USB port wiring on case wrong ?

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
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So I have an old Antec case. The front USB ports have 9 individual pins to plug into the motherboard. I put them in exactly as the motherboard said to with VCC, +, - and ground, but when I plug a USB device in, it says "unrecognised USB device. Is it possible that the case has the connectors marked wrong ? If I switch the + and - part of the wiring (not the VCC and ground), will I blow a USB device ?
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
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usb 1 or 2 i am assuming.

yes you can fry a usb device. i had an older case with individual wires that i reversed the power lines, when i stuck in a friend's flash drive it fried after a few seconds.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
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If the case is old enough to have seperate lines for each USB pin, then it may be old enough that the front-panel USB wires are not shielded well enough to work with USB 2.0 devices. I have a few older cases like this.

Best bet is to get a PCI-E USB3.0 card, and a 3.5" USB bay panel that plugs into the controller card.

Card:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G?tag=at055-20

Or maybe one of these:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=0dJzT4ybHYL50gHvtOiAAw&ved=0CGsQ8wIwAA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815150170
 
Last edited:

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
27,016
15,961
136
If the case is old enough to have seperate lines for each USB pin, then it may be old enough that the front-panel USB wires are not shielded well enough to work with USB 2.0 devices. I have a few older cases like this.

Best bet is to get a PCI-E USB3.0 card, and a 3.5" USB bay panel that plugs into the controller card.

Card:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G?tag=at055-20

Or maybe one of these:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=0dJzT4ybHYL50gHvtOiAAw&ved=0CGsQ8wIwAA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815150170

What if I plug a USB 1.0 device in, and it does the same ? I think I have those. Even so, the question is, if I reverse the d+ and D- pins. will it fry a USB device ? or just not work ?
 

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,924
1,407
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depends on device, but as i said it will very easily fry a flash drive .
 

plastic desk

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2012
6
0
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I've never had a problem with data lines swapped. The system seems to be designed to tolerate faults on the lines, i would think. Swapped power lines is definitely a problem, though.