The Windows XP SP2 USB 2.0 Front Port Problem

[dbAmp]

So I have to admit that I searched long and hard on Google and have seen this problem occurs across a wide range of hardware. I'm also of the belief that it is a driver problem and that all my hardware is in working order. What follows is to many a familiar story.

 

I updated Windows to SP2.

I updated to the most recent nVidia drivers.

USB 2.0 devices (HD and Flashdrive) that had previously given me no problems, no longer worked on the two front ports of my machine. They power up and show up as "Unknown Device." Mysteriously, USB1.1 devices work in the same ports and the USB 2.0 devices work without issue plugged into the back of the machine.

 

I scoured the web for hours looking for a solution. I tried just about everything I read everywhere else to no avail.

 

I did a clean install of Windows XP. Magically, all of my USB deviced worked again, albeit without USB 2.0.

 

Before installing any other software, I ran the SP2 update (downloaded from MS and burned to a CD beforehand), followed by the nVidia 5.10 drivers. USB 2.0 devices magically no longer work on the front ports of my machine, same error as before.

 

I download and try both versions of the USB driver on the DFI website. Although both install and change the name of the hardware in the Device Manager, neither fix the USB 2.0 problem. Ultimately, Windows thinks that the MS Driver is the "best" driver.

 

I disable the Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller in the device manager... and instantly the found new hardware bubble pops up having found a mass storage controller and my USB Flash Drive, followed by the "You have plugged a USB2.0 device into a USB1.1 port" message.

 

So... unless someone has a solution for me... it seems that I have a choice between USB1.1 all around, or USB 2.0 but not for my front ports (which ironically are the only two that I want to plug USB 2.0 devices into).

 

I saw a post similar to this on the forum, where a guy was wondering "how to make all his ports USB 2.0," but I saw no solution.

 

Any ideas?

[king of nothing]

I'd take a look at this thread. It looks like someone had a similar problem and found a solution.

 

If that doesn't work you might want to post something over in the USBMan forum.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[dbAmp]

I'd take a look at this thread. It looks like someone had a similar problem and found a solution.

 

If that doesn't work you might want to post something over in the USBMan forum.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

This is where it get interesting... before posting I looked at that thread and the drivers Shinobi uses in the "solution" are the ones that install with SP2, i.e. my starting point was the "correct" drivers.

 

Here are the USB 2.0 Drivers currently on my machine under which my front USB ports do not function properly:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the only way I get my front USB to function with my SanDisk Cruzer mini:

 

[king of nothing]

If I were you I'd try doing this --

 

I went to the windows drivers folder and deleted the .inf file.

Then, just to make sure, i went into safe mode, uninstalled the usb ports, reinstalled this time with that pci to usb port host and voilá, everything is usb 2.0 now

 

If that doesn't help, I'd post at USBMan.

 

Good Luck!

[dbAmp]

As I said before, I've already reloaded windows and I am using the "solution driver" that matches the correct one on the previous thread. I have manually removed the driver and used the newest one from Microsoft to no avail.

 

So far, it seems like the "correct driver" is not functioning properly.

 

As this is specifically a DFI support forum, I was thinking there would be a better chance of finding a solution here.

 

Anyone else have any ideas on what could be causing this issue?

 

By the by, the link above for the USBman forum redirects to microsoft.com, even after I remove the extra "http://".

[medianOCer]

Why not go back to the configuration you were using before, and that apparently worked without issues?

 

How good are the wires/cables that are connected to the front USB panel? Are they crappy? I've seen some pretty flimsy wires/cables for front USB connectivity.

[king of nothing]

As I said before, I've already reloaded windows and I am using the "solution driver" that matches the correct one on the previous thread. I have manually removed the driver and used the newest one from Microsoft to no avail.

 

So far, it seems like the "correct driver" is not functioning properly.

 

As this is specifically a DFI support forum, I was thinking there would be a better chance of finding a solution here.

 

Anyone else have any ideas on what could be causing this issue?

 

By the by, the link above for the USBman forum redirects to microsoft.com, even after I remove the extra "http://".

Sorry about the link. It should be good now.

 

I looked around the USBMan forum a bit and found a thread with a similar problem to yours. Not exactly the same.... but pretty close. He solved his problem by following the instructions here.

 

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup%20Dev...Safe%20Mode.htm

 

I realize it is similar to what you've already done. But if I were you I'd give it a try.

 

I'm guessing Windows is just confused and needs to re-find all the ports on its own.

 

So it all started when you updated to sp2, right? Just curious.... did you have anything plugged into the front USB ports when you did the update?

[dbAmp]

Sorry about the link. It should be good now.

 

I looked around the USBMan forum a bit and found a thread with a similar problem to yours. Not exactly the same.... but pretty close. He solved his problem by following the instructions here.

 

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Cleanup%20Dev...Safe%20Mode.htm

 

I realize it is similar to what you've already done. But if I were you I'd give it a try.

 

I'm guessing Windows is just confused and needs to re-find all the ports on its own.

 

So it all started when you updated to sp2, right? Just curious.... did you have anything plugged into the front USB ports when you did the update?

 

Well... I tried removing the drivers in safe mode and letting Windows find them again. Windows installed the same drivers I started with in my frist post that do not work properly. I tried the "Update Driver" and it said "The wizard could not find a better match for your haardware than the software you currently have installed."

 

When I reinstalled Windows XP and when I ran the SP2 Update, the only USB device attached was my Logitech MX700 Mouse, and that was connected to a rear port.

 

I really believe that this is a driver and or BIOS issue... and that I am using the "correct" versions of both. It would be great if someone at DFI took some inciative here as I am not the only one that seems to have this problem... or if it is just me, I would love a way to figure out if I have a bad board.

 

As to a pervious comment about the quality of the front USB, I am using an Antec Sonata case, and I have confidence in the quality of Antec products. I did check the specifications of the case, the front is wired for USB 2.0 Firewire and Audio.

 

As to the comment about returning to my previous setup as that worked properly... my previous install was Windows XP SP1. First, I have been advised by many people to no longer use SP1 for security reasons... further, I only have a Windows XP CD and to my knowledge, Microsoft no longer offers SP1 for download.

 

Any more ideas? I see similar threads popping up on the forum for NF4 boards as well... is there any connection there? Should I start harassing nVidia to write a driver as opposed to relying on the MS one that seems to be causing so many problems?

 

Any more ideas or comments are welcome... also... if anyone has a good idea on how to get DFI's attention on the issue, I would appreciate that as well.

[medianOCer]

You could check this out, might work for you..?

 

Link - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&DisplayLang=en