T40p - USB 2.0 and disk performance

[savas]

Hey all,

I've been trying to find a solution to this problem on the web and on this forum but no luck so far

Sometime ago my T40p's USB 2.0 ports starting performing like 1.1. Everytime I connect my external USB 2.0 disk (the same one that used to work on the same port) I get this message:

"This USB device can perform faster if you connect it to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. For a list..."

I've tried the solution of uninstalling the USB devices as suggested in various posts/web pages but it hasn't worked. I thought it was a problem with my windows installation so i waited until i could do a clean install. Well, I did that yesterday and the problem persists.

I am not sure when it exactly started. I wonder whether it relates to BIOS/controller updates. I currently have the latest versions installed: 3.14/3.04.

Furthermore (although this may be just me now "seeing" other problems when there are none) I have noticed a decrease in hard disk performance (my model is the T40p 2373G3G). Could this be related?

Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance!

[stgreek]

Unfortunately, this is not a Thinkpad problem, this is a Windows problem, as I had it with non-IBM computers as well. I cannot help you any further, but I just wanted to suggest you to google for it, as Windows users are probably many more than Thinkpad users (although it should be the other way round )

Stavros

[Aramitz]

May be you can resolve your problem by a new USB2 driver on the Intel site !??

[JHEM]

Yassou Stavros,

Unfortunately, this is not a Thinkpad problem, this is a Windows problem, as I had it with non-IBM computers as well.

I keep telling people this and they keep responding "Oh, but IBM replaced my MB when I reported the problem!".

If you send a Thinkpad in to EZServe with almost any hardware problem, they'll apparently replace the MB as a matter of SOP.

If you send it in with a software problem, they'll re-image your HD.

They don't make any attempt to determine the cause of a problem, they simply follow a script that says for problem A = replace the WiFi card, for problem B = replace the MB, for problem C = replace the HD.

I'll go on the record again to say that, based on the feedback I read in other forums, the USB2.0 problem is NOT Thinkpad specific and is a driver/OS problem, not a hardware problem.

Regards,

James

[n3il]

If I were the OP I would try reinstalling the chipset support (basically the USB 2.0 "drivers") here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46058

I agree with those before me who have stated that it is 99.9% software issue.

HTH

Neil

[egibbs]

In one of the previous threads on this subject someone mentioned that if you have any USB 1.1 devices on the same controller as a USB 2.0 device all the devices will only perform at 1.1 speed.

If the OP has a USB mouse or something on the bus he might try it with only the drive connected.

Ed gibbs

[savas]

Hey guys,

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

I didn't want to imply that there might be something wrong with the hardware. The reason i posted this in this forum is because i wanted to check whether people with T40s had a similar experience. I suspect this is a BIOS/controller software issue. I just checked the drive with another T40p (unlike my laptop which has clean Windows XP SP2 installation, I didn't have control over the software installation on that one) and it had the same problem. I tested the drive with a desktop machine and it worked fine at USB 2.0 speeds (ahhh!!! I miss those speeds )

A way to test whether it's indeed a BIOS/controller issue is to revert back to older versions. Does anyone know whether it's possible?

Oh... and I do have the latest Intel chipset drivers installed.

Thanks again!

[bhar]

Savas,

To your question on does older Thinkpad-T40 BIOS versions exhibit the problem; I think the answer is yes.

Background: I and a co-worker have been trying to resolve this same issue on our T40 type 2373's. Neither of us updated our bios after delivery in October 2003, and both of us were having this same problem (e.g., usb2 devices connecting fine in the initial months, then spotty 2.0 vs. 1.1 connectivity, to for at least 6 months now always connecting at 1.1 with only memories of what 2.0 were like). I finally spent serious time on this yesterday, tracked down all drivers (and IBM's new "Thinkpad Software Installer" (which is much better than their older "Connector Updater"). At the end of updating 'every' driver, the intel chipset, the bios and controller (also 3.14/3.04), this problem still is happening. Further, I turned off all 1.1 host controllers in device manager, leaving only the 2.0 enhnance contoller and it's hub active, restarted multiple times but coudl never get any usb device to be notice, let alone function. Turning back on one (of the three) 1.1 host controllers, everything is noticed again, but connected all devices are connected to the 1.1 contoller.

=== For all posters/readers: Next action?
From the posts above, I am reading that this is a windows problem, not an ibm thinkpad exclusive problem. I have XP-SP2 with all patches/updated applied. Like Savas, my research has yielded no solution that fixes this issue. Posts above also mention that returning a thinkpad to IBM for mainteance may result in replaced equipement and/or re-imaging, but not a fix. Hence, I am at a lost as to what next step to take (other than punt with returning the hardware to IBM for their review, or living with 1.1. connectivity).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[egibbs]

Just to be clear because no one has explicitly said this...

Have you folks tried connecting ONLY the USB 2.0 device with nothing else hooked up?

Ed Gibbs

[beeblebrox]

I have a T40p and had the same problems with several external HDD USB2.0 drives.

I found the problem in the device manager, windows always loaded a wrong, old drivers. When I found in a WinUser thread the advice to turn on all invisible devices... there were at least 50 different devices that did not exist anymore. At least 30 versions of HDDs on the USB port and at least 10 versions of USB drivers.

It took me a long time to delete ALL of them, restart the notebook, let windows find the hardware device and then install ONLY ONE and the newest driver.

Everything works smooth now. That was about 1 years ago.
Have a look at your system

[savas]

Thanks for the info.

I knew about this problem for some time now but I hadn't mentioned it because i was waiting until i performed a clean install with all the IBM drivers. Unfortunately, the USB problem persisted even then. So, i don't see how i can have old drivers for unused devices. However, I am willing to try I want my USB 2.0 performance back

I had a look for the hidden devices and I really don't know which ones I should delete. A "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" section appeared but the names of the devices are not obvious.

I am starting to suspect that this may be a WinXP SP2 thing. Do you actually have the T40p on SP2 with the USB working at 2.0 speeds?

Thanks,

[Steve007]

I am starting to suspect that this may be a WinXP SP2 thing. Do you actually have the T40p on SP2 with the USB working at 2.0 speeds?

Mine does.....

[bhar]

To egibbs point, I just went through a rather exhaust matrix of restarts varying what usb-host controller and hub drivers were installed and uninstalled/restarted/auto-reinstalled (combinations of removing just controller, vs also root-hub driver, and usb 1.1 drivers vs 1.2 driver) and each time restarted ... sometime a 2nd restart; all without usb devices connected, and then connecting usb devices when the os is is up and running. I'm saddened to say in evey case, the usb2 device always connected to a usb 1.1. controller and root-hub. In the event that I disabled all usb 1.1 controllers/root-hubs and left -only- a usb2.0 controller and root-hub active, the usb devices were not recogonized by the os at all.

To beelebrox's point, I confirmed that I do not have any old drivers installed, so I don't think this is it. Related, back 2 months ago I had to reinstall the OS (from IBM recover CD's) wich reformatted the 80gig harddrive, and installed factory fresh). The usb problem was happening before and after this OS-reinstall.

Like Savas, I'm starting to think this is a XP-SP2 issue. To Steve007, how long have you had your machine? Reason I ask in that for the first approx 6month of ownership, I can remember connecting with usb2.0 speeds .. I'm not sure what changed, but for a few months it was sporadic (1.1 sometimes, 2.0 others); Now it's 1.1 only.

btw: I have been using a 15-day/100 use trial-free-download software package called USBInfo available at www.usbfireinfo.com. it has been helpful in seeing what usb devices are connected to what controllers and root-hubs. Mentioning in case anyone else is looking for additional diagnostic info.

[beeblebrox]

Yes, I have the T40p with all the newest drivers, WinXP SP2 with all hotfixes.

I give you 3 last choices to check:
1.) check with a hardware verifier (PC-Doctor, Sandra, etc.) whether the hardware is recognized. I fit is there..

2.) check specifically Microsoft for USB 2.0 drivers (there were many issues, I had problems before SP2 too)

3.) If nothing seems wrong and it still doesn't work, load knoppix, check if the ports run under Linux.

If not, then send the notebook to repair. Maybe the high-speed channel is broken, only the low speed works. It is separate electronics in the chip.

[bhar]

To Beebelbox,

Thank you for the suggestion. I am going to go through these step in the next few weeks (somehow other work keeps getting in the way

Will post back my findings.

Best,
Bob...

[grenex]

I have read this post (and others like it) and have tried ALL of the above steps (yes...ALL steps)

THIS IS NOT A SOFTWARE ISSUE! IT IS HARDWARE RELATED!!!

I have rebuilt the laptop with a fresh OS, flashed bios, updated drivers, run SP1/SP2, reloaded the intel chipset driver, run just one device on the laptop, and no matter what the device ONLY runs as USB 1.1

A fresh build ensures there are no older devices on the system or bad drivers, and that still did not work. I have taken every step, and the problem can not be corrected.

Please note: This used to work FINE on my SP2 system until I plugged in a USB to IDE adapter cable (much like a USB to IDE HDD box, but this is just a cable...no box). The device worked oddly on my desktop and SHORTLY after plugging it into my WORKING USB 2.0 port on my laptop, i got a message that the device failed, and no longer showed. I switched to the other port, which worked for ~1 min, but then also failed with the same message. Since then, no USB 2.0 device will function on my laptop anymore above 1.1 speed. Something hosed the Intel Chipset on the laptop.

There were several forums I read where people said the only way to fix this is to send back to IBM, and I believe them. That is my next step.

[dabrooks]

I am a T40 user with USB issue as described above. I don't recall the USB ports ever working with USB 2.0 speeds, and I have had nmy laptop since April 2004. Before Thanksgiving 2005 I connected both USB flash drives and USB external hard drives and both connected at USB 1.1 speeds. The flash drive and external HDD are from different manufacturers. This laptop had Win XP SP1 on it.

Post Thanksgiving 2005 I had to send my laptop back to my company for re-imaging because the OS fried. They sent the laptop back to me with Win XP SP2. I connected the same flash drive and external HDD to the newly imaged laptop, with the same results. I have since purchased an external DVD writer and still get the USB 1.1 speeds.

I would love for this issue to be resolved!

I ran an additional test. I disconnected all USB devices from my laptop and connected the DVD writer to the USB port on my basic port replicator, with the same USB 1.1 results.

Any help please?!?!

[atha]

My T40p has also this problem. I can't recall if the ports had ever been working as USB2.0. The problem appears also in Linux, so I think that this indeed is a hardware problem.

When I disable the USB 1.1 controllers in windows and leave only usb 2.0 - the USB HDD doesn't appear. Same thing in Linux, if it tries to use the module and driver for the USB 2.0 controller (ehci_hcd) - I just finds the device again and again. When unloading module for USB2.0 and thus forcing Linux to use USB 1.1 controller module (uhci_hcd), the HDD is found once and it is mounted fine.

EDIT: Strangely the USB HDD seems to work in USB 2.0 mode now.