Certain USB ports only work with some devices?

[clickynext]

I just got a Sandisk Cruzer Micro 512MB USB flash drive, and when I plugged it in the front ports on my computer (which are connected to my Asus A7N8X-E) one of those little yellow information boxes pops up on the system tray saying there is a devices malfunction, and it cannot be recognized. The drive works properly when plugged into the ports on the back of the computer. I remember now that when I borrowed someone else's Kingston USB drive, it didn't work in the front ports either. However, my digital camera works fine when plugged into those same ports.

Does anyone know why, or how to fix this? Thanks for your help.

 

[shortylickens]

There is the ever so slight possibilty that the front ports arent providing as much power as the rear ports.
Some USB devices need more power than others to work properly. Thats why many USB hubs have AC power adapters.
Your camera uses its own battery power to help out, but I'm sure your flash drive has no battery.
Try using it in powered and unpowered hubs.

 

[LED]

The front USB may only be reading @ lowspeeds or the plugs are not hooked up properly.

 

[nweaver]

may be drivers for USB2.0. My workstation seemed to be haveing the same problem, (multiple machines, same hardware actually). Installed XP with SP2 slipstreamed in (as opposed to XP with no SP's) and it went away. Not sure why.

 

[tata]

The Power supply for front usb port maybe is key problem

 

[clickynext]

Hmm, is there any possible way to fix the power problem? Why does it do this for the front, when both front and back are powered by the controller on the motherboard?

 

[Peter]

This usually happens when the port hardware and the peripheral are high-speed USB 2.0, but the case's internal cabling and front plug harness aren't. Then you'll get data transmission errors, "unknown device" being a typical symptom.

 

[clickynext]

Alright, thanks guys. Looks like I'm stuck with the plugs in the back. Updating to SP2 didn't work either. Thinking of getting a USB hub, but I hope I'm not so lazy... heh

 

[Peter]

You can alternatively buy a USB 2.0 High Speed capable USB slot bracket, and rewire those front ports to the back of the machine. There might even be headers for more ports on the mainboard that are as yet unused.