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Urgent help needed: can't switch off PC
I installed a 4-socket self-powered USB hub today on my XP Home PC. My
various USB devices seemed to work OK (with exception of the new one, a QX3 microscope, that had prompted the purchase, but that's a separate issue). Here's a picture of it: http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/Images/USBHub.jpg But, on switching off my PC, which seemed to power down as usual, the amber and green power lights on the Mesh Athlon 1800 didn't go out. And the PC wouldn't then respond to being switched on again. Nor did Reset have any effect. Nor holding the power button depressed. Serious worry and seems to defy logic. The power lights would go out if I removed either the DC power to the hub, or the USB lead connecting it to the PC. But even then the PC wouldn't start up again. Removing and replacing mains plug, or on/off button at rear of PC had no effect either Somehow, after fiddling around, cursing a bit, it DID then respond. But naturally I am now very nervous about switching it off. Using StartTurn Off ComputerRestart works OK - it's just the full Turn Off that doesn't. There's nothing to help in the single page 'User Manual' (headed USB 1.1 Hub GUH-01 GUH-02, with no contact or web info. Can anyone offer any help please? -- Terry, West Sussex, UK |
#2
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Don't think it is the USB. Sounds like something is loose. Is your power
cable tight? Might be power supply dying or on button. Plug it in and see if it happens again. "Terry Pinnell" wrote in message ... I installed a 4-socket self-powered USB hub today on my XP Home PC. My various USB devices seemed to work OK (with exception of the new one, a QX3 microscope, that had prompted the purchase, but that's a separate issue). Here's a picture of it: http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/Images/USBHub.jpg But, on switching off my PC, which seemed to power down as usual, the amber and green power lights on the Mesh Athlon 1800 didn't go out. And the PC wouldn't then respond to being switched on again. Nor did Reset have any effect. Nor holding the power button depressed. Serious worry and seems to defy logic. The power lights would go out if I removed either the DC power to the hub, or the USB lead connecting it to the PC. But even then the PC wouldn't start up again. Removing and replacing mains plug, or on/off button at rear of PC had no effect either Somehow, after fiddling around, cursing a bit, it DID then respond. But naturally I am now very nervous about switching it off. Using StartTurn Off ComputerRestart works OK - it's just the full Turn Off that doesn't. There's nothing to help in the single page 'User Manual' (headed USB 1.1 Hub GUH-01 GUH-02, with no contact or web info. Can anyone offer any help please? -- Terry, West Sussex, UK |
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"Tj" wrote:
Don't think it is the USB. Sounds like something is loose. Is your power cable tight? Might be power supply dying or on button. Plug it in and see if it happens again. Thanks, but it consistently happens only when the USB hub is powered. After removing the DC supply plug from the USB hub, I can switch off the PC fully as normal. In fact, that's what I'm going to do for the time being, because I can't get the device (for which I bought the powered hub) to work anyway. It's a 'Digital Blue QX3 Computer Microscope', and, after installing software and drivers from its CD, refuses to communicate with my XP PC ;-[ -- Terry, West Sussex, UK |
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Trent© wrote:
It may be the microscope that's keepin' the computer from workin' properly. Here's my suggestions...in order of preference... 1. Take the hub back. Get a PCI USB 2.0 card. Make sure you can find room for one on your computer. You can get one that has 2 ports on the card...to access in the back of the computer. It also has 4 internal ports...and comes with a tray that fits in front of the computer...in a free floppy bay. That way, you'll have 6 high-speed USB connections...and you won't hafta fool around with that hub. 2. Connect the microscope directly to the computer...and connect the hub to the other USB port...and anything else to the hub. Some devices just don't like hubs for some reason. You might want to re-install any necessary software for the microscope. Thanks Trent. But I now reckon the power problem (as opposed to the microscope problem) is a fundamental design issue, caused because the arrangement must look like this: External 5V supply | | diode \/ -- | USB DC supply bus |_____________________________ | | | /\ diode -- | | Internal 5V supply The same behaviour occurred when I connected the powered USB hub to my alternative W98 PC in my shed/workshop. It's incredible that the manufacturer makes no mention of this fundamental flaw in the accompanying sheet ('User manual'!) I side-stepped the problem by removing the USB DC supply before using Turn Off. In fact, I've now removed the powered hub altogether, as I can't get the device (Digital Blue QX3 microscope) working on my XP PC anyway, with or without it. And, after much effort and totally inconsistent behaviour, I have got it working on my W98 PC, without the hub. ========================= On the microscope issue, elsewhere (the asus mobo newsgroup) I had a post advising that sw doesn't work on XP. Which if so is a revelation! I had given suppliers, Digital Blue, a detailed description of what was happening on my XP PC, and they didn't so much as mention any of those key points. In particular, no suggestion that sw doesn't RUN on XP... I had mixed success on my alternative W98 PC. I did get it running on Saturday, after several hours involving half a dozen installation attempts. But then when I tried Sunday it failed. Again it was that 'Having trouble communicating' message, as on XP, interspersed with messages telling me microscope wasn't connected, when it plainly was. I then tried with a self-powered USB hub I'd ordered specially, but that gave no more joy. Then, suddenly, late yesterday afternoon, it started working. No idea how or why. I had done nothing special. It was just one more desultory attempt (connected to one of the direct USB sockets, not to the powered hub, although I suspect that's irrelevant.) I expected it to then fail next time I booted/reran. But so far, over several repeat runs yesterday, it still ran OK. Of course, when I try TODAY, that might be back to square one again. Go figure... -- Terry, West Sussex, UK |
#5
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Trent© wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 08:04:50 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote: On the microscope issue, elsewhere (the asus mobo newsgroup) I had a post advising that sw doesn't work on XP. Like in any other group, you'll sometimes have someone give you advice who doesn't know what the hell he's talkin' about. If you do a Google search, you'll see that that is the case here. Which if so is a revelation! I had given suppliers, Digital Blue, a detailed description of what was happening on my XP PC, and they didn't so much as mention any of those key points. In particular, no suggestion that sw doesn't RUN on XP... That's because it does run on XP. I agree some users do seem to run OK on XP, so you're right. Perhaps the word 'reliably' was implied by that other responent? Anyway, I still don't have it running on *my* XP PC! I had mixed success on my alternative W98 PC. I did get it running on Saturday, after several hours involving half a dozen installation attempts. But then when I tried Sunday it failed. Again it was that 'Having trouble communicating' message, as on XP, interspersed with messages telling me microscope wasn't connected, when it plainly was. I then tried with a self-powered USB hub I'd ordered specially, but that gave no more joy. Then, suddenly, late yesterday afternoon, it started working. No idea how or why. I had done nothing special. It was just one more desultory attempt (connected to one of the direct USB sockets, not to the powered hub, although I suspect that's irrelevant.) That's not irrelevant at ALL. That's the ISSUE...as I mentioned in my first post. Some devices don't like being connected to the hub...they must be connected directly to the computer. Obviously, the microscope is one of those devices. Perhaps you misunderstood me. I had tried it on the direct hub *many* times previously, in vain. It may well have sprung to life with the powered hub too. There should be no difference apart from a slightly longer cable length for the signal; current requirement in particular should be satisfied in both cases. I expected it to then fail next time I booted/reran. But so far, over several repeat runs yesterday, it still ran OK. Of course, when I try TODAY, that might be back to square one again. Go figure... Glad to hear you solved the problem. Have a nice week... Thanks for you help. -- Terry, West Sussex, UK |
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