G
Guest
I more or less resolved this problem, but it might still indicate some
underlying problem with my Windows XP installation, so I hope I can get some
help.
(I'm running XP SP 2, last updated about two weeks ago, on an Intel Pentium
4, 2.4GHz, 1024 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0c.)
I had a Creative SoundBlaster external 24-bit USB sound card; it was the
older model with both a USB connection and a power source. After working
fine for a few months, the power source died (as I understand they're prone
to do).
When I noticed I had no sound, I thought maybe rebooting would restore
functionality. But when I rebooted, Windows wouldn't start.
It when through the boot sequence, showed me the splash screen... then the
screen became totally black. I unplugged the dead sound card from the USB
hub and tried again; same problem. I tried rebooting in Safe mode, and it
got part way or all the way through the list of drivers it was loading -- the
last one on the screen was Mub.sys, I think -- and it just stopped there,
still displaying the list of .sys files but not continuing.
Eventually, I discovered that if I went away and left it alone, then after
45-60 minutes, Windows would finally start. Once it started, it seemed to
work fine (without sound, of course).
I considered an hour to be a somewhat unacceptable reboot time. I tried
working through Microsoft telephone support with no success (Bangalore had no
idea what to do).
Eventually, it occurred to me that maybe Windows was spending that 45
minutes to an hour frantically searching for the missing sound card. Since I
need sound anyway, I bought a new external USB sound card (the newer
SoundBlaster one that is powered entirely by the USB connection). Once I
plugged it in and rebooted, Windows rebooted up quite normally.
Now, I'm pretty sure that Windows is *supposed to recognize* when a USB
device is not connected or not functioning; isn't it supposed to just display
a warning dialog, then continue with the boot-up without that device? It's
just a sound card, not critical to Windows functioning.
Does my Windows installation have a more serious underlying problem that
needs fixing? Is there some way to diagnose this problem and fix it?
Thanks,
underlying problem with my Windows XP installation, so I hope I can get some
help.
(I'm running XP SP 2, last updated about two weeks ago, on an Intel Pentium
4, 2.4GHz, 1024 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0c.)
I had a Creative SoundBlaster external 24-bit USB sound card; it was the
older model with both a USB connection and a power source. After working
fine for a few months, the power source died (as I understand they're prone
to do).
When I noticed I had no sound, I thought maybe rebooting would restore
functionality. But when I rebooted, Windows wouldn't start.
It when through the boot sequence, showed me the splash screen... then the
screen became totally black. I unplugged the dead sound card from the USB
hub and tried again; same problem. I tried rebooting in Safe mode, and it
got part way or all the way through the list of drivers it was loading -- the
last one on the screen was Mub.sys, I think -- and it just stopped there,
still displaying the list of .sys files but not continuing.
Eventually, I discovered that if I went away and left it alone, then after
45-60 minutes, Windows would finally start. Once it started, it seemed to
work fine (without sound, of course).
I considered an hour to be a somewhat unacceptable reboot time. I tried
working through Microsoft telephone support with no success (Bangalore had no
idea what to do).
Eventually, it occurred to me that maybe Windows was spending that 45
minutes to an hour frantically searching for the missing sound card. Since I
need sound anyway, I bought a new external USB sound card (the newer
SoundBlaster one that is powered entirely by the USB connection). Once I
plugged it in and rebooted, Windows rebooted up quite normally.
Now, I'm pretty sure that Windows is *supposed to recognize* when a USB
device is not connected or not functioning; isn't it supposed to just display
a warning dialog, then continue with the boot-up without that device? It's
just a sound card, not critical to Windows functioning.
Does my Windows installation have a more serious underlying problem that
needs fixing? Is there some way to diagnose this problem and fix it?
Thanks,