7508gx with a weird USB 2.0 problem

My appologies if this is posted somewhere else, but I've searched all over and couldn't find much on it...

A friend with a 7508gx has an issue where, when he plugs in a USB 2.0 device, recieves the error baloon that says something along the lines of "for best performance, this device should be plugged into a high-speed USB 2.0 port", leading me to believe that the device has been detected using USB 1.0 instead of the correct USB 2.0. Now, since all the ports are USB 2.0, I know that's wrong. As far as I've been able to tell, XP has detected the ports correctly (the device properties show the correct voltage, settings, etc.). But with the error and the fact that the devices seem to be going at USB 1.0 speeds, I'm lead to believe that the USB 2.0 is just not being utilized. No device conflicts are showing, and I've checked his settings against mine (I have a 7510gx, which should, in theory, have identical settings in this department) and they all match. Needless to say, I'm at a loss.

A few people have suggested this may be a driver problem, but since the 7508gx is about a month old, no updated drivers are available, and I would think the stock drivers should work since they do on my 7510. Both systems still have XP Home on them (in the interests of preserving the warranty *rolls eyes*) and are for the most part the same as they were when they came out of the box (with all current updates installed).

Does anyone have any idea why this is happening or has experienced the same problem?

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Well folks, it seems that even Gateway tech support has never heard of such a problem, so I can understand the lack of replies... according to tech support, this is the first time anyone has reported such a malfunction (go figure). According to my friend: after a while going through the steps with tech support and performing a destructive restore no progress was made. The unit has been sent to Gateway for service. So anyone else who runs into this little bug, chances are it's a hardware failure/malfunction of some kind. I'll post any other details I get in case it's helpful to anyone.

 

Might want to try using Windows update to update your usb drivers.

 

Yeah, that was one of the first steps... no dice. Drivers are current as far as I could find. Hence why it went back... I think between me, my consultant buddies, and the techies at GW, we pretty much exhausted all the possibilities of it being a software problem. It's out for repair now... so I suppose we'll see what happens.

 

Hey djvanyel,

sorry to hear about that. Sending the computer out for repair is a pain in the ass. Please let us know what happens. I've also noticed this problem but it is intermitant on my machine. I checked it last night (plugged in my ext Hard drive), and I got the warning message. This morning, after a full shut down, it seems to be working fine - no warning message.

go figure. So Please let everyone know when you find out the problem / solution.

Cheers,
nsl

 

This problem strikes me as something that is probably hardware-related. However, in my case, the problem isn't with detecting the devices on the USB chain, but rather them mis-detecting as being plugged into a USB 1.0 port. And interestingly enough, both devices in my case (an iPod and a pen drive) are also storage devices. Neither Windows Update nor Gw2K has any updated drivers for the USB, and I couldn't find any after a bit of searching through ATI's site either. The problem doesn't seem to be uniform, but rather is confined to a few select computers. One hypothesis is that somehow a few of the cases for these laptops got made with a bum batch of USB ports. My belief is that a faulty USB controller is to blame. Either way, I'm afraid I share the same problem as is described here and many other places: they didn't fix it the first time. I think they too are convinced it has something to do with the software, however I highly doubt this is the case since a restore to F.O.B. condition does nothing to remedy the problem (and since my 7510 works fine with all the crap I have installed, I think we can safely rule out any software conflicts, but I suppose you never really know). I'm waiting on the latest status report and I'll share it when it comes (the technician's notes "hadn't been entered" when we checked with Gw2K last). But it's back to the techs at Gateway again so we shall see. More to come....



* This was also posted in the following thread, but in the interests of completeness, has been added here.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=28908

 

does anyone know where i can get usb 2.0 drivers. Windows Updates show's no updates available, gateway doesn't show any either. I'm running a 7510gx, found other drivers on Gateway's site for the machine, not usb though. I'm having the problem of my usb coming up 1.0 also, but for me I'm pretty sure I don't have the correct drivers installed. Any help?

 

Hello all,
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything to this thread, but not much has changed. The computer is now due for it's 5th (that's right, it's been back 4 times already and it's still acting up) trip to gateway for repairs, however this time, it's going to the corporate office to be looked at since the techs at their TX warehouse don't understand that mice and keyboards don't utilize USB 2.0 (I was astonished by this). To make an extremely long story short, we still have no idea what's wrong with this thing but one thing of note: it seems that (at least in this instance) a USB device with an external power supply works however an unpowered device (one that relies on power from the USB chain) malfunctions or fails to operate altogether. I'll post a more in-depth account in a future post but right now all I can say is gateway f*@$ed up bigtime on this one and don't seem capable of fixing it...

 

I own a MX7515 and don't have the usb 1.0 problem...BUT, I see real poor USB 2.0 performance on my external USB2 DVD writer and HDD though.

Anyone with benchmarks (HDTune?) for external storage devices?? I won't get over 14MB/s with my hdd and it shows 29MB/s when connected to my old presario.

 

Hello All, I know this has fallen into the archives already, but this is how long it's taken to finally get a resolution from Gateway. And now I'm having to deal with their moronic tech support people who have damaged my laptop rather than fixing it. If anyone else has proof of this kind of thing happening, please contact me, because they lawyers are comin out for this one. Anyway, below I've posted an email I sent to another user on this site regarding the problem (he actually reminded me that I had this posting still up here) and the eventual solution. I'm soured on Gateway for good now... a good customer since 1992, and I'm history... et tu Gateway, et tu?


**BEGIN QUOTED TEXT**

Not a problem, in fact it's good you emailed me here because I had all but forgotten about that thread. The computer in question actually belonged to a good friend of mine (purchased on my advice after buying a 7510 for myself... stupid in retrospect.) The final solution after 6 months+ of returning it to the "Warehouse" in Houston, TX, and then spending a month going around with corporate headquarters, he finally was able to obtain the VP of Customer Relations' assistant's phone number and handled the problem directly with him. Only after this assistant personally worked on the computer was it agreed that the motherboard was defective and the easiest solution was to replace the unit. They replaced it with a refurbished 7510gx and that was that. In short, good luck.
But an intersting aside, my 7510 has a defective screen, and when I sent it into the "Warehouse" for servicing, it came out with damage to the screen. This has now happened twice and the second time the unit was returned to me they accused me of damaging the screen, and put a sticker onto my laptop screen, which only damaged it more. I also noticed exterior damage that wasn't there when I sent it in. Numerous calls to corporate HQ have netted nothing but lies and denials from them. So if you do send your laptop in, make sure you take photographs of it before you send it out because they may attempt to damage the unit for you in order to not have to fix it.
I'd suggest keeping us posted on the forum in case you gain any further insight into this problem because I never recieved a real diagnosis. Good luck, you're gonna need it.

 

I haven't notice this thread up until now. but I may have a suggestion for you. There is one sencerio that if your USB device is rated at 2.0, your USB port is 2.0 but the USB CABLE that connects the 2 device is rated at USB1.1. Then that message will pop up. I don't know you your problem is happening to all your device or just a practicaller one. But hope it may help

 

i was getting the same popup but the tech support gave me a driver download and after installing that i havent gotten that message at all and my usb devices arent disconnecting and reconnecting at slower speeds anymore either.

 

Hello - I haven't had any success with updating drivers.

I did try Gateway support chat again and found a tech that had a different solution to all those poster thus far.

He suggested that the solution required "reloading your USB port drivers".

This is how I was instructed to do this:

1. Please Right Click on the My Computer icons and choose Properties.
2. Click on the Tab marked Hardware
3. Click on the Device Manager Button
4. Click on the + next to Universal serial Bus controllers
5. Highlight each item under that heading and click uninstall.
6. Click on the X in the upper-right hand corner of the DEVICE MANAGER window.
7. Restart the system, and let Windows reload the correct drivers.
8. Test

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Well I did the above - and all is well (so far so good)

 

"This Device will perform faster if connected to a USB 2.0 port" is the error msg I get at intervals when plugging into my so-called "USB 2" ports on this $1300.00 MX7515 Gateway laptop...I don't think we are ISOLATED cases...I think Gway has screwed up a production line and won't admit to it.....where to get help>>>>>>> http://www.usbinfo20.com/ this program will list all USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports and for 19.95 will test them for you...