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Thread ID: 124799 2012-05-20 00:16:00 Front USB ports rumpty (2863) Press F1
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1276360 2012-05-20 00:16:00 I have just hooked up a front USB port cable to the USB MB header on my GA-M51GM motherboard, but it doesn't work in Windows XP. When a USB memory stick is plugged in to the front port, a message "USB device not recognised" comes up. Device Manager shows Unknown Device under the USB category. The same memory stick plugged into a rear port is recognised immediately.

The strange thing is that this new front USB port works fine in Linux, booted on the same computer.

Does this MB need a special Windows driver, or...
rumpty (2863)
1276361 2012-05-20 00:18:00 Did you install the chipset drivers / SP3? Delete the USB entries under USB controllers in device manager then reboot. Then see if it works Speedy Gonzales (78)
1276362 2012-05-20 00:20:00 Have you tried it on the rear ports? Peter H (220)
1276363 2012-05-20 00:22:00 And you sure you connected it to a USB header?? It looks like this mobo has firewire too. And connecting it to this will probably fry something Speedy Gonzales (78)
1276364 2012-05-20 00:40:00 And you sure you connected it to a USB header?? It looks like this mobo has firewire too. And connecting it to this will probably fry something

I think it is connected to the right header. I mentioned that the front port works in Linux on the same MB.

It is WXP/SP3. I'll try deleting the USB ports.
rumpty (2863)
1276365 2012-05-20 02:42:00 Deleting the USB device and then rebooting just brought back the same situation. I did install the chipset drivers ages ago. Something must be lacking regarding Windows and/or Motherboard though. rumpty (2863)
1276366 2012-05-20 09:49:00 Check the DATA lines to the USB ports are around the right way.

One case I bought, the idiots had wired the cables in the plug backwards.

The other problem which it can be, is when a cheap case uses long and unshielded wires for the front USB ports. These typically are rubbish for signal quality and bus-powered devices and especially USB flash drives etc will not work reliably..

If the wires look like a standard flat ribbon cable like an IDE cable they could well be just plain crap and be causing your problems.
Agent_24 (57)
1276367 2012-05-20 10:09:00 Thanks for the thoughts, Agent_24. I guess the data lines must be round the right way, because it works on Linux on the same computer as the Windows installation.

The wiring to the front USB sockets is indeed a flat cable, so that may need to be looked at. Best if they are twisted pairs?
rumpty (2863)
1276368 2012-05-20 12:18:00 The wiring to the front USB sockets is indeed a flat cable, so that may need to be looked at. Best if they are twisted pairs?

Yes, they could well be the problem. I have personally never had consistent results with flat unshielded cables and USB ports. Seems odd that it works in Linux for you though, perhaps it's aware of an issue and running at a slower rate or something.

I believe the decent ones will be twisted pair and shielded, such as the ones used on this:

3813
Agent_24 (57)
1276369 2012-05-20 22:17:00 Since it works in Lin, It should just work in Win, I used to have a couple of similar motherboards, pretty bog standard
Try downloading new chipset drivers fom Nvidia.

Sometimes, the 'front' USB ports are USB1, while rear are full USB2 . Front port can be problematic , often the cables
or fr connector dont work or get flaky. Ive even seen fr connectors blow a brand new Ipod :eek:
1101 (13337)
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