No USB 2 in XP SP1 2

[Caitlinjo]

OS - Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 1 and all relevant patches installed.

According to Microsoft, this configuration should have USB 2 drivers installed. The Device Manager should show USB 2.0 EHCI Host controller. It does not reveal any evidence to this controller being present. I have searched the entire Device Manager and it just isn't there. I need advice pointing me in the direction I need to go in order to get USB 2 set up on this computer.

 

[linney]

822603 - Availability of the Windows XP SP1 USB 1.1 and 2.0 Update

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822603&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Have you got this update installed?

 

[Caitlinjo]

Linney,
On your suggestion I downloaded the update and installed it but there is no difference. Nowhere in the Device Manager is there any mention of USB 2.

 

[micker377]

Does your motherboard have provisions for USB 2? If it does, there should be drivers on the setup CD that came with the mobo.

 

[Caitlinjo]

Micker,
According to the motherboard installation CD instructions regarding USB 2, "Please note that windows .NET server and windows SP1 will not need this package, because they already contain software support for USB 2."

 

[paparazi]

USB2 drivers are already installed if you are using XP SP1, so absolutely no need for any additional driver installation.
As I understand it it just says "standard enhanced USB controller" with no referance to USB2 at all.
I have two differant machines with USB2 motherboards, both like yours XPpro with SP1, neither mention USB2 in the device manager.
One is an Nforce2 motherboard and the other is a Via KT400.
I must admit I have wondered about this myself but am assured this is the norm.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[bcastner]

right-click the USB controller(s), Properties, Driver.
Click "Driver Details" and see which of three possible USB drivers XP installed. If the driver usbehci.sys is installed, it is 2.0, is usbohci.sys, it is 1.1.


If your Device Manager shows an ENHANCED USB Host Controller, the system has High Speed USB (USB 2.0) capability.

In Device Manager if you see any listing with "Enhanced" for the USB to PCI bus, it is 2.0:

Intel Enhanced PCI to USB controller
SiS Enhanced PCI to USB controller
VIA Enhanced PCI to USB controller
ALi Enhanced PCI to USB controller
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB controller
NEC Enhanced PCI to USB controller

 

[Caitlinjo]

Thanks for your interest Paparazi, my Device Manager calls it, "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller". From Microsoft's knowledge base I read that it should read, "USB 2.0 EHCI Host Controller". It is also referred to as such in the text file on the Nvidia CD that came with the motherboard, an Asus A7N8X-E.

I sent an inquiry to Asus technical support in Taiwan and received a reply that was lacking in clarity due to the language barrier. Along with the reply was a file containing a USB driver and the following directions copied verbatim and pasted below:

Fisrt please install the USB driver in the attachment .
after installation ,and reboot .
please enter windows--control panel--system--hardware--device manager--univerail serial bus controller,
then update the item" Standard enhance to USB controller" driver , and manually specify it to
"nvidia USB2 enhanced host controller" , then OK .
sometimes you must re-do all steps again if your usb 2.0 driver can't use still.
if your usb 1.1 can't run after this,please delete the usb1.1 controller items and fresh
again.
all will be ok!¡¡

I sent a follow up email requesting clarification but have yet to receive a reply. If you or anyone else can decipher the above directions I will be delighted to hear your interpretation. I did install the driver but have no idea where to direct the driver upgrade wizard for the needed file(s).

I became aware of the problem when transferring a multitude of files from the hard drive to a portable USB flash drive. The transfer was incredibly slow, the flash drive is USB 2 certified so I began investigating my operating system. I had no idea I was opening a can of worms, but it has been done and I am up to my ears in worms until the answers come my way.

 

[Caitlinjo]

Dear Bcastner,

Is there anything about computers you don't know? The driver is indeed "usbehci.sys", and the reference is "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB controller." It seems that I have been wading in muddy waters again for no valid reason, other than to chalk it up the "the school of hard knocks."

While checking your reference to the driver file's proper name I also checked the "Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller" and found the driver file to be usbohci.sys (1.1) just as you said it would be.

Once again I thank you for your diligence and once again send you a red star.

 

[paparazi]

Whilst accepting everthing that bcastner has said to be true (on the same lines as my thoughts but as usual much more eloquently put)
I am still intrigued as to what this additional driver was (bearing in mind that you must have told Asus support that you were already using XP with installed SP1) and that they told you to quote:
Update the item" Standard enhance to USB controller" driver , and manually specify it to "nvidia USB2 enhanced host controller"
Presumably updating with their supplied driver.
So what was this driver?
If in your device manager it already said "enhanced" why did they advice you to update the driver with one they supplied??
Very interesting.
Certainly would help if it actually said USB2 somewhere!!!
Martin


Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[bcastner]

Martin,

This perhaps, (as linney referenced above):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en;822603