USB detection problem

[schmoo]

Hi people,

I'm in the middle of salvaging my computer from an unrecoverable Windows death, but I'm having a problem with my USB - I've installed TinyXP* on an old 10Gb hard drive, just so I can get to the net and recover my user data, but it will only detect some USB devices and not others. The last installation was TinyXP too and it worked fine then, never had any problems at all with these same devices (so it's not anything like USB 1 vs USB 2) and leads (so not lead length). The only thing I can think of that I've done differently is that on my previous installation I used the disk that came with the (Novatech) motherboard for chipset drivers, and this time I downloaded them from the MSI website (dunno where the disk is now, could probably find it given a spare hour or so). Shouldn't make a difference though, as the Mobo is a year-and-a-half old now - the downloaded driver should be newer if anything.

So, what gives? I'm looking for general advice rather than to take up all your time, but do say if there's anything you need to know about my setup - I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to hardware. I only updated the chipset drivers because someone on another forum said that they can mess with USB detection, I don't even know if that's true :)

Thanks in advance for any insight you may have...

*Yes, I have a genuine, paid-for copy of XP sat right here, I've just seen them both setup on identical machines and was completely blown away by Tiny's speed :shock: :shock:

[GeordieNo1]

Welcome schmoo :)

Do the unrecognised devices work in ports which have recognised other devices?

[schmoo]

Hi Geordie, that was quick!

Nope - just tried a non-working device on a port that was working with another device and no joy.

The ports are a pain to get to, so I have one (v. short) extension lead that comes onto the top of my desk that I use for quick swapping around. I have an old MP3 player that works on this lead, and (typically!) a newer one that doesn't.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that the newer MP3 player that's not showing up in windows is being charged from the port (ruling out a hardware issue, I guess).

[GeordieNo1]

Hi schmoo,

Can you look in Device Manager and see what USB controllers are installed? Also check your BIOS settings and make sure any enhanced settings/legacy support is available :)

[schmoo]

Ok - Legacy USB thingy in the BIOS was on auto, which apparently turns it on when you boot with the devices connected (which I've done, although not because I thought of trying it :)). I've set it to enabled and rebooted again and no joy.

USB controllers installed are:
- Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
- Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
- USB Mass Storage Device
- USB Root Hub (listed twice)

[GeordieNo1]

Controllers and root are there as they should be.

Dunno, needs a better head than mine :D

Just to rule anything out, try to plug each device directly into one of the ports that come directly out of mainboard, ie not into ports that may be connected via mainboard headers.

Sorry if my advice is useless, no experience with Tiny XP :\

[system7]

It's weird, all the drivers are there, and you've rebooted, eh?

I think you've got to try again with the full windows package.

It's not worth messing about if it's broken here. Reinstall is quicker.

You could do this with a Ubuntu 8.10 Linux CD-R as it happens. I'm not sure what data recovery you need here. To USB stick?

[schmoo]

No, it's good to rule out a few more things - like I say, I know next to nothing about all this stuff :)

Thanks for the help.

[schmoo]

Hi Steve,

I'm thinking the same about using my real XP for the real install. This install is only temporary while I trawl through the old drive backing up the bits I need, but at the rate I'm going it'll be a month before I get to that stage :(

[system7]

I presume you're trying to get the old drive to boot so you can access data on the bigger drive.

It usually works if you do a XP REPAIR INSTALL to non-booting Hard Drive. It's in the setup options on the full XP install disk. Got me out of trouble a few times. Or the old F8 safe boot after the bios splash screen, of course.

As i say, if you install Ubuntu to the small hard drive, you can access the Windows data on the other drive easily enough. You can do it from the Ubuntu Live CD as well, I reckon.

[schmoo]

Yep, that's it. I'm using the old, small drive with TinyXP as an OS, just for the net and CD burning - to save files from the bigger drive with the broken windows installation. Then I'll format the bigger drive and install XP from scratch on it, and that'll be my boot drive.

When the old installation died, I tried every F8 option in there. I would try Ubuntu, but I'm halfway through backing it all up now as I am - it'll be quicker to finish it with XP than to find my around a new OS :)

[system7]

Well, bud, I was just throwing a few options in.

That XP repair install is a good one, but if you can manage to backup to CD-R or something, that will do.

Shame about the USB, but you seem to be managing.:p

[schmoo]

Yeah, I'll live :)

Thanks for the help.

[Helior]

Problems with USB drives can be caused by drive letter conflicts, check out disk management (run compmgmt.msc)