Post #276,690
12/26/06 12:50:57 PM
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Problem with the USB ports
While experimenting with the camera issues, we've discovered there is some sort of problem with the USB ports on my computer.
We knew there was a problem with Windows Image Acquisition Service, because the scanner wouldn't work after we reinstalled everything earlier this year (after the crash), unless we turned off the Windows Image Acquisition Service (WIAS)
However, when we brought the new camera (Canon Powershot A530) and plugged it into the USB port it froze the computer (much like the scanner had done before we turned off the WIAS.
So John was able to get some software called Gphoto2 with a graphical front end called GTkam, downloaded to his Linux computer, and was able to get the photos off the linux computer by burning them to a CD and taking them in here to load them on mine.
Thinking we could make it a short cut, we purchased a flashdrive today hoping to use it for transfer purposes instead of having to burn a CD every time, but when he tested the flash drive by plugging it into my computer, again, the computer froze.
So my question is this: Does any one have any idea why the USB ports work sometimes with some things, but not with others? And if so, how would we fix it?
So far, my PDA plugs in fine without freezing, to the USB ports and so does my old camera, the concord. But the new camera and the new flashdrive freeze it up. We're a little perplexed on this, any ideas what to replace or try, or how to test the USB ports?
Thanks!
Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
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"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
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Post #276,708
12/26/06 2:27:19 PM
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Radio Shack to the rescue!
Well, I found a temporary fix for the camera, anyway! I was looking through the after Christmas sale ads and saw something called a Digital Concepts SD Card Converter Drive. Since it was on sale for only $7.99 John had me run out and grab one, (Radio Shack is really close by and John is on call till tomorrow still).
We lucked out, it happens to be something the USB drive likes, because we were able to take photos and put the SD card into the converter drive and voila, photos on my computer, with no freezing it up. :) Not bad, and under $10.00 :)
But any info on how to check or fix USB ports (in the long run we might need to fix the problem), would still be appreciated. :)
Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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Post #276,709
12/26/06 2:38:36 PM
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USB typically either works or doesn't.
About the only thing I can think of to try is opening the case and making sure the cable from the USB port to the motherboard is installed properly. The ports in the back are probably soldered to the motherboard so you probably have little to check there.
You can get an add-on card for more USB ports for a nominal price. E.g. [link|http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815166001|this] one for $6 plus $5 shipping. You can probably buy something similar locally if you look around.
If you have a solution that works, it might not be worth the trouble, though. But if you want to get your scanner working properly, etc., it might be worth putting a PCI card in the PC in question.
HTH a bit.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #276,803
12/27/06 3:22:52 PM
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That's what we're finding too
About the only thing I can think of to try is opening the case and making sure the cable from the USB port to the motherboard is installed properly. The ports in the back are probably soldered to the motherboard so you probably have little to check there. If you have a solution that works, it might not be worth the trouble, though. But if you want to get your scanner working properly, etc., it might be worth putting a PCI card in the PC in question. Yep, that's what John thought about doing in the long run, a PCI card. He did that USB cable check you mentioned before, by opening the case when the scanner first had trouble. The scanner does work, btw just not using the buttons. You have to activate it manually, but it does fine when I do that. At least I can easily get the photos off the camera for now, which is what matters most. :) Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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Post #276,762
12/26/06 11:41:11 PM
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Sounds like a power thing.
If a USB device tries to draw more power than the port can provide, you'd see the sorts of problems you're seeing. It's because the extra current lowers the voltage and that creates problems as the device is sort-of powered and can't communicate coherently to the controller. That tends to make controllers upset and upset hardware combined with the typical writing standard of Windows drivers usually results in an upset Windows.
I'd try the camera with it's external power connected. I'd also try it in all the USB ports, including the ones on the back. It may be a problem with one or two; it may be a problem with the USB controller on the motherboard in general. If it seems isolated to the ones on the front (say), then I'd probably run an extension lead from a socket on the back. In fact, I'd probably find a powered hub (but still connect it to the back). A powered hub may be just as likely to fix the problem, anyway, even if none of the USB ports like your camera, either.
Wade.
"Don't give up!"
[link|http://staticsan.livejournal.com/|blog] · [link|http://yceran.org/|website]
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Post #276,802
12/27/06 3:19:41 PM
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Hmmm hadn't thought of that
If a USB device tries to draw more power than the port can provide, you'd see the sorts of problems you're seeing. It's because the extra current lowers the voltage and that creates problems as the device is sort-of powered and can't communicate coherently to the controller. That tends to make controllers upset and upset hardware combined with the typical writing standard of Windows drivers usually results in an upset Windows. I'd try the camera with it's external power connected. I'd also try it in all the USB ports, including the ones on the back. It may be a problem with one or two; it may be a problem with the USB controller on the motherboard in general. If it seems isolated to the ones on the front (say), then I'd probably run an extension lead from a socket on the back. In fact, I'd probably find a powered hub (but still connect it to the back). A powered hub may be just as likely to fix the problem, anyway, even if none of the USB ports like your camera, either. That's something I hadn't thought of. However, it explains the camera, but does it explain the flash drive? Flash drives don't use a lot of power do they? But I'll tell John, as we are still researching the problem. It's nice to have a quick fix for the camera, (which we managed to find yesterday), but some day we might need to fix the whole problem. :) Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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Post #276,828
12/27/06 7:56:38 PM
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It could explain the flash drive.
That's something I hadn't thought of. However, it explains the camera, but does it explain the flash drive? Flash drives don't use a lot of power do they? But I'll tell John, as we are still researching the problem. It's nice to have a quick fix for the camera, (which we managed to find yesterday), but some day we might need to fix the whole problem. :) Flash drives don't have to be low power because they're not battery operated. In fact, the faster ones probably do draw more power. Also, flash technology uses much more power to write than to read. I have an old CF card in an adapter I use as a flash drive. It gets noticeably warmer when I write to it. Wade. "Don't give up!"
[link|http://staticsan.livejournal.com/|blog] · [link|http://yceran.org/|website]
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Post #276,837
12/27/06 10:07:41 PM
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Thanks for that explanation!
I told John, and we'll keep it in mind if we decide to try and fix the problem completely. Meanwhile, things are working well enough with the solution we found, so it won't be something we'll spend much money on for awhile. :)
I had no idea those little tiny flash drives could use a lot of power. I wonder why my PDA doesn't have the problem, though. Maybe because I try to keep it charged up whenever he's syncing.
Brenda
"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert
****************************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss
***********************************
"Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06
*********************************
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