps something else caused it, but
I can't think of anything) whenever I connect anything to the USB-port,
windows XP displays the following message: "This USB device can work faster
if you connect it to a faster port" (Sorry, translated from the Dutch
message, so may not be exactly as in English). But it is the same port as
I've always used, but I didn't get this message before. It's not just a
message, reading and writing is really slow.

What's gone wrong and how can I fix this?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Is there an "Enhanced" entry in the USB section of Device Manager ?
Enhanced is synonymous with USB 2.0.

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/checking_for_usb_2.htm

The things in Device Manager, in the USB section, are
"logic blocks" and not "ports". Typically, a USB 1.1 logic block
controls two ports, while a USB 2.0 logic block (enhanced)
controls six or eight ports. So the count of items in the
Device Manager, is not an indication that your ports are
not present.

A port can operate at USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 rates. The port
"binds" to one logic block or another. If you find
four USB 1.1 logic blocks, and one USB 2.0 logic blocks,
that is roughly enough resources to control eight ports,
operating at either USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 rates.

So go back to Device Manager, and see if there is an
Enhanced USB entry. If there is, it will support operation
at USB 2.0 rates.

Paul
 
Thanks Paul,

Yes, there is an enhanced entry in the USB section of the Device manager.
And when I connect the device to one of the ports of the computer, a text
balloon appears which says "click here for a list of available ports". When
I click there, a list of available ports does appear:

Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller 24DD
- USB Root Hub (8 ports)
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port
- Unused port

And below the list it says: Detach USB-device for mass storage from current
port and connect to one of the hubs displayed in bold.

The computer has six (eight?) USB ports, two in the front and 4 (or 6?) in
the back. The port in the front that I connect the device to has always
worked as a fast port, but now it doesn't anymore. How do I get it to work
as a fast port again? I've tried connecting to a port in the back of the
computer, but it makes no difference. I've tried a different flash drive
(Corsair UFD Survivor 4GB). . . . . mmmm oh, this one doesn't produce a
messages that it can work faster. Connecting the camera isn't a problem
either. So perhaps the other flash drive got damaged? Is that possible? Is
it fixable?

Cheers,
 
The flash drive that causes the error messages doesn't cause these messages
on another computer. Is it just the specific driver for this particular
flash drive on this particular PC that's damaged? How do I repair a single
driver for a single model of flash drive?
 
Rouke said:
The flash drive that causes the error messages doesn't cause these messages
on another computer. Is it just the specific driver for this particular
flash drive on this particular PC that's damaged? How do I repair a single
driver for a single model of flash drive?
Click to expand...

You could try resetting the USB entries in Device Manager. The details
are near the bottom of the page. What I don't know, is how this resets
the memory of everything else, like flash devices. They do this
in Safe Mode.

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup Device Manager Safe Mode.htm

USB flash memory sticks should use the Mass Storage class driver.

Perhaps before doing anything else, you should insert the "bad" USB
flash, and check the drivers in Device Manager.

For example, I just plugged in my 8GB USB flash. I look in the
USB section of Device Manager, and the driver for that device
is "usbstor.sys".

If I check my "Enhanced" logic block in Device Manager, the
drivers for that are

usbehci.sys
usbhub.sys
usbport.sys
hccoin.dll
usbui.dll

Based on the partitioning of those drivers, I don't understand
how the drivers could be affecting the negotiated speed of
the device. The "usbstor" knows nothing about speed. The
"usbehci" knows nothing about storage. So I don't understand
how they could interact.

If the flash stick has a marginal hardware interface at 480Mbit/sec,
maybe that is the problem. The flash may be good enough to work
properly in the other computer, but not in your current one.
Remember that the front ports, usually have poorer quality
wiring than the back ports, so electrically, using the
front ports is a more demanding application.

This is how engineers judge whether the USB is working right or not.
They check the USB2 signal, to see if it stays within the valid area.
The green waveform on the left is OK. It is too bad there is no
way to check this, when a USB thing isn't working.

http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/40-01/4001_05.gif

Paul
 
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