about USB hubs and device problems...

[DilLy]

I have been having mouse troubles, and have come to the conclusion that it is either the mouse (for two reasons) or the USB hub.

I have had a mouse that was having problems on the PS2 adaptor (it came with my Intellimouse Explorer v1), so I removed the adaptor and used the USB and still having problems. I have researched the hell out of this problem and made a couple of posts in the XP forum. I found out that USB hubs support 100ma devices or lower (everything else is considered a high power device and needs a self powered hub, mine are on teh mother board).
Everything on my USB ports are only using 1-2 ma EXCEPT the mouse; it is using 100ma. That is right on the line there.

Does anyone think that might be the problem? (my mouse continually disconnects itself and then reconnects a second later, randomly, but only when I use the mouse. I have identified this disonnect thing by the sound that windowsXP makes when it happens)

Should I first get a new mouse and try that, or should I get a self powered USB hub? I only have enoug hmoney for one or the other. Actually I don't know how much a selfpowered USB hub costs so I may only be able to afford the mouse right now anyway.

First I thought the mouse was the problem because it was having problems on both the PS2 port and and the USB port. But then I saw how the mouse was using the maximum power for a low to mid bandwidth device, and thought maybe I should get a self powered hub. BUT I have had the mouse for two years and the problem jsut cropped up.

So do you think its the mouse?
Any one with experience on the subject here? Anything may help.
I have already done a reinstall of the two USB hubs and controllers I already have. plus COMPLETELY uninstalled the Intellipoint software (all registry entries cleared manually and succesfully) but the problem still persists. I also uninstalled/reinstalled the Human Interface Devices.

Another question maybe related to the problem. In XP I am unable to start the Human Interface Devices Service in services. It says it is not present, but I have it listed in Device Manager with both my UPS(battery) and my mouse listed by name under it. No conflicts in Device Manager, everything is operating correctly, (according to windows). Also I am unable to start my UPS service, it says it is not configured properly, but I have tested it and it works with windows (will gracefully shutdown on a 15 minute power outage) and it is properly identified by everything. Maybe the UPS, being a USB device is messing up my mouse? But they are on different hubs too. Aarrgh! Should I try to use the mouse without the UPS installed to the box (it will still work it just wont tell windows to do things when the power is out for a while, unfortunately my favorite part of it).

Anyway sorry for the long post, I hope you read everything, so as to understand the problem.

I really want this problem to go away, it is messing up my Photoshop work and gaming bad (imagine your mouse disconnecting itself and reconnecting randomly while using Photoshop.... bad stuff.) Oh yeah I have made sure it is connected to the port all the way in too, lol!

Thank you.

[morriswindgate]

Try your mouse without the UPS cable plugged into the Port. The USB ports on the back of your computer are basically tied together and XP does some crazy things with the UPS sensor cable plugged in.

[DilLy]

Okay I'll try that.

Incase it works, can you tell me how to completely uninstall the drivers for the UPS, since it will not be pluggged into the box anymore? Should I uninstall it in Device manager? What else to get rid of it completely so nothing is left over to cause me other problems? ( I used no CD, since it is a APC UPS, who actually made the UPS drivers for XP, and I needed to install nothing.)

So you don't think it is the mouse? Or the USB hub?

Thanks for the reply.

[morriswindgate]

You should not have to do anything with XP but unplug the USB cable and it will no be seen. The UPS will still function, like mine does.
Overtime I have found that only self-powered hubs are worth anything and these can be purchased for around 20 bucks. I have a six port Belkin that was 30 with the rebate, and I have used Newport 4 port hubs from Costco which cost 20 and included a 6 foot A to B cable and a 6 foot A to A cable.
As to the mouse, it could have malfunctioned since it did not work on the PS2 port. I quit using MS mice and went to logitech a long time back. And since you are working with Photoshop, I would suggest that you get the Logitech Dual Optical mouse when you can, extremely accurate.

[DilLy]

Yeah I was looking into the Logitech mice too. I think I'll get a hub since they are relatively cheap.

Does Logitech have a five button optical? (i am kind of hooked on the Intellimouse Explorers five buttons, very handy) Not to say Logitech is inferior, but I heard the newer opticals from Microsoft had three times the accuracy as Logitech, like 6000 pps compared to 2500 for the Logitech. The older Intellimouse Explorer (which I have) had 1200 and was still extremely accurate though, so a Logitech would have better accuracy than what I have.

Can you also tell me how the USB ports attach to the computer and what kind of power cable they have?

[morriswindgate]

The dual optical has all the buttons that your MS mouse has. Also if you do a lot of Photo editing, use Corel, or website building. You should really look into getting a Wacom Tablet.

Dual Optical review from Tom's Hardware

http://www6.tomshardware.com/consume...almice-06.html

[DilLy]

That's funny. I just went to Logitech's site and they said the Dual Optical had four buttons: right, left, push wheel, and one thumb button. The Intellimouse Explorer (that name is too long) has two thumb buttons. but anyway.... maybe that has changed, I will check Tom's Hardware review. Thanks for the link. (Both mice are the exact same price at most stores and online, so I am hardpressed to make a decission, but it would be nice to get away from Microsoft mice for a change)

I would love a Wacom, just haven't gotten around to it yet, plus the one I really want is like 450 dollars, though I guess I could do with a smaller cheaper one.

Is there anymore info on the USB hubs you could donate to my sorry butt? (how they connect and thier power usage and so on)

[morriswindgate]

The self=powered hubs like I use have a little transformer that supplies the power to the ports. The one I have (Belkin) can supply up to 1200ma per port. When you consider that the combined power available on the mainboard port set (or each port set if you have more than two) is only 500ma max combined this is a big jump. A lot of problems, that I have had with multiple USB devices is a lack of available power.

[DilLy]

Excellent. I am definitely getting a new USB hub then.

That review was interesting. It seems the Logitech Dual Optical (which is only 4 buttons) has a higher resolution than microsofts Intellimouse Explorer. But the Intellimouse Explorer reads more images per second (and uses only one sensor). I guess the performance of each is so good that making a choide is only a matter of taste in ergonomics. Hehe. Now I really don't know which one to buy (if I end up needing one).

But I guess a new SelfPowered USB hub and one of those mice will run me what around $110? That hurts the budget a little. But gotta have a working mouse, so..................



One more thing. I bow to you for your immediate help on this matter.

[morriswindgate]

I also find that when you get down to it Logitech makes a better product including the software.
The mouse should be around 45 and the hub can be around 20 to 30 at a store near you.

[DilLy]

Thanks, you rock.

I will have to go and investigate quality USB hubs, reviews and such.

You have a Belkin huh? I know most of thier stuff is high quality. i will look into them too.

laters

[bailey]

I have two self powered hubs for a total of 11 ports, 6 of which are in use all the time, I have never had any problems with bilkin hubs,

[DilLy]

Yeah, I checked Belkin's site. I found an excellent USB 2.0 upgrade kit. Comes with a 2 port PCI card, a 4port hub and all connectors included. Only $90!!!!! (or maybe it was 100 dollars, i can't remember...)

I will definitely be buying that thing. And a new mouse as well, since I just found 250 dollars worth of BestBuy certificates.

SCORE!!!

Thanks everyone.