Very strange USB problem??

[Jhill]

I couldn't get my computer to reconize my digital camera or my webcam through the usb ports. I made sure usb was turned on in the bios. I plug them in and restart xp pro and nothing happened.

Then I hooked up my powered usb hub and hooked my camera up through that and it works! Why will it work through the hub but not work when I hook it straight into the usb port? The hub is plugged into the same port I tried before.

Any suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

Two things to note - first, USB devices are best hot-plugged after the machine is running - not before. Second, the hub has power needed by the camera while your mobo port may not have enough.

The normal procedure for that is to first, install the camera's drivers and software. Then reboot - and when the system is up and running and stable - hot plug the camera. The hub is the best way to go.

I am on my 5th digital camera after about 6 years, and after camera number 1, I have never plugged a camera into my computer. I just put the media from the camera into a reader/writer - much faster, neater and no special software is needed.

 

[Jhill]

Thanks for the info.
A couple of things to note here. This is how all of my usb devices act. I tried a game controller, an old webcam and my digital camcorder. I tried to connect them all after my machine is running. None of them work when I plug them into my USB port but ALL of them work when I plug them into my usb hub. (my hub is plugged into the same port that I tried to connect the devices too)

 

[corkyg]

That sorta confirms my suspicion that your mobo USB ports are under powered - maybe you need a bigger powwer supply? But - the hub works - so that is the better way to go.