Non recognition of USB/firewire devices

[Roger]

Why is my pentium4 and my Toshiba laptop so reluctant to
recognize a USB or Firewire device when I plug it in?

It usually takes several re-boots and unplug/plug the
device to have it show up in the explorer window.

I noticed that my friend's computer has the same problem.

Is there an update for this ?

Many Thanks..

[baker]

If you have the latest drivers installed there should be no problem. The
problem arises from people who don't understand USB. You plug a device
into a USB port and leave it alone. If you disconnect that device and
then plug a new device into the same port, you got problems. The
computer sets a USB port for a certain device and when you do the former
the computer is confused. It now has to setup the new device. I have 6
ports including 2 USB2.0. I have 5 devices attached and I have NEVER
unplugged them. I don't need to, I still have an unused port. I have
never had any problems with USB. I also tag the ports so that in the
event that I ever disconnect a device I know where it goes. This is what
most people don't understand and hence all the problems. :-)

[Jim Macklin]

Funny, I have different devices that I plug in my two front
USB 2.0 ports at random. My memory is such I can't remember
whether my cameras plugged in the top or bottom, the card
reader works fine in either port too. The Texas Instruments
Ti83 cable works too. And I sometimes plug a laptop LCD
light in for a little light when I don't need the 60 Watt
lamp.


"baker" > wrote in message
.. .
| If you have the latest drivers installed there should be
no problem. The
| problem arises from people who don't understand USB. You
plug a device
| into a USB port and leave it alone. If you disconnect that
device and
| then plug a new device into the same port, you got
problems. The
| computer sets a USB port for a certain device and when you
do the former
| the computer is confused. It now has to setup the new
device. I have 6
| ports including 2 USB2.0. I have 5 devices attached and I
have NEVER
| unplugged them. I don't need to, I still have an unused
port. I have
| never had any problems with USB. I also tag the ports so
that in the
| event that I ever disconnect a device I know where it
goes. This is what
| most people don't understand and hence all the problems.
:-)
|

[baker]

Lucky you! :-)