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Difference Between USB Ports on Front Vs. Back of PC

M

mtnagel

Member
I just got an iPod and instead of hooking up the dock and pulling the computer out and using the USB ports on the back of my PC, I just used the front USB port. Well, I kept getting all sorts of errors. After several hours of messing with it (I wanted to throw the $400 thing through the window I was getting so aggrivated) I actually got a replacement at the Apple store. I did the same thing with the new one and I kept getting the same errors. I was very annoyed to say the least and then I just decided to try a back port and everything worked flawlessly. In fact, I'm amazed at how fast it can transfer songs. I'd say it can do about 3-6 songs per second (I don't know what USB should be, but that could be up to 30 mb/sec - just an estimate). My new Sony camera is much slower than that (I'd say about a picture a second or 1 mb/sec - again, an estimate).

Anyway, I really want to know why the front port is different than the back ports? Thanks
 
There shouldnt be a diff between front and back ports. The problem may have occured because u didnt have ur USB drivers installed or they needed to be updated.
 
Originally posted by: Adam7
there isnt normaly a diff, but what are the errors you are getting?
Click to expand...
I was getting the folder with exclamation point icon on the ipod and these errors:

error 1
error 2
error 3

Also, when I tried to format it, I'd get a "disk write error".

At one point, I was able to get iTunes to start syncing, but it was taking about 5 seconds for each song and then I got one of thos errors after a hundred (of my 4400+) or so mp3's.
 
Originally posted by: bq16
There shouldnt be a diff between front and back ports. The problem may have occured because u didnt have ur USB drivers installed or they needed to be updated.
Click to expand...
I guess it could be, but the computer knew something was hooked up to it (and I do use the other front one for a joystick), so I doubt it. Although this is the only time I've used the front ones (except the joystick) since I built this PC.
 
Originally posted by: zerocool84
maybe the wires are connected wrong on the front onto the motherboard????
Click to expand...

this is what i am thinking to, those front wires are a pain in the @$$, maybe one is crossed

 
If the wires were connected wrong, it wouldn't be working at all, since the all-important data pins have to be correct to get it working at all. Instead, it seems highly likely that the wiring used for the front ports is suspect, or possibly the headers/ports themselves are flakey.
 
depending on which mobo some older mobo comes with 2 usb 1.1 and 2 usb 2.0, also I seen a lot of usb port being shoved and crap, all the wires inside are broken
 
Originally posted by: ViRGE
If the wires were connected wrong, it wouldn't be working at all, since the all-important data pins have to be correct to get it working at all. Instead, it seems highly likely that the wiring used for the front ports is suspect, or possibly the headers/ports themselves are flakey.
Click to expand...

Or it could have shorted out, and damaged the motherboard.

Could have been like the one header I got from FrontX already (they specialize in front-panel accessories). Windows detected a DEVICE connected to the USB headers, even though it was just some wire and a few molded adapters. And nothing worked when plugged in. I checked the wiring over and over, and also made sure, with a continuity tester and a pinout diagram, that the wires themselves were connected properly. No idea what was wrong there. I ditched the FrontX thing, and got one of those 7-in-1 card readers, something like this, which has a USB connector on it. It works perfectly.

Seeing how you replaced the front USB ports already, I'll also have to vote to place the motherboard's headers under suspicion.
 
Try to transfer something to the ipod using a file manager (eg windows explorer) via the front usb port, that'll tell you if it's your USB port or, as I suspect, itunes, which is notoriously buggy and includes malware (QT) with the install.
 
I've heard that some mobos have both USB 1.x and USB 2.0 ports, but the transfers should still work OK, just slower. Or it could be the front USB port cables. They should be shielded for USB 2 operation, so maybe they are just marginal for USB 2 operation - so they are good enough to initiate a USB2 connection, but when you actually try to transfer date, FUBAR...
.bh.

b-brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
 
Originally posted by: Gurck
Try to transfer something to the ipod using a file manager (eg windows explorer) via the front usb port, that'll tell you if it's your USB port or, as I suspect, itunes, which is notoriously buggy and includes malware (QT) with the install.
Click to expand...

i really hate itunes..... what malware? what is qt?
 
Well, when I was using the front port, I was able to transfer files to the iPod using Explorer just fine (at least a couple small ones).

Now that I've switched to the back port, I haven't had a single problem and iTunes works fine for me. I've heard other people say bad things about iTunes, but what are the other options for an iPod? I thought you needed to use iTunes since you can't just drag and drop.

The motherboard is an Asus A7N8X-X.
 
A lot of front USB port cables on cheap cases are not shielded, and not up to USB 2.0 high-speed transfer specs. I personally wouldn't run anything really important, like USB 2.0 storage devices, over them. (Been thinking about that recently, have a USB2.0 flash drive, usually just plug them into the front of my case, but the wires are unshielded. I thin I'll invest in a self-powered USB2.0 hub instead, and use that.)
 
Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
A lot of front USB port cables on cheap cases are not shielded, and not up to USB 2.0 high-speed transfer specs. I personally wouldn't run anything really important, like USB 2.0 storage devices, over them. (Been thinking about that recently, have a USB2.0 flash drive, usually just plug them into the front of my case, but the wires are unshielded. I thin I'll invest in a self-powered USB2.0 hub instead, and use that.)
Click to expand...
It's a $70 Antec case. Like I said, I run a joystick out of it and never had a problem, but I see how a joystick is a much easier load than an iPod.

 
Originally posted by: mtnagel
Well, when I was using the front port, I was able to transfer files to the iPod using Explorer just fine (at least a couple small ones).

Now that I've switched to the back port, I haven't had a single problem and iTunes works fine for me. I've heard other people say bad things about iTunes, but what are the other options for an iPod? I thought you needed to use iTunes since you can't just drag and drop.

The motherboard is an Asus A7N8X-X.
Click to expand...

I think the onboard usb controller (for the header that is connected to the front ports) is probably shot. I had this exact problem with that very board a few months ago. It turned out a capictor blew up, and took out the usb controller (but nothing else).
 
Originally posted by: bob4432
i really hate itunes..... what malware? what is qt?
Click to expand...

Malware would be software that does things you don't want it to, from viruses and spyware down to annoyances like resetting file associations without your permission. QT = apple's Quicktime.

Originally posted by: mtnagel
I've heard other people say bad things about iTunes, but what are the other options for an iPod? I thought you needed to use iTunes since you can't just drag and drop.
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd ebay the ipod and get a better player. There are third-party programs to put music on ipods though, ephpod and anapod are two that come to mind. I've heard many of them are buggy, but people seem to like ephpod especially.
 
Originally posted by: mtnagel
Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
A lot of front USB port cables on cheap cases are not shielded, and not up to USB 2.0 high-speed transfer specs. I personally wouldn't run anything really important, like USB 2.0 storage devices, over them. (Been thinking about that recently, have a USB2.0 flash drive, usually just plug them into the front of my case, but the wires are unshielded. I thin I'll invest in a self-powered USB2.0 hub instead, and use that.)
Click to expand...
It's a $70 Antec case. Like I said, I run a joystick out of it and never had a problem, but I see how a joystick is a much easier load than an iPod.
Click to expand...
If the ports are replacable at all, call Antec and tell them that the ports are acting flakey. They will nearly always send out a replacement free of charge, double so if the case is old enough that it was designed before USB 2.0.
 
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