W3J USB Problems

Hi All,

I've got a W3J that I've had since their initial release back in May (April? I can't remember. June? Doesn't matter.) of last year. I've been very happy with it since I got it, up until now. I also haven't formatted and reinstalled Windows ever - don't need to; my OS is up-to-date, clean, and secure. My primary OS is actually Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper, but I keep the Windows XP partition for schoolwork. I've been using it more often than Ubuntu lately, due to a massive project that requires Windows-only SW.

Just today, in Windows, the USB controller started acting up. All my peripherals are fine except for my Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro. Whenever that's plugged in, all my devices drop ("disconnect" sound plays in Windows). I can get them all to reconnect just fine, but then I plug in the Cam and they drop again.

I tried to find a chipset driver or something similar that looked like it would apply to the USB hardware, but there wasn't anything that I recognized on the Asus site.

Has anyone seen this issue before? Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be or how to fix it, short of a complete reinstall?

Much appreciated. You guys convinced me that the W3J was THE laptop to get when I was shopping for a new laptop, and it has been for well over a year now. Hopefully, you can help me again with this bizarre problem.

Cheers,
J

 

The best I can guess is that there is a Windows problem. Does everything cooperate in Ubuntu? Even if you don't have drivers, if everything can power up and be detected simultaneously in Ubuntu, then Windows is just goofed. If Windows is goofed, then it sounds like its time for a clean install. You could try registry cleaners, such as RegSeeker or CCleaner (google for them), but I doubt that they will do it.

 

Update:
I figured out which of the things on the Asus Site was the chipset driver, and downloaded it. When I try to run it, it doesn't seem like it does anything. The problem still exists.

I found what I think is a newer version of the drivers on the Intel website. I'll try that, and see what happens.

EDIT: or maybe not. "The Intel Chipset Device Software provides _functionality_ for AGP and USB, _not_ AGP or USB drivers. DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS UTILITY IF YOUR DEVICE MANUFACTURER IS RECOMMENDING IT TO CORRECT AN "AGP DRIVER," "AGP GART," OR "USB DRIVER" ISSUE; IT WILL NOT CORRECT YOUR ISSUE." Perhaps I'm looking for something else? I thought there was a usb controller that Windows needs a driver for...

Don't know if everything detects correctly in Ubuntu. I've never used the webcam before in Ubuntu. That's probably the next attempt.

I guess I can finally get around to reinstalling Windows. I've been putting it off because there was nothing wrong so far, and it was still performing decently. Oh well.

Thanks,
J

 

not sure if this is it, but it might be a power issue. I dont know in the case of the w3j (havent tested it) but some usbs if they are on the same connection to the MB only allow 5 volts over both usbs. Does this problem persist if you a) use a hub with external power, or b) plug it into the usb on the right, not the two sandwhich on the left side.

 

My Webcam is plugged into the right-hand side USB port. I have an external HD on one of the other ports, and a 4-port hub on the other port. The 4-port hub has an external power option, but it is not currently connected. The hub has a joystick, my wireless KB/Mouse combo, and an FPGA development board (externally powered). It is possible that all these devices are drawing more power than recommended, but it's been set up like this for several weeks without changing. There wasn't a problem before.
I just tried unplugging everything but the HD, the webcam, the hub, and the KB/Mouse. It still drops everything. What's weird is that if I unplug the webcam, in a few seconds everything else is reconnected, so the root hub recovers gracefully as soon as the webcam is gone.
I've reinstalled the webcam drivers, so that's not at fault. I'm at a loss, and just about ready to reinstall Windows. Any last thoughts?

Thanks.