USB Device not recognised

[Gavona]

I purchased a microscope with a Bresser MicrOcular (enables the display or capture of images on a PC through a USB connection). There are references in the documentaton to it being a "CIF Single Chip" and "Microkular".

On my laptop running XP home: I install the device software. Insert into the USB port and... nothing happens. I run the associated software and get a message to say there is no installed video capture devices…..
The laptop recognises mice and memory sticks as normal.

On another PC running XP home, and on my Vista PC the device IS properly recognised. So this must surely be a software/configuration issue. On the XP machine when I plug in the device "CIF Single Chip" and "Microcular" flash up briefly before I am informed that the hardware has been installed.

I have tried:
1. uninstalling and re-installing the software
2. checking for new plug and play hardware
3. uninstalling the USB host Controller and Root hubs in device manager and letting them re-install on reboot

So, what next?

Gavin

 

[bracadar]

What type of USB do you have on your laptop? 1.1 or 2.0? This could make a difference.

 

[Gavona]

How do I tell? Does this help:
I seem to have 3 controllers. 2 are
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller using usb0hci.sys 21April2006
the other is:
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller using usbehci.sys 4Aug2004.
Each port has 500mA available


Gavin

 

[Gavona]

The specs

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...=us&dlc=en&product=1847368&rule=41982&lang=en

say i have 4 USB 2.0 ports. So I guess that is NOT the issue.

Gavin

 

[bracadar]

What make and model Laptop do you have? Do you have the latest BIOS and firmware installed. Are your Windows updates current? Is there a more current device driver available?

 

[bracadar]

Hey, just saw you laptop link. HP laptop.

 

[Gavona]

Windows updates are current.
In device manager "Windows cannot find a better match for my hardware"
I have not updated the BIOS as far as I can recall (is this the same as firmware?) I am checking versions and upgrades now.

Gavin

 

[bracadar]

Yes, your BIOS uses firmware. Make sure your chipset is updated as well.

 

[Gavona]

I have updated everything. uninstalled the software, reinstalled it and the problem remains. If it did not work properly in my other computers then I would think the device faulty. When I plug the usb connector in there is no response whatsoever from the laptop.

Any other ideas please?

Gavin

 

[bracadar]

When you open My Computer what drive letters come up? When you install a USB thumb drive what letter does it get assigned?

 

[bracadar]

Here's something else to check. Disable power management of the USB hub. Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers node, and then follow these steps for each USB Root Hub that is listed:
a. Right-click the USB Root Hub, and then click Properties.
b. Click the Power Management tab.
c. Click to clear the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power check box, and then click OK.

 

[bracadar]

If all else fails, take out the battery and unplug from wall and hit the power button to help discharge the system. Wait a few minutes and plug everything back in. USB problems are very strange.

 

[Gavona]

C:
D: (HP recovery)
E: DVD

When inserted:
F: USB Flash drive

I have mapped a network drive as z:

Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc

That's just a different way to bing up device manager is it?

Done that, still no joy. I forgot to say that when I plug the device in the LED light does come on - indicating power.

Also when installing the drivers/software there is a message "not xp approved" but on all three computers I just confirmed I wanted to proceed.

As the USB port does not seem to recognise that I have connected anything then I assume that this is not a driver issue?



Gavin

 

[bracadar]

You've probably done this, but try all ports. Try changing the DVD drive letter in disk management and see if that will open up E for your USB.

 

[BadBigBen]

if the device works on other PCs (desktops) then I am assuming that it is more likely POWER RELATED...

meaning, the desktops can effectively put more mA over the USB connectors than most laptops... see if there is a power setting in the laptop's BIOS for the USB ports... also is there an external power supply for the microscope?

I would try a POWERED USB HUB in between the the laptop and the microscope...

I noticed that you mentioned that you updated everything... does that include the OS?

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[Gavona]

I do not expect to get a drive letter for my device. It is an image capture device - more like a scanner or webcam.

Thanks for your help. More ideas welcome!!

Gavin

 

[clairuk]

I am having the same problem on my laptop with the same device and have also followed all the suggestions above. My laptop is a Samsung.
I might give the company a ring to see if they know of a problem with it being connected to a laptop.

 

[bracadar]

Hopefully the manufacturer will have a fix for you. Good Luck!

 

[BioDNA]

I had this problem with my Acer laptop (red led dimly lit and not recognised by XP even after installing driver).

It was however OK on my HP laptop.

The problem with on the Acer seems to have been resolved by adding a 4-port USB hub (can be externally powered, but I'm not powering it) and connecting the imaging unit to that, rather than the laptop directly. Device is now recognised and the installation has completed. I'm now looking at the fly's leg slide fine.

The 4-port USB Hub I have used is a cheap Technika (Tesco's brand)

Hope this helps and that it causes no longer term problems.