4 Port USB hub can only use 1 device at a time

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frankzappa77

Member
I just bought a new 4-port USB hub after my old one had stopped working for some reason, and I can't plug in more than 1 device at a time. My old one also had 4 ports and I could use my 2GB USB drive and my wireless mouse at the same time without any problems.

With my new hub, If I have my mouse plugged in and then plug in my USB drive, my mouse stops working (as if I have pulled the receiver out - the 'safely remove hardware icon disappears) and my USB doesn't even connect. Then If I remove either one, the other one which is still plugged in will connect again.

I've also had the same problem if I try any combination with my external hard drive. My external HD has its own power source and has the same problem. I can't say though, whether my old hub worked with either my mouse or USB stick, because I didn't have an external back then.

I've tried opening Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and looking around in the USB section for the power being supplied to the ports, but it only shows 98 mA for my mouse. And what I don't understand is, even when I run this program without the hub plugged in, it'll show 5 listings for 'USB Root Hub'. Now my laptop has 4 usb ports and an integrated webcam, and the options for the 5th listing says my camera's name along with 500 mA, even though I'm not even using it. And when I plug the hub in, it doesn't show any new entries, and the properties for my mouse show up under the previous 'USB Root Hub' entries.

Does this have to do with my hub not being able to support more than 1 device at a time, or is this a power supply problem? (power supply as in the power that's being supplied to my USB ports, not PSU)

And if I haven't mentioned already, both my old and new hubs do not have an external power source, the just have a USB connection.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5630
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66GHz 65nm 667MHz FSB 2MB L2
    Motherboard
    Acer Grapevine Intel i945GM Chipset
    Memory
    2x1GB DDR2 333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated GMA 950 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LCD 16ms
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    200GB 5400rpm Toshiba MK2035GSS ATA-7, 250GB 7200rpm Maxtor External USB Hard Drive
It could be that the USB hub doesnt have enough power.... Thats my thought.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
frankzappa77 said:
I just bought a new 4-port USB hub after my old one had stopped working for some reason, and I can't plug in more than 1 device at a time. My old one also had 4 ports and I could use my 2GB USB drive and my wireless mouse at the same time without any problems.

With my new hub, If I have my mouse plugged in and then plug in my USB drive, my mouse stops working (as if I have pulled the receiver out - the 'safely remove hardware icon disappears) and my USB doesn't even connect. Then If I remove either one, the other one which is still plugged in will connect again.

I've also had the same problem if I try any combination with my external hard drive. My external HD has its own power source and has the same problem. I can't say though, whether my old hub worked with either my mouse or USB stick, because I didn't have an external back then.

I've tried opening Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and looking around in the USB section for the power being supplied to the ports, but it only shows 98 mA for my mouse. And what I don't understand is, even when I run this program without the hub plugged in, it'll show 5 listings for 'USB Root Hub'. Now my laptop has 4 usb ports and an integrated webcam, and the options for the 5th listing says my camera's name along with 500 mA, even though I'm not even using it. And when I plug the hub in, it doesn't show any new entries, and the properties for my mouse show up under the previous 'USB Root Hub' entries.

Does this have to do with my hub not being able to support more than 1 device at a time, or is this a power supply problem? (power supply as in the power that's being supplied to my USB ports, not PSU)

And if I haven't mentioned already, both my old and new hubs do not have an external power source, the just have a USB connection.
Click to expand...

I had a similar issue awhile back, and my solution was simple. I plugged the 4-Port HUB into one of the USB ports at the rear of my computer (those provided directly by the motherboard). If the HUB was plugged into any of the extended front-panel ports, then I could only use one port at a time on the hub.

It's got something to do with the internal cables leading to the front panels ports that don't always expose the power lines of the usb ports.

If this still doesn't work for you, exchange the hub for another one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 9600 Quad
    Motherboard
    ASUS MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi
    Memory
    2 x A-Data 2GB DDR2-800
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAHARA 21"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2 x 80GB Seagate (I)
    2 x 120GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 200GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 250GB Seagate (I/S)
    PSU
    800W
    Case
    Thermaltake Tai-Chi
    Cooling
    Tai-Chi Water Cooler
    Keyboard
    Genius
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    384kbps
    Other Info
    Currently dual booting between Vista x64 Ultimate Windows 7 BETA x64
I tried plugging two devices into the hub and then plugging the hub into all of the different USB ports on my laptop and now Windows first finds the driver for 'Unkown Device' and then says that the device has malfunctioned and to replace it if the problem persists.

I guess I have to buy another one. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5630
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66GHz 65nm 667MHz FSB 2MB L2
    Motherboard
    Acer Grapevine Intel i945GM Chipset
    Memory
    2x1GB DDR2 333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated GMA 950 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LCD 16ms
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    200GB 5400rpm Toshiba MK2035GSS ATA-7, 250GB 7200rpm Maxtor External USB Hard Drive
frankzappa77 said:
I tried plugging two devices into the hub and then plugging the hub into all of the different USB ports on my laptop and now Windows first finds the driver for 'Unkown Device' and then says that the device has malfunctioned and to replace it if the problem persists.

I guess I have to buy another one. :(
Click to expand...

You don't have to buy another one. If you still have all the receipts for the one you have, you should be able to claim a Defective Item Return, and exchange it for another.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 9600 Quad
    Motherboard
    ASUS MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi
    Memory
    2 x A-Data 2GB DDR2-800
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAHARA 21"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2 x 80GB Seagate (I)
    2 x 120GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 200GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 250GB Seagate (I/S)
    PSU
    800W
    Case
    Thermaltake Tai-Chi
    Cooling
    Tai-Chi Water Cooler
    Keyboard
    Genius
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    384kbps
    Other Info
    Currently dual booting between Vista x64 Ultimate Windows 7 BETA x64
Thats always a good idea to try. Hope it works

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5QC
    Memory
    2x2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GeForce 9500GT 1Gb
    Sound Card
    Mobo
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206bw
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SP2514N ATA 250Gb 7200RPM
    Samsung [Model] 1Tb 7200RPM SATA2
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
    Keyboard
    Razer Tarantula
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis
    Internet Speed
    not fast enough
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