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    m17x Power/USB Problem

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Silent_Sc(+)pe, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. Silent_Sc(+)pe

    Silent_Sc(+)pe Notebook Geek

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    Alright, I have a weird one for all of you. I'm having a issue where my m17x does not "fully" recognize my portable Western Digital hard drive. I currently have a razor mouse, a HP Photosmart Printer, and a 160GB WD Harddrive (Powered from PC) plugged-in to my USB ports (Firewire is not being used). When my printer is on, the computer recognizes my portable hardrive as a generic HD and says that it's empty. When my printer is turned off, it recognizes it correctly and allows me to browse all the files. It sounds like a power or driver confliction, but ya'll are the experts. Anyone else have this problem?
     
    Silent_Sc(+)pe, Sep 30, 2008
    #1
  2. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    as you said,strange.
    try this just to give us a bit of an idea whats happening.
    open the hard drive so you can look at the files. leave it open.
    then turn your printer on. are the files still there.
    close the hard drive and now open it again while the printer is still on.
    can you see the files or is it now saying empty.
     
    MrDJ, Sep 30, 2008
    #2
  3. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Try updating the chipset driver. And in the USB Root Hub driver properties, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device"
     
    Andy, Sep 30, 2008
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  4. Silent_Sc(+)pe

    Silent_Sc(+)pe Notebook Geek

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    I tried what you said and the HD seems to work that way, I'm not sure for how long though. I first encountered the problem playing some music from itunes. I keep all my music on my portable and was playing music from that when itunes crashed and the harddrive went missing from My Computer.
     
    Silent_Sc(+)pe, Sep 30, 2008
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  5. Silent_Sc(+)pe

    Silent_Sc(+)pe Notebook Geek

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    How exactly do I update that Chipset, and how do I get to the USB Root Hub Properties?
     
    Silent_Sc(+)pe, Sep 30, 2008
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  6. findvikas

    findvikas Notebook Deity

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    Try reloading all the USB Controller drivers... this way

    1) Windows+R -> Run -> devmgmt.msc -> Enter
    2) Expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers" (must be the last one in the list)
    3) Select one by one all controllers and delete all of them
    4) Wait for some time and they all will come back automatically, should not take more than 2 minutes
    5) Reboot... does it work now ?
     
    findvikas, Sep 30, 2008
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  7. Silent_Sc(+)pe

    Silent_Sc(+)pe Notebook Geek

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    Anyone else think that's a good idea?
     
    Silent_Sc(+)pe, Oct 1, 2008
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  8. Alienware-James

    Alienware-James Company Representative

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    It will redetect and reload legacy drivers when windows is restarted. This should work without issue.
     
    Alienware-James, Oct 1, 2008
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  9. Silent_Sc(+)pe

    Silent_Sc(+)pe Notebook Geek

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    should i have my printer plugged in and turned on when I do it...will I have to reinstall anything?
     
    Silent_Sc(+)pe, Oct 2, 2008
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  10. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    It doesn't matter if you have anything connected or not. Those devices won't be affected.

    Just uninstall all the USB controllers, and the devices attached will automatically get disconnected.

    The USB controllers will reload again, but if they don't, just "Scan for H/W Changes".
     
    Andy, Oct 2, 2008
    #10