USB connection problem

[Thomas Scheiderich]

I have an HP laserjet 1000 (USB) that has problems connecting
periodically with my 98SE USB ports. I get an error at bootup time that
says it can't connect to USB001 (this is a virtual port).

The thing is there was never a problem before (for about 6 months). Now
I find that every other time I boot my system, I get this error. The
only way to clear it is to remove the USB cable from my computer, put
it back in and restart both the printer and computer. I can't just turn
off the printer and the computer. I have to physically remove the cable
and I have to turn off and on both devices.

The next time I start the machine, it works fine and will continue to
work until I turn of the computer. The next time I start up the system
(sometimes it will take a couple of times), I get the error again. At
this point I will always get the error, no matter how many times I
reboot the system or turn the printer on and off. I must remove the
cable and restart both again.

I have also installed an Adaptec USB card with the same problem.

Anyone know what the problem is?

Thanks,

Tom.

[Quaoar]

Thomas Scheiderich wrote: I have an HP laserjet 1000 (USB) that has problems connecting periodically with my 98SE USB ports. I get an error at bootup time that says it can't connect to USB001 (this is a virtual port). The thing is there was never a problem before (for about 6 months). Now I find that every other time I boot my system, I get this error. The only way to clear it is to remove the USB cable from my computer, put it back in and restart both the printer and computer. I can't just turn off the printer and the computer. I have to physically remove the cable and I have to turn off and on both devices. The next time I start the machine, it works fine and will continue to work until I turn of the computer. The next time I start up the system (sometimes it will take a couple of times), I get the error again. At this point I will always get the error, no matter how many times I reboot the system or turn the printer on and off. I must remove the cable and restart both again. I have also installed an Adaptec USB card with the same problem. Anyone know what the problem is? Thanks, Tom.

It's one of three things: Win98SE has flakey to excellent USB, depending
on the device attached; your computer might have flakey USB-related
hardware, and the device might be installed incorrectly.

Boot to safe mode. From Device Manager, expand each device. If there
are multiple entries of any device, you will have to remove *all* of
those entries. I mean all entries, not just USB entries. These
phantoms in 98SE are suspects in any operability problems like your USB
problem. I do not recommend, if there are many devices with phantoms,
that you remove all of them at one time. Reboot and the OS will
redetect them correctly.

Do remove the USB devices. They must be reinstalled..

Now you should have 98SE with no problem devices, no USB devices.
Before going further, you need to do the routine maintenance: Remove
internet files (including offline content), Temp files (empty
Windows/Temp), and defrag. Defragmenting is important for Win98SE
operability, but also has some effect on keeping problem USB devices
under control. IMO, YMMV.

Now, do not connect any USB devices yet. Install the driver for one
device. When the driver is installed, reboot. Now connect the first
USB device. The hardware wizard should find the driver for the device.
Reboot. Install the second device the same way.

There are some USB devices that simply cannot be connected at boot time.
They will always show problems, freezes, etc. USB CD drives are
problematic in my experience. One way to help the devices is to make
certain that there are no autostart applications relating to the device
that might load before the USB is enumerated. If you have an external
USB CD writer, that mean not loading EZCD Creator, etc, other than
manually.

If the problem resides in the hardware implementatin of USB on the
computer, the above might not be a permanent fix. There were early
implementations of USB on some early Pentiums that are problems and will
remain problems. Cpu with 233Mhz P2 or less are suspect IMO.

Q

[Thomas Scheiderich]

Quaoar wrote:
Thomas Scheiderich wrote:I have an HP laserjet 1000 (USB) that has problems connectingperiodically with my 98SE USB ports. I get an error at bootup timethat says it can't connect to USB001 (this is a virtual port).The thing is there was never a problem before (for about 6 months).Now I find that every other time I boot my system, I get this error.The only way to clear it is to remove the USB cable from mycomputer, put it back in and restart both the printer and computer.I can't just turn off the printer and the computer. I have tophysically remove the cable and I have to turn off and on bothdevices.The next time I start the machine, it works fine and will continue towork until I turn of the computer. The next time I start up thesystem (sometimes it will take a couple of times), I get the erroragain. At this point I will always get the error, no matter how manytimes I reboot the system or turn the printer on and off. I mustremove the cable and restart both again.I have also installed an Adaptec USB card with the same problem.Anyone know what the problem is?Thanks,Tom. It's one of three things: Win98SE has flakey to excellent USB, depending on the device attached; your computer might have flakey USB-related hardware, and the device might be installed incorrectly. Boot to safe mode. From Device Manager, expand each device. If there are multiple entries of any device, you will have to remove *all* of those entries. I mean all entries, not just USB entries. These phantoms in 98SE are suspects in any operability problems like your USB problem. I do not recommend, if there are many devices with phantoms, that you remove all of them at one time. Reboot and the OS will redetect them correctly. Do remove the USB devices. They must be reinstalled.. Now you should have 98SE with no problem devices, no USB devices. Before going further, you need to do the routine maintenance: Remove internet files (including offline content), Temp files (empty Windows/Temp), and defrag. Defragmenting is important for Win98SE operability, but also has some effect on keeping problem USB devices under control. IMO, YMMV. Now, do not connect any USB devices yet. Install the driver for one device. When the driver is installed, reboot. Now connect the first USB device. The hardware wizard should find the driver for the device. Reboot. Install the second device the same way. There are some USB devices that simply cannot be connected at boot time. They will always show problems, freezes, etc. USB CD drives are problematic in my experience. One way to help the devices is to make certain that there are no autostart applications relating to the device that might load before the USB is enumerated. If you have an external USB CD writer, that mean not loading EZCD Creator, etc, other than manually. If the problem resides in the hardware implementatin of USB on the computer, the above might not be a permanent fix. There were early implementations of USB on some early Pentiums that are problems and will remain problems. Cpu with 233Mhz P2 or less are suspect IMO. Q


I am going to try this next week, but I still am confused as to why it
is doing what it is doing.

If you turn of the computer and printer (after I have gotten the error),
this does not get rid of the error.

I actually have to remove the connector from the computer and turn of
both the computer and printer to get this to work.

What does taking out the connecter do - that turning off both devices by
themselves (without remove the cable) does not do. I would think that
if I turn of the devices (computer and printer) would reset everything -
taking out the cable shouldn't do anything - should it?

Maybe there is something about USB that I don't understand (which is
very likely).

Thanks,

Tom.

[Thomas Scheiderich]

Quaoar wrote:
Thomas Scheiderich wrote:Quaoar wrote:Thomas Scheiderich wrote:>I have an HP laserjet 1000 (USB) that has problems connecting>periodically with my 98SE USB ports. I get an error at bootup time>that says it can't connect to USB001 (this is a virtual port).>>The thing is there was never a problem before (for about 6 months).>Now I find that every other time I boot my system, I get this error.>The only way to clear it is to remove the USB cable from my>computer, put it back in and restart both the printer and computer.>I can't just turn off the printer and the computer. I have to>physically remove the cable and I have to turn off and on both>devices.>>The next time I start the machine, it works fine and will continue>to work until I turn of the computer. The next time I start up the>system (sometimes it will take a couple of times), I get the error>again. At this point I will always get the error, no matter how>many times I reboot the system or turn the printer on and off. I>must remove the cable and restart both again.>>I have also installed an Adaptec USB card with the same problem.>>Anyone know what the problem is?>>Thanks,>>Tom.>>It's one of three things: Win98SE has flakey to excellent USB,depending on the device attached; your computer might have flakeyUSB-related hardware, and the device might be installed incorrectly.Boot to safe mode. From Device Manager, expand each device. Ifthere are multiple entries of any device, you will have to remove*all* of those entries. I mean all entries, not just USB entries.These phantoms in 98SE are suspects in any operability problems likeyour USB problem. I do not recommend, if there are many deviceswith phantoms, that you remove all of them at one time. Reboot andthe OS will redetect them correctly.Do remove the USB devices. They must be reinstalled..Now you should have 98SE with no problem devices, no USB devices.Before going further, you need to do the routine maintenance: Removeinternet files (including offline content), Temp files (emptyWindows/Temp), and defrag. Defragmenting is important for Win98SEoperability, but also has some effect on keeping problem USB devicesunder control. IMO, YMMV.Now, do not connect any USB devices yet. Install the driver for onedevice. When the driver is installed, reboot. Now connect the firstUSB device. The hardware wizard should find the driver for thedevice. Reboot. Install the second device the same way.There are some USB devices that simply cannot be connected at boottime. They will always show problems, freezes, etc. USB CD drivesare problematic in my experience. One way to help the devices isto make certain that there are no autostart applications relating tothe device that might load before the USB is enumerated. If youhave an external USB CD writer, that mean not loading EZCD Creator,etc, other than manually.If the problem resides in the hardware implementatin of USB on thecomputer, the above might not be a permanent fix. There were earlyimplementations of USB on some early Pentiums that are problems andwill remain problems. Cpu with 233Mhz P2 or less are suspect IMO.QI am going to try this next week, but I still am confused as to why itis doing what it is doing.If you turn of the computer and printer (after I have gotten theerror), this does not get rid of the error.I actually have to remove the connector from the computer and turn ofboth the computer and printer to get this to work.What does taking out the connecter do - that turning off both devicesby themselves (without remove the cable) does not do. I would thinkthatif I turn of the devices (computer and printer) would reseteverything - taking out the cable shouldn't do anything - should it?Maybe there is something about USB that I don't understand (which isvery likely).Thanks,Tom. Win98 is known for flakey things with USB, as well as other arbitrary changes in device configurations. Removing the USB cable allows the OS to detect the loss of the electical signal and disconnect the device properly. Powering down the printer still leaves the USB active since USB is powered, and is still talking to its client USB on the printer (at least electrically it is connected). Shutting down the computer still leaves the OS connected to the device without a chance to reset the USB enumeration properly. Win98SE corrected a lot of USB problems like this. In your case it might be a combination of Win98 and the particular USB implementation in your computer.


Actually, that makes sense. You're right - if I just shut down the
computer it may keep the same settings and status as when it was shut
down (although, I would have thought it would reset when you reboot it).
This is similar to some PCI cards that will not reset when you reboot,
but you need to actually turn the computer off to reset everything
(obviously, this is not the case of USB).

I am actually on Win98SE. I talked to my father-in-law (whose computer
this is) and he said the last 4 days, he hasn't got the errors. I have
him on an adaptec USB 2.0 4 port card. Not sure if this is solving the
problem (it seems that the card had the same problems as the on board
USB - but I could be wrong). If he has problems with it for only about
once a week, I am going to get a USB hub and connect it to the adaptec
USB card and have him just remove the cable (easier than crawling under
the table to do it - he's 83 years old). I could just upgrade to XP,
but it could cause some other problems and I've been told that XP may
not solve my problem. If it ain't broke (or just an irritant), don't
fix it.

Why six months? Perhaps the registry is full of partially active USB printers...? It could be another, unrelated resource problem like overly full temp internet files, Windows/temp full of files...anything that consumes resources in the OS and the printer is the first item to suffer consequences. This is why it is really important in Win9x to do frequent simple maintenance like deleting temp internet files, deleting files in the Windows/temp, and defragging. Running RegClean4 is a good idea also to remove junk registry entries that can screw up the OS.


I have no idea why it worked for about 6 months. Where would I look in
the registry for partially active USB printers? I am going to do all
you suggested next week. I want to see how long the system works before
it gets the error to see how bad it is. Defragging probably would do
much as this system was rebuilt about a short while ago - probably won't
hurt, though. Same with RegClean4 - where do I get this?

Thanks,

Tom.
Q Q