XP says "usb device has malfunctioned" (printer hub)

[jboy1234]

hey....my xp machine wont recognize my printer when the printer is hooked up through a usb hub (switch).....i wish to share the printer with two pc's....now the kicker: everything works fine on my me machine....have tried two different switch boxes and cables...same result..windows xp machine wont recognize printer but the me machine will....any help would be much appreciated!!!
thx
j

 

[linney]

How many other USB Devices are connected to the XP Machine?
Have you tried both the front and rear connectors of the XP machine?

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310575&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

314634 - Windows XP Does Not Detect Your New USB Device

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314634&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

USB device does not function after connecting device to a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer or to a Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005-based computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870893&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

A USB 2.0 hub may stop working when you disconnect a USB 2.0 printer from your Windows XP-based computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;895962&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

In the BIOS settings for your computer, load the 'Fail-Safe' default settings, and then reactivate the most frequently used options such as USB Support.

Sometimes this action may solve USB problems.

Use Device Manager and delete the USB root hubs that show on your machine now.

Reboot and let XP rediscover the ports.


This talks about Powered and unPowered Hubs.

USB 4-Port Hub - What brand is this?
thread779-1304010

 

[jboy1234]

There are two other usb devices hooked up to my pc…a camera dock and a video capture device…. both are self-powered….and are powered down at the moment.
All front and rear usb slots function perfectly…
The printer works just fine when directly connected via usb…windows thinks it’s a “mass storage device”…but still works as a printer.....

it's when i connect through the usb switch hub...(which works and is recgnized by the ME machine) I tried deleting the usb root hubs and rebooted….no help….
Haven’t tried the bios change you suggested…...not very familiar with making those changes…but im willing to learn…
Anything else?
thx
j

 

[dglienna]

I hope it's not an All-In-One printer that you want to attach to the Print Server. I've NEVER seen one that works.

If both machines are networked, it'd be a lot easier to just create a shared printer on one machine, and print to it from the other. No print server needed.

-David
2006 & 2007 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[GeneK1234]

Is your USB hub powered or unpowered? If unpowered, that is at least contributing to your problem if not being the problem. There is only so much power and bandwidth allocated to each USB port plus power drops as you move further from the computer. For instance, Canon recommends that you only use USB cords no longer than six feet on some of their multi-function machines. I tested that with a ten foot cord and the computer could not recognize the machine; however, it works fine with a six foot length. I am guessing the problem links to fat software packages.
Gene

 

[linney]

The printer works just fine when directly connected via usb…windows thinks it’s a “mass storage device”…but still works as a printer....."

The above seems a bit odd to me, but then again most things I don't fully understand do.

Try what "dglienna" is suggesting concerning the Shared Printer setup.

 

[dglienna]

I bet they don't support it if you try to plug it into a hub, though.

-David
2006 & 2007 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[jboy1234]

ok...more info....YES it is an "all in one" printer....and yes, cannon will not support it if the printer works when directly hooked via usb.
the hub is NON powered but remember, the printer works fine on the other machine running win ME WITH the usb hub.

we may have hit on something with the software advice. cannon uses an install disk that looks for the printer port. Once again, it all works fine when dirctly hooked to the pc.

currently, i share two cables going to both machines...then manually chage cables at the printer...depending on what pc i wish to print from...may have to live with it for now.

all cables are four foot long.

thx for all the help
j

 

[linney]

Is something like the procedure mentioned here worth a try on the XP machine?

HP office jet g85

http://www.pcbanter.net/archive/index.php/t-219548HP-office-jet-g85.html