USB Ports - Some Not Working?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason Teagle
  • Start date Start date
J

Jason Teagle

XP Pro, SP1
AMD 3200+, make of mobo unknown (see below)

My PC has 4 on-board USB ports (physically located at the back of the
machine, therefore), and two wired to the front of the machine. The ones at
the back work fine, but the ones at the front do not - they don't even
recognise that a device has been plugged in (tried with a memory stick which
works fine in the back, also tried a USB wireless adapter that works fine in
the back).

As suggested by the machine's builder, I checked the BIOS - it seems to be
happy that all USB items are enabled. The Device Manager does not report any
errors.

Short of taking the machine apart and checking the wiring, is there anything
I can do to find out what might be wrong? It's not a tragedy since I have a
hub plugged into the back which gives me 4 ports on the desktop instead, but
it would be nice to find out why through software if possible.

Also, is there a way to find out the make of mobo without taking the machine
apart?
 
You can get all the data on the system with...
Bel Arc Advisor www.belarc.com or
AIDA32 http://www.aida32.hu/aida32.php

Most likely the front panel ports on your case are not
connected to the motherboard.

When you get the report on who made your mobo, get the mobo
manual from the web and see if there are USB headers on the
mobo to connect to the front panel.

Your rear USB ports are part of the mobo.


| XP Pro, SP1
| AMD 3200+, make of mobo unknown (see below)
|
| My PC has 4 on-board USB ports (physically located at the
back of the
| machine, therefore), and two wired to the front of the
machine. The ones at
| the back work fine, but the ones at the front do not -
they don't even
| recognise that a device has been plugged in (tried with a
memory stick which
| works fine in the back, also tried a USB wireless adapter
that works fine in
| the back).
|
| As suggested by the machine's builder, I checked the
BIOS - it seems to be
| happy that all USB items are enabled. The Device Manager
does not report any
| errors.
|
| Short of taking the machine apart and checking the wiring,
is there anything
| I can do to find out what might be wrong? It's not a
tragedy since I have a
| hub plugged into the back which gives me 4 ports on the
desktop instead, but
| it would be nice to find out why through software if
possible.
|
| Also, is there a way to find out the make of mobo without
taking the machine
| apart?
|
|
| --
| --
| Jason Teagle
| (e-mail address removed)
|
|
 
You can get all the data on the system with...
Bel Arc Advisor www.belarc.com or
Click to expand...

Nice product!

For reference:
System Model: VIA Technologies, Inc. KT600-8237
Main Circuit Board: KT600-8237
Most likely the front panel ports on your case are not
connected to the motherboard.
Click to expand...

Builder claims to have tested it but... well, let's say I wouldn't be
surprised to find otherwise.
When you get the report on who made your mobo, get the mobo
manual from the web and see if there are USB headers on the
mobo to connect to the front panel.
Click to expand...

Will do.

Thanks for the info.

Does this give any clues as to whether the front USB ports should be working
(by the count of USB-related devices, I mean)?:

Bus Adapters:
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller

Other devices:
OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
Logitech USB iFeel Mouse
Generic USB Hub
Microsoft Integrated USB Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
 
Yes, it is a nice product. Try AIDA32 too, it is even more
powerful. It will report the actual maker of the RAM chips,
etc. and the Product keys for your XP installation.
To see if the front panel USB is connected, all you need to
do is open the case and use a flashlight (electric torch) to
see if any wires run from the USB connectors to the mobo.
If there are wires (usually a small sheathed bundle 1/8"
dia.) some of the wires could be connected to the wrong pins
on the mobo. When you get the mobo manual you can check
that out. (Sometimes there is a single piece multi-connector
to plug on the mobo and sometimes you might have individual
wires to attach.)

The USB ports are reported, whether there is any device
connected, how many ports do you have on the rear? Most
mobo would have either two in a housing or four in 2
housings on the rear panel.

If you have four on the rear, check the mobo manual to see
if you have an internal header to connect your front panel
case ports, otherwise you will need to use a dongle to
connect the front ports.


| > You can get all the data on the system with...
| > Bel Arc Advisor www.belarc.com or
|
| Nice product!
|
| For reference:
| System Model: VIA Technologies, Inc. KT600-8237
| Main Circuit Board: KT600-8237
|
| > Most likely the front panel ports on your case are not
| > connected to the motherboard.
|
| Builder claims to have tested it but... well, let's say I
wouldn't be
| surprised to find otherwise.
|
| >
| > When you get the report on who made your mobo, get the
mobo
| > manual from the web and see if there are USB headers on
the
| > mobo to connect to the front panel.
|
| Will do.
|
| Thanks for the info.
|
| Does this give any clues as to whether the front USB ports
should be working
| (by the count of USB-related devices, I mean)?:
|
| Bus Adapters:
| Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
| VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
| VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
| VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
| VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
|
| Other devices:
| OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
| VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
| PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
| Logitech USB iFeel Mouse
| Generic USB Hub
| Microsoft Integrated USB Hub
| USB Root Hub
| USB Root Hub
| USB Root Hub
| USB Root Hub
| USB Root Hub
|
|
|
| --
| --
| Jason Teagle
| (e-mail address removed)
|
|
 
To see if the front panel USB is connected, all you need to
do is open the case and use a flashlight (electric torch) to
see if any wires run from the USB connectors to the mobo.
If there are wires (usually a small sheathed bundle 1/8"
dia.) some of the wires could be connected to the wrong pins
on the mobo. When you get the mobo manual you can check
that out. (Sometimes there is a single piece multi-connector
to plug on the mobo and sometimes you might have individual
wires to attach.)
Click to expand...

To be honest, since I've only just got the machine I'm trying to avoid
opening it. Since I have the hub as a substitute for the lack of functioning
front ports, I'm going to leave it at that for now. But I will bear this in
mind for one day when I'm dead bored and looking for something interesting
to do {:v)
The USB ports are reported, whether there is any device
connected, how many ports do you have on the rear? Most
mobo would have either two in a housing or four in 2
housings on the rear panel.
Click to expand...

4 at the back, and it looks like 2 blocks of 2 as you describe.
If you have four on the rear, check the mobo manual to see
if you have an internal header to connect your front panel
case ports, otherwise you will need to use a dongle to
connect the front ports.
Click to expand...

I'll try and locate the manual and see if I can understand what it's saying,
but mobos are a bit beyond my hardware skill so that's another good reason
not to crack open the case - no point in risking damage to the whole machine
by fiddling {:v)

Thanks for your help.
 
It isn't that hard to do safely. Just be sure you have
discharged any static electricity before you touch anything
inside the computer. Most cases are designed now to be
opened without tools for internal cleaning with compressed
air (canned air).
Have a good year.
Jim
Wichita, KS USA


| > To see if the front panel USB is connected, all you need
to
| > do is open the case and use a flashlight (electric
torch) to
| > see if any wires run from the USB connectors to the
mobo.
| > If there are wires (usually a small sheathed bundle 1/8"
| > dia.) some of the wires could be connected to the wrong
pins
| > on the mobo. When you get the mobo manual you can check
| > that out. (Sometimes there is a single piece
multi-connector
| > to plug on the mobo and sometimes you might have
individual
| > wires to attach.)
|
| To be honest, since I've only just got the machine I'm
trying to avoid
| opening it. Since I have the hub as a substitute for the
lack of functioning
| front ports, I'm going to leave it at that for now. But I
will bear this in
| mind for one day when I'm dead bored and looking for
something interesting
| to do {:v)
|
| >
| > The USB ports are reported, whether there is any device
| > connected, how many ports do you have on the rear? Most
| > mobo would have either two in a housing or four in 2
| > housings on the rear panel.
|
| 4 at the back, and it looks like 2 blocks of 2 as you
describe.
|
| >
| > If you have four on the rear, check the mobo manual to
see
| > if you have an internal header to connect your front
panel
| > case ports, otherwise you will need to use a dongle to
| > connect the front ports.
|
| I'll try and locate the manual and see if I can understand
what it's saying,
| but mobos are a bit beyond my hardware skill so that's
another good reason
| not to crack open the case - no point in risking damage to
the whole machine
| by fiddling {:v)
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
|
| --
| --
| Jason Teagle
| (e-mail address removed)
|
|
 
I have nearly the same problem although none of my USB divices respond
I have downloaded the srevice pack
I have tried to use add new hardwar
I have looked in the device manager, there is no listing for any USB device
Plus no driver listed
 
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