usb port, front vs back?

Um, sorry, don't remember the model number, but it was a new Dell home
desktop, Xmas 2005.

Anyway, I was trying to help a friend get their new wireless network
working, which Comcast couldn't do, and failed. So Comcast got another
whack at it and solved it, by plugging the wireless network adapter
into the USB port on the back of the Dell, instead of the one on the
front.
WTF? Is there any reason for them to be different, or is this just
some sort of defect?

z,
I have read that some mother board configurations supply lower power levels
to the front USB ports compare to the rear USB ports. That is why it is
recommended that you connect USB printers, scanners, modems, and some
digital cameras to the rear USB ports. On the front USB ports you can
connect USB devices that do not need to draw to much power, such as
additional "mice", flash drives, and headphones, there. Some digital
cameras will allow downloads through the front USB devices, if the camera
supplies the power for the connection.

--
Have A Good Day
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) message rule
Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate


"z" wrote in message
ups.com...
Um, sorry, don't remember the model number, but it was a new Dell home
desktop, Xmas 2005.

Anyway, I was trying to help a friend get their new wireless network
working, which Comcast couldn't do, and failed. So Comcast got another
whack at it and solved it, by plugging the wireless network adapter
into the USB port on the back of the Dell, instead of the one on the
front.
WTF? Is there any reason for them to be different, or is this just
some sort of defect?

On Oct 25, 8:06 pm, "Rich/rerat" wrote:
z,
I have read that some mother board configurations supply lower power levels
to the front USB ports compare to the rear USB ports. That is why it is
recommended that you connect USB printers, scanners, modems, and some
digital cameras to the rear USB ports. On the front USB ports you can
connect USB devices that do not need to draw to much power, such as
additional "mice", flash drives, and headphones, there. Some digital
cameras will allow downloads through the front USB devices, if the camera
supplies the power for the connection.

--
Have A Good Day
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) message rule
Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate

"z" wrote in message

ups.com...
Um, sorry, don't remember the model number, but it was a new Dell home
desktop, Xmas 2005.

Anyway, I was trying to help a friend get their new wireless network
working, which Comcast couldn't do, and failed. So Comcast got another
whack at it and solved it, by plugging the wireless network adapter
into the USB port on the back of the Dell, instead of the one on the
front.
WTF? Is there any reason for them to be different, or is this just
some sort of defect?

No, it's just that front and rear usb ports are usually connected to
different USB hubs. some usb device drivers require a reinstall when
connected to a different hub, and some are bright enough to work out
that when connected to a different hub it's the same device as
previously connected to the other, and automatically add the driver.
in this case the wireless network card being plugged into the front
usb socket triggered a reinstall of the drivers, which fixed the
problem. you could acheive the same by deleting the drivers installed
when connected to the rear and reinstalling.

Ric

It helps to be able to look at the internal wiring inside a chassis to see
whether there simply wires leading direct from the mobo to the front USB ports
or something more. The Dells with black chassis I've seen all have simple
cables leading the front USB ports... Ben Myers

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:38:10 -0500, "Tom Scales" wrote:



-----Original Message-----
From: z ]
Posted At: Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:52 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: usb port, front vs back?
Subject: usb port, front vs back?

Um, sorry, don't remember the model number, but it was a new Dell home
desktop, Xmas 2005.

Anyway, I was trying to help a friend get their new wireless network
working, which Comcast couldn't do, and failed. So Comcast got another
whack at it and solved it, by plugging the wireless network adapter
into the USB port on the back of the Dell, instead of the one on the
front.
WTF? Is there any reason for them to be different, or is this just
some sort of defect?

It's obscure, but not impossible. On some models, the front ports are
essentially a hub. Some devices don't want to be connected to a hub,
they want to go directly to a port on the computer.

Bad devices. Bad, bad Devices.