USB Devices with Known Issues

CMD OHCI USB Controller (REV_04)

As of the final release of windows 98, this chipset is not supported. If you have a CMD rev 004 on a win98 machine, you will notice that the Host Controller string in device manager reads as follows, “Rev 04 CMD USB Controller not supported by Microsoft”. There is a patch that is available and it is posted on CMD’s website. The patch includes instructions for Win95 and Win98, but CMD has made it very clear that they designed the patch for Win98.

Download the CMD Filter Driver that may enable your machine to work.

OS2Micro Cardbus Controller

Found on Dell Inspiron 2650 and other laptops. Problems with adapters connected to this cardbus controller can be resolved by the O2Mico Patch.

Read the information here

NEC USB OHCI Host Controllers (jrh1)

Some older systems ship with a USB OHCI host controller from NEC that has known problems with bulk devices. You may experience problems with this host controller when using bulk USB devices such as scanners, printers, and modems.

TOSHIBA Laptops

Many older Toshiba Laptops have an unusable NEC USB Host Controller. The effected portables have defective hardware that can not be repaired. There is NO known fix.

Intel 82371SB (Hardware version 000 and 001)

The "SB" chipset has a lot of known defects that are referred to as "errata". Errata is defined as defects in a product that can result in the specified product not performing to the manufactures specifications. Intel fixed many of the defects, but then decided not to fix all of them. Instead they moved on to the “AB” chipset. You will generally find “SB” chipsets on machines that are older than 12 months; this includes many Compaq’s. Compaq was one of the three companies that started the implementation of USB, Intel and Microsoft completes the trio.

CATC USB Bus-Powered Hubs

This hub sometimes fails to work with low-speed devices such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks. The solution is to use only self-powered devices with this hub.

Hitachi Visionbook Plus 4000 Series Laptop

USB is disabled on these machines due to problems on the laptop with power. The laptop does not properly support high-powered bus-powered devices.

Original Intel USB Camera

This original USB Camera (the square-shaped camera, not the oval-shaped camera that is currently available) has problems working on OHCI host controllers.

This device should be used on UHCI host controllers.

NEC Flat Screen Monitor with USB Hub

This device has problems with low-speed devices such as keyboards, mouse devices, and joysticks when plugging and unplugging. You may have to plug in and re-plug in the device several times to get it to work correctly.

Thrustmaster Top Gun USB Joystick

This device has problems working on OHCI host controllers. This device should be used on UHCI host controllers.

Thrustmaster GrandPrix Steering Wheel

This device has problems working on OHCI host controllers. This device should be used on UHCI host controllers.

NEC NX Series Machines

These machines come equipped with a legacy mode USB BIOS that allows the USB keyboard to work in real mode. When you suspend and resume your computer, wake up the machine by using the NEC USB keyboard/mouse, or the device will not work after the computer is resumed. You need to unplug and re-plug in the device.

Unixtar USB Hubs

The hub always reports itself as a self-powered device, even when being used as a bus-powered device. In order for the hub to work correctly, you must always use the power adapter.

Samsung USB Keyboard with Hub

The hub on the Samsung USB keyboard does not always identify itself correctly. When it identifies itself as a self-powered device, it confuses the operating system, causing odd behavior with the hub portion of the keyboard. There is no workaround. Use low-powered USB devices such as mouse and gaming devices or self-powered devices with this keyboard.

Known Problem Devices from Other Sources

VIA, SiS, ALi, NEC and some early Intel PCI/USB Host Controllers

These Host Controllers have exhibited numerous incompatibility problems, particularly with high draw devices such as scanners and cameras, general inoperability and unknown device errors. Appropriate filter drivers and various patches produce mixed results. Special Web Site Sections are available for VIA, SiS and ALi USB Host Controller users.

Older Systems (Vintage 1996 & 97)

Older systems, with or without physical USB ports are not always good candidates for USB upgrade. A modern USB capable BIOS, (June 1998 or newer), is almost always required . Complicating matters is the Win95 operating system that normally shipped with these systems. Win95A does NOT support USB, period. Win95 B & C does NOT support USB very well. Upgrading to Win98 on an older system is not always the answer. New Operating Systems require new BIOS versions. Before you invest in USB for an older system do your homework first.