USB Wierdness

[jaylek55]

I apologize in advance for posting this question again, but I'm not getting any help. Surely there must be someone who can figure this out. Okay here's the problem:

I'm trying to use the speakers that came with my old Dell. They are Altec Lansing ACS495's. They use a USB cable in addition to the normal analog wire. Installing the software that came with my speakers, Windows ME assigns the drivers where they need to be correctly. But after rebooting, ME says there is a problem with the speakers. The software says the same thing, ""USB Cable/Speakers not detected". However, if I pull out the USB cable and put it back in, the speakers are detected and everything is cool. Mind you sound if fine no matter what.

Now, why is this happening? I've tried upgrading the A7V's bios, went from 1002 to 1003, with no solution. I've looked on Asus' website for some mention of this problem and nothing. I'm really stumped on this. I really would like ME to recognize my speakers without me having to pull wires every single time I power-up my system. Can anyone help?

The following components were installed when the problem was discovered:

Asus A7V
TBird 800
SB Live X-Gamer Slot 3
PC-DVD Encore 8x/Dxr 3 Slot 1
Leadtek Winfast GeForce2 32MB

After fact:

3Com Ethernet Card Slot 5

Eveything else works great. Why not USB...?

 

[jaylek55]

Still trying to figure this problem out. I installed the USB Filter drivers from VIA with no luck. Should I install the latest 4-in-1 drivers? Does anyone think this could possibly help? Does anyone know why this is happening?

 

[Soccerman]

the reason most people here would probably not know the problem, is that they use soundcards, rather then USB oriented speakers. the reason for this, is that audio in software (which is what the USB port does) gives the CPU all the work, instead of relaying most of it to the soundcard. this is why most people don't WANT USB speakers. I'm sorry I cannot help you about this either, becuase I don't know.

 

[NicColt]

did you use them on your old dell with usb ?
some older usb devices have been know to have problems. perhaps that usb standard was changed since then but that's just a guess. can you still use the analog.

 

[jaylek55]

Soccerman - Thanks for the response.

NicColt - To answer your question, yes. I've used these speakers since I got my Dell about 2-3 years ago. They have never been a problem until know. Of all the components I moved over to my new system, I never thought I'd have problems with my speakers. Go figure...

As for analog wise, I can hear sound just fine. My problem is simply that the speakers aren't recognized by ME until I unplug and replug the USB cable. Being recognized by ME isn't such a big deal on a regular basis. But when I want to start messing around with channel & subwoofer levels, I'd like to be able to.

Any insight.

 

[Slacker]

Audio in software using USB?

Unless his speakers are different than the microsoft digital sound system 80(DSS80), then it is definitely not software audio, it is digital direct to the dac in the amp.

A couple of things to try, is "USB legacy support" on in the bios?
Are you trying to use both USB and sound card connections at the same time? How does it work without the sound card in your system (uninstall drivers and pull card)


I have the DSS80's, have not used a sound card for almost two years, it works quite nicely, I like it very much

 

[dawks]

Ok, I have these speakers and I have had a similar problem in the past. These speakers only use USB for volume control, and switching between stero, and pro-logic mode. They are normal speakers in anyother respect.

As for your problem, you have two possible issues, one being that the software for the ACS-495 has issues with WinME (It was designed for Win98). That could be the problem. In which case, your stuck. Unless you change OS's, cause I doubt that Dell is going to update the software.

Your second option, is, that the USB port on the mobo is damaged. When I reformatted my harddrive and re-installed Win98, I was not told to, and never thought of unplugging my USB devices. Silly me. I left my ACS-495's hooked up and ended up damaging my USB port to the point where, after several hours with Dell tech, they decided to send me a new MoBo. Problem solved. (Just a note, dont leave any USB devices plugged in when installing an OS)

I hope this helps.

 

[jaylek55]

Okay, I'd like to believe that it's a software conflict. If so, then I'm doomed to constantly unplug & plug. What I don't want to believe is that my USB ports are bad. Since when I u&p, the speakers are fine. And when I installed ME, I didn't have the USB cable connected.

I guess the only way I'll find out if they work is to get another USB device. Or is there some other way I can test the ports?

 

[dawks]

If you didnt have the cable connected, then its probably just software conflict.

You could try testing with another USB device I guess.. Sorry

 

[jaylek55]

Thanks for your help. I think I'll put up with these until I can afford a 4-speaker setup. Afterall, what's the point in having a Live! if you can't exploit it.

 

[Adrian Tung]

Does your speakers have external controls?

The ADA70's I use at work sometimes have problems with the volume controls, so I unplugged the USB cable and now I just use the controls on the speakers themselves. No more problems whatsoever.


atwl

 

[cavingjan]

I had some similar issues with my webcam. Had to unplug/plug for it to be recognized. I also had another issue with the video stream quality but I bought a cheap USB hub from CompUSA when they were on sale one day and that solved both problems. It turns out my motherboard was not supplying a good clean current for the device. Maybe once a month or so the camera isn't recognized and I have to unplug it but I can live with that little bit of freakiness.

 

[Strikeforce]

If you have a live why use USB? Can't you plub the speakers into the Live?

 

[Strikeforce]

If you have a live why use USB? Can't you plub the speakers into the Live?

 

[Strikeforce]

I didn't mean for me to have two messages...I don't know why it did that.

 

[dcdomain]

Hey I have the same speakers and had the same problems a while ago! Very weird problem, it went away after I formatted my computer and reinstalled everything though. Currently, since I got the Sound Blaster Live, I took the USB portion out because the AL speaker's USB mixer was conflicting with the SB Live's mixer. I suggest just leaving it unplugged, the thing doesn't have much use anyway.

And as for leaving the USB stuff unplugged during a format and install... %&@(#*7 I didn't know that! Damn... too late now, did that so many times I lost count. Thankfully, my USB ports still sort of work...

dc