USB acting flakey

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

There is one port on the front of my case that randomly works. I thought disabling USB Selective Suspending setting in Power Options would fix it but it seems to only work when it wants to. I'm not sure what could be wrong. There are two USB ports on the front of my case connected by a motherboard header and I'm not sure where the problem is coming from. I've had a USB stick end up corrupt. Now I am trying to use a USB to SATA adapter to a 500GB toshiba drive and the USB port is still acting the way it use to.

Any ideas?

 

[mfenn]

Is it just the one port in the group or is it both? If it's just one port, I would guess that there is a marginal connection inside that port.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Is it just the one port in the group or is it both? If it's just one port, I would guess that there is a marginal connection inside that port.

Just the one port. It seems like it's not supplying enough electrical current to any device connected to it when it is acting up. Other times it's fine

 

[mfenn]

I'm betting the port has a physical issue like a bad solder joint, bent contact, or fractured wire.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm betting the port has a physical issue like a bad solder joint, bent contact, or fractured wire.

The ports face up. But the fact that only one is flaking out would rule out the possibility of dust build up. You may be right. If it is I might be able to just find a replacement piece. I think we have the same case :hmm: it's some black aluminum Lian Li knock off full tower, side case opens on the right.. i forget the name of it :hmm:


EDIT: whoops, i think it was Idontcare that bought the same case a while back, my bad

 

[Charlie98]

My desktop PC (Fractal case) has the same problem. One USB port is fine (it's the one I leave my Apple charger plugged into) and the other is bad (the one I plug and unplug everything else into.) I think, now, that I have one bad one on my mobo, too... the one I plug my portable drives in.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

My desktop PC (Fractal case) has the same problem. One USB port is fine (it's the one I leave my Apple charger plugged into) and the other is bad (the one I plug and unplug everything else into.) I think, now, that I have one bad one on my mobo, too... the one I plug my portable drives in.

That's funny you say that because for a while I was leaving my apple charging cord plugged int the usb port that started acting up.

 

[Charlie98]

That's funny you say that because for a while I was leaving my apple charging cord plugged int the usb port that started acting up.

The USB port my Apple charger is in is still very tight, the one right next to it that sees all the action is quite loose. I can wiggle a USB drive around and it will mount/dismount until I get it just right... but it has become unreliable for data transfer. :|

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The USB port my Apple charger is in is still very tight, the one right next to it that sees all the action is quite loose. I can wiggle a USB drive around and it will mount/dismount until I get it just right... but it has become unreliable for data transfer. :|

If I get around to it I'm going to see if I can find a replacement I/O port for it. I just don't remember the name of the case to search for it. It might be a Rocketfish. Not sure though. It's been over 5-6yrs since i bought it - Fantastic case!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If I get around to it I'm going to see if I can find a replacement I/O port for it. I just don't remember the name of the case to search for it. It might be a Rocketfish. Not sure though. It's been over 5-6yrs since i bought it - Fantastic case!

5 to 6 years old. . . . You didn't say whether this is USB2 or USB3, but I'm beginning to suspect the former.

I've had difficulties with either type, nevertheless exceptions to the rule.

A rear USB2 I/O-plate port on a 780i motherboard we just "decommissioned" had gone bad some years ago, while the remainder seemed to work fine. The windows pop-up message is always a nuisance at startup.

Another case was a SYBA USB3 3.5" front-panel hub I attempted to kloodge with the 20-pin Asmedia header. It seemed to be working for at least a year, but after that (with certain changes in overall motherboard hardware usage) would throw up an "insufficient resources" message.

It's possible that it's the case port hardware or the wiring -- at a margin of continued functionality. If USB2, I'd disconnect the case ports and install a 4-port USB2 hub connecting to a single 10-pin motherboard port. If USB3, the same for troubleshooting, and there are $17 two-port 3.5" front-panel molded ports-with-wire/mobo-plug -- "ConnectLand" is the one sold at Egg these days.

The other possibility is a USB2 PCI card. So very cheap! The ones I've used have a "type A" connector for internal cabling as well as some 4 or 5 USB ports at the PCI plate. With that type of solution, you could just turn off your motherboard USB2 feature entirely -- or so I'd think.

But -- test everything. You might even be able to repair it, or even replace the port hardware of the case. Ultimately, it's about "costs and benefits" in time -- not dollars. I wouldn't get my panties in a bunch about a single case-USB-port, though. Imperfections abound everywhere, as do solutions.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

5 to 6 years old. . . . You didn't say whether this is USB2 or USB3, but I'm beginning to suspect the former.

I've had difficulties with either type, nevertheless exceptions to the rule.

A rear USB2 I/O-plate port on a 780i motherboard we just "decommissioned" had gone bad some years ago, while the remainder seemed to work fine. The windows pop-up message is always a nuisance at startup.

Another case was a SYBA USB3 3.5" front-panel hub I attempted to kloodge with the 20-pin Asmedia header. It seemed to be working for at least a year, but after that (with certain changes in overall motherboard hardware usage) would throw up an "insufficient resources" message.

It's possible that it's the case port hardware or the wiring -- at a margin of continued functionality. If USB2, I'd disconnect the case ports and install a 4-port USB2 hub connecting to a single 10-pin motherboard port. If USB3, the same for troubleshooting, and there are $17 two-port 3.5" front-panel molded ports-with-wire/mobo-plug -- "ConnectLand" is the one sold at Egg these days.

The other possibility is a USB2 PCI card. So very cheap! The ones I've used have a "type A" connector for internal cabling as well as some 4 or 5 USB ports at the PCI plate. With that type of solution, you could just turn off your motherboard USB2 feature entirely -- or so I'd think.

But -- test everything. You might even be able to repair it, or even replace the port hardware of the case. Ultimately, it's about "costs and benefits" in time -- not dollars. I wouldn't get my panties in a bunch about a single case-USB-port, though. Imperfections abound everywhere, as do solutions.

If I could remember the case name I'd order one. Also if I remember correctly I think I may have been the culprit. I might have pulled the usb stick out at an angle a while back. I probably didn't realize it just because the problem is intermittent.

 

[Charlie98]

There is also this... a USB hub I have plugged into the mobo and Velcro'd to the underside of my desktop. My case has a front door so the card reader/USB panel I have installed isn't very practical... hence the hub.

I've also had separate USB2 and USB3 PCIe cards, with varying degrees of success. The VIA chipset ones borked up my computer, the Resneas chipset is the way to go.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

There is also this... a USB hub I have plugged into the mobo and Velcro'd to the underside of my desktop. My case has a front door so the card reader/USB panel I have installed isn't very practical... hence the hub.

I've also had separate USB2 and USB3 PCIe cards, with varying degrees of success. The VIA chipset ones borked up my computer, the Resneas chipset is the way to go.

Looks great!

I've figured out the case I have. It's an ABS Black Pearl. No markings; thank god for saving the old box it came in, hah! It's the top I/O panel, left USB port from facing the front of it. I hope I can find parts for this case. I think it was a Lian Li knock off.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Ok. So instead of using the USB 3.0 to SATA adapter to the 500Gb HDD, I tried a USB card reader stick with an 8Gb SDHC card. Works perfectly and raises my suspicion that the USB to SATA adapter is not giving the 500Gb HDD enough electricity.

My question is, can I just use the SDHC card reader as a USB flash stick to do file transfers? I prefer this method vs sharing folders on PCs in a home network.

 

[krnmastersgt]

You could definitely just use it as a thumb drive as long as all machines in the house utilize the same file storage system.

As for the port not supplying enough power, are these front ports USB2? If so depending on the manufacturer and the age it might not actually be able to request/supply the power that the 500GB drive needs. I believe the power floor for any USB 3 port should be able to power something like a laptop drive, but if you're trying to power a 3.5" those require a bit more power draw so the port being fine and just able to supply enough power is a very real possibility.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

You could definitely just use it as a thumb drive as long as all machines in the house utilize the same file storage system.

As for the port not supplying enough power, are these front ports USB2? If so depending on the manufacturer and the age it might not actually be able to request/supply the power that the 500GB drive needs. I believe the power floor for any USB 3 port should be able to power something like a laptop drive, but if you're trying to power a 3.5" those require a bit more power draw so the port being fine and just able to supply enough power is a very real possibility.

My suspicion is still with question though. What doesn't make sense is the 8Gb flash/thumb drive was also having issues. Maybe the Thumb drive connectors went bad. We'll never know because I introduced it to my 20oz hammer, they didnt' get along to well. hah.

They do have replacement parts that will work, just not exactly the same as this I/O panel. The one I have has a 90 degree angle. The ones I've been seeing are like this.

I'm going to work with it and keep troubleshooting it if the problem persists.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Plug it into the back of the board?

Plug what? The USB 3.0 to SATA adapter with the 500Gb 2.5" laptop drive?

 

[mfenn]

Plug what? The USB 3.0 to SATA adapter with the 500Gb 2.5" laptop drive?

Yes. The first troubleshooting step would be to move it to a different port and see if the same issue manifests. If it does, then it is the device, if it does not, then it is the port.

This is what I thought you had done when you replied "Just the one port. It seems like it's not supplying enough electrical current to any device connected to it when it is acting up. Other times it's fine". But I guess not?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Yes. The first troubleshooting step would be to move it to a different port and see if the same issue manifests. If it does, then it is the device, if it does not, then it is the port.

This is what I thought you had done when you replied "Just the one port. It seems like it's not supplying enough electrical current to any device connected to it when it is acting up. Other times it's fine". But I guess not?

Actually that's what I meant. It wasn't having issues with the other port. The SDHC card reader in the supposedly bad port will work perfectly though. Maybe the 500GB HDD drive is going bad but I didn't think it could possibly be a coincidence that every time I plugged it into the bad port that the drive was the problem. Lately I've noticed it ticking when I plug it into the bad port. I will see how it works in the back of the board/case. Although on my other "Rig2" the drive works fine on the front Media I/O USB ports :hmm: This thing has got the stupid stupids *shakes fists at the sky*

 

[Charlie98]

Following this thread I did some fooling around with my front case port (the bad one) and the USB3 mobo port (the worst of the two) and a USB drive... running ATTO as a tester, even if the computer sees the drive and it is available, it would crap out about half way through the ATTO bench. Bumping the case or closing the door would trip it out... or it would just dismount by itself.

Plug the same drive into the known good port... no problems.

But I'm curious... is it just the case port? ...or do the male USB plugs fatigue over time (although I wouldn't think so... no 'moving parts' like the female port.)

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Following this thread I did some fooling around with my front case port (the bad one) and the USB3 mobo port (the worst of the two) and a USB drive... running ATTO as a tester, even if the computer sees the drive and it is available, it would crap out about half way through the ATTO bench. Bumping the case or closing the door would trip it out... or it would just dismount by itself.

Plug the same drive into the known good port... no problems.

But I'm curious... is it just the case port? ...or do the male USB plugs fatigue over time (although I wouldn't think so... no 'moving parts' like the female port.)

I'm thinking it's electrical tolerance with the components of the USB parts.