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Question

When something plugeed in to USB port can't access internet

Feb 19, 2012 4:35AM PST

Recently had connectivity issued with my old XP ended up changing to another XP listed below.

XP Professional
Version 2002 Service pack 3
Intel ®
Pentium ® 4 CPU 2.40 GHz
2.40 GHz, 512 MB of Ram

Got tower home, set it up, turned it on so I got the desktop screen plugged the USB Hub in the front USB port and the wifi card in the hub, good to go. I got on the internet fine. Later I turned it off and next day tried to start it again, nothing, nada just a cursor on a black screen.

I tried unplugging it from the power, doing reboot, nothing. Talked with someone who said take wifi card off and restart it, did that and still nothing. Figured I'd have to have this computer looked at also. Than I thought unplug the cord of the USB Hub and restart it. It started right up, plugged the wifi card in the back and we're good every time, but I can't plug the USB hub in the front USB port to use my thumb drives. I haven't tried the other one in the back and I don't want to it if possible. I'm wondering is it he HUB? It worked on the first one.

If I plug the Hub in then shut it off and later turn it on again, I always get a cursor on a black screen. Do you have ideas, thoughts on how to fix it? I've decided it's a hassle but if I have to I will just plug it in after I start it, and unplug it after I'm finished, but if you've had this happen and fixed it please let me know. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Just to clarify ...
Feb 19, 2012 5:16AM PST

are you saying that if the USB hub is disconnected the computer boots and then you can plug the hub back in and use it while the computer is running? Then if you try to re-boot with the hub still connected it will not boot?

If so that is actually a fairly common problem and the cure is simply to learn to unplug all your USB peripherals BEFORE booting.

Why some computers do this is anyone's guess but I would venture to say it is similar to the age old problem of some serial devices having to be shut down until after booting or a software fix to cause the specific port they are attached to to not be polled by the BIOS or but the OS during initiation.

A different hub bu a different manufacturer (or possibly even a different model by the same manufacturer) might also solve the problem should you care to try one.

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you are correct
Feb 20, 2012 11:35AM PST

That's exactly what happens. You say it's a fairly common problem, but no one I know has said it happened to them, they make it sound like operator error. It also makes me wonder would this have happened if I'd have bought the hub from Radio Shack and not Walmart? Thank you for your input and I'll unplug it everytime, unless I decide to buy another hub down the road.

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One more thing you could try ...
Feb 20, 2012 4:30PM PST

would be to check on your computer manufacturer's site to see if they might have BIOS updates available for your computer. You didn't mention make or model.

If yours is a custom build or home built check the motherboard manufacturer's site for the BIOS updates.

Sometimes that will take care of the problem.

I have two identical machines , same exact components and both have updated BIOS but one has problems with USB if the USB peripheral is plugged in when attempting to boot (it will not boot unless all USB peripherals are unplugged) and the other has no problem booting no matter what is plugged into it. Knowing that I will not have problems booting if every USB peripheral is disconnected I simply do just that immediately upon shutting down the computer.