Why repeat driver install process for every USB port?

  • Thread starter Thread starter h7qvnk7q001
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h7qvnk7q001

The XP method for installing a new device is the "add new hardware
wizard". This process involves thrashing the hard disk for several
minutes, (usually) manually
identifying the driver location, followed by warnings about unsigned
drivers, more
minutes of disk thrashing, setting a restore point, and then more disk
thrashing.
Sometimes a reboot is required after all that. Finally the hardware is
ready to use.

Next time you connect the device to the same computer, you might use a
different USB port. The device is now seen as "new hardware" and the
entire process described above is repeated.

Why is it necessary to go through the entire driver install process for
each USB
port? The device is the same, the computer is the same, the driver is
the same...

This seems like an unnecessary annoyance. Today's computers have 4 or
even 8 USB ports. Why can't they be logically equivalent? Does anybody
know why this happens? Is there any way to avoid it?
 
The XP method for installing a new device is the "add new hardware
wizard". This process involves thrashing the hard disk for several
minutes, (usually) manually
identifying the driver location, followed by warnings about unsigned
drivers, more
minutes of disk thrashing, setting a restore point, and then more disk
thrashing.
Sometimes a reboot is required after all that. Finally the hardware is
ready to use.

Next time you connect the device to the same computer, you might use a
different USB port. The device is now seen as "new hardware" and the
entire process described above is repeated.

Why is it necessary to go through the entire driver install process for
each USB
port? The device is the same, the computer is the same, the driver is
the same...

This seems like an unnecessary annoyance. Today's computers have 4 or
even 8 USB ports. Why can't they be logically equivalent? Does anybody
know why this happens? Is there any way to avoid it?
Click to expand...

Each USB port is treated as a separate USB thread. Each device needs to be
enumerated onto a USB thread before it can be used. The "Add New Hardware
wizard.." seems to be the only method of enumerating the devices.
 
This isi because your driver is unsigned. Since Windows can not
verify that the unsigned driver insalled for other instances is the same
unsigned driver found in the INF store, it assumes the worst case and
begins that annoying show (computers never are tired or bored...).
Once you sign the driver, this issue goes away.

Another possibility is using USB "serial numbers". This simply prevents
creation of new instances when the device is connected to different ports.

Regards,
--PA
 
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