USB front pannel issue.

[btcomm1]

So I hooked up the USB front pannel and I'm pretty sure I did it right. I plug a USB device in and the computer definetely see's that I plugged in a USB device. The new hardware Icon comes up and the pitch fork looking USB icon comes up, the USB icon goes away and the keyboard does not work. Then I plug the USB keyboard into the back and it gets regognized and works properly. Is there something wrong with the USB front ports or do they just not work with some devices? How could the USB ports be hooked up incorrectly if they are at least regognizing USB devices being plugged into them?

Ok well it seems clear the front USB ports in the front are not working right. It won't even regognize a flash drive, am I missing something? there are a total of 8 wires that I hooked up for the USB front pannels am I missing something? Maybe the front ones do not supply power and will only work with self powering devices?

 

[mamrey]

there should be four plugs per USB. Make sure they are in the proper order, you can try reversing them or flipping them the other way.

 

[TheStu]

No, it will provide some power... what I have found on some cases is that the front ports are only USB 1.1, or that one of the 2 is 1.1 whereas the other is actually 2.0. I think that you need 5 pins for USB 2.0, and only 4 pins for USB 1.1. My old case gave me a total of 9 wires for the front 2 ports, so i believe that only one of the two ports was USB 2.0, in combination with the fact that the front ports were upside down meant that I never really used them.

I agree with mamrey that you should double check how you have them plugged in, particularly as compared to the manual that came with your motherboard.

 

[btcomm1]

Hmmmmm, well that still does not explain this problem then. I looked at the manual and I know I hooked them up properly, there is no way I did not hook them up properly. I mean if I plugged them in incorrectly would it even recognize when I plug a usb device in at all?

 

[TheStu]

Well, it is possible that the "USB Device Detected" is simply a detection of a circuit being closed, so the wires may be correct. However, there are also the two data lines, and if those are crossed, then although it is detected, it would be unusable.

That is merely speculation.

 

[btcomm1]

I would hope that is what is causing this but I think it's either the motherboard or the phyical usb ports/wires. The way they are setup I don't think I could even do it wrong, 3 of the wires are in one phyical connection and the 4th is a single one that is ground and I made sure the ground is lined up the way it's supposed to be, using the key missing pin so unless the plastic peice that is holding the wires is incorrect it's hooked up right.

Is there any way I would possibly damage the motherboard if I switched those wires around just for kicks and giggles? Or is it pretty much just not going to work if I hook it up wrong?

 

[TheStu]

Shouldn't cause too many problems no, I don't think that it will fry your system... not USB

 

[mamrey]

mine is the same way. flip the three around. it's worth a try.

 

[btcomm1]

So yours are the same way, you mean they are incorrectly labeled and reversing them actually fixes it? Or yours are the same way as in they do not work right?

Well I flipped the 3 around, left the ground where it was and still not working.

I also tried both USB hookups on the motherboard and both did the same thing.

 

[montag451]

I'm not actually sure whether you could experiment with the orientation of the cables.

It is possible that I messed up a mobo ages ago by connecting (I think) 7 of 8 pins the wrong way - the diagram in the manual was 'upside down' or i was. Anyway.
All was ok before, not after.

Figured it out when I RMA'd and got replacement. Did it properly afterwards.
It is possible that it wasn't this that screwed it, but it is likely.

 

[btcomm1]

Well, I was careful and made sure I hooked it the proper way the first time, unless of course the plastic piece that held the wires were incorrect, then it's possible I might have messed it up by hooking up properly according to the plastic piece, which in actuality was the wrong way and if that can permanently mess up USB connection that it did.

Anyway I tried hooking it up both ways and neither way worked.

 

[montag451]

Check that all is well with the cables goint to the front panel.

Also, make sure there isn't anything 'lodged' inside the connector on the panel (plastic sticky wrapping for example - to stop the case getting scratched during shipping)

Now we aren't sure whether it is the mobo, or the case which is the problem......

Could you try the mobo in another case, or another mobo in that case?

 

[MadAmos]

I would not try changing the wires!!! don't ask how I know but if the 5v = & - are reversed it can damage the device that you use, .... anybody need a DEAD Wireless g dongle
Have you installed the USB 2.0 drivers that may be on the CD that came with your board?

Amos

 

[btcomm1]

Other USB 2.0 slots on the back of the motherboard are working fine, it's XP sp2 so that isn't the issue, however I wonder if the plastic piece was wrong because I think it may have killed my usb thumb drive.