USB2 problem

[London Geezer]

Hey guys, i've had this problem for a while. Basically when i try to plug a USB2 device (a hard drive and now an external DVD writer), my system tells me that it's plugged into a USB port therefore it could be faster. Fact is, it's plugged to a USB2 port.

Anything i'm missing?

 

[digitalwanderer]

You have the USB2 drivers installed?

 

[RussSchultz]

To be pedantic, USB2.0 isn't necessarily high speed. USB 2.0 devices can be full speed also. USB2.0 HS is high speed.

This popup will happen whenever a device reports itself as high speed, but for whatever reason handshakes at low speed.

It might be because:
a) There's a non-high speed capable port/hub somewhere along the line
b) The device in question isn't actually high speed capable (and doesn't sound like its completely USB 2.0 compliant).

Since you've plugged more than one item into your port and get the same answer, I'd guess that its "a" instead of "b".

Some motherboards have some high speed, and some full speed only ports. Perhaps that's the issue?

 

[t0y]

There are some options in most BIOSs that may have an impact on this. Something along the lines of "compatibility mode" can also affect the way USB initializes, although I believe it's just there to make sure keyboards work before the OS's drivers load.

(have a PS/2 keyboard handy to make sure, I once blew the PS/2 ports and had no way to get into the BIOS and enable USB support )

 

[Diplo]

You also need to have at least XP SP1 installed, too, if I recall.

 

[London Geezer]

Well i thought the USB2 drivers were installed, my Sony camera works fine at full speed. Not sure what to do, the drives are USB2, whats the difference between "full speed" and "high speed"?

 

[London Geezer]

Oh and by the way, there is no Hub in between. It's plugged directly to the port which is high-speed USB2 compatible cause it has the logo on it. U know the red and blue one.

 

[RussSchultz]

You also need to have at least XP SP1 installed, too, if I recall.

No.

 

[RussSchultz]

Not sure what to do, the drives are USB2, whats the difference between "full speed" and "high speed"?

Low speed is 1mbps.
Full speed is 12mbps.
High speed is 480 mbps.

This popup shows up if the device reports it is USB2.0, handshakes at full speed, and doesn't stall the device qualifier request.

Anyways, try the drives on a different computer, or a different port.

 

[Martin Eddy]

As long as a device works with USB2 it can be labeled as a USB2 device.
As the poster above mentioned there is USB2 Full Speed (USB1) and USB2 High Speed (Really USB2).

Check out http://www.usb.org

 

[London Geezer]

Well what im not getting is... What do i do now?

The device is High Speed. The port is High Speed. Tried all ports. There are no drivers with the device cause "it will work on XP" so it says on the box.

Do i need drivers for the port? Cause there aint any for the drive, not even on the website.

 

[RussSchultz]

No, you don't need drivers.

Try it on another PC?

 

[London Geezer]

No, you don't need drivers.

Try it on another PC?

I will tomorrow...

 

[RussSchultz]

No, you don't need drivers.

Try it on another PC?

I will tomorrow...

And....?

 

[London Geezer]

No, you don't need drivers.

Try it on another PC?

I will tomorrow...

And....?

Tried on my PC, worked perfectly. So he returned the thing and got a firewire drive instead.
Apparently the MB on his laptop has reported probs with USB2 and that particular drive.

 

[RussSchultz]

Sounds reasonable. One of the PHYs was out of spec (or both) and preventing it from handshaking at high speed.