USB card reader & boot failure

CDsDontBurn · Aug 13, 2006, 12:45 PM

I've got a USB card reader, and lately it's been causing issues w/my computer not booting.

for the longest time it was working properly, but recently it hasn't been allowing my computer to fully boot into windows. at first, i thought i had some kind of driver failure, so i reformatted (i was going to anyways because i format my comp a week or so before each new semester starts) my computer. after i installed the drivers, and some software, i got the same issue again (i don't remember at what point exactly in the driver/software install that it happened again).

Then, i went into the BIOS, and disabled the USB controller. went to reboot, and it worked! i was like "ok, whatever."

When the USB controller is enabled and i go to boot into windows, it gets to the windows splash screen, then a black screen (which is normal, but usually lasts like 2 seconds before getting a display again), however it remains at the black screen. I then have to do a hard shut down, and after i go to reboot my machine again, it gives me that option screen as to how i want to boot into windows again (safe mode, command prompt, last known good settings, etc.) as if my computer fully did boot into windows.

anybody have any idea as to what it could be?

system specs in sig if that helps.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 14, 2006, 06:07 PM

Perhaps....DMA/IRQ sharing troubles.... try tooling with those in BIOS, see if you can reallocate some IRQ's differently.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2006, 08:52 PM

gotcha.....well, what IRQ can a USB controller go on? the only ones i have available are the serial and LPT ports.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 14, 2006, 09:52 PM

If you don't use those ports disable them, I did

Then that's more IRQ's for you!

Anyway try it just to test it out and see if that's the issue

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2006, 09:58 PM

i do have those ports disabled....always have

. oh yea...also the sound port, since i have my audigy

Dyre Straits · Aug 15, 2006, 06:25 AM

CDs, you and I have almost the same motherboard. I also -- every now and then -- get an boot error that is attributed to my USB Card Reader. I know it's that because I'll get a message that my boot sequence (or some similar message) comes up and I get the option to press F1 to continue. In every instance, F1 does the trick and I get back into Windows fine.

However, on other occasions I'll get to the Windows Logo screen and it barely shows up. It doesn't go to a black screen entirely, but, the animated blue bar doesn't appear, either. When this happens, I have to do a Reset and, with very, very few exceptions, I get back into Windows normally after doing that.

I tend to think it's an IRQ setting as well. I do have a LOT of things installed on this computer and I've NEVER liked having anything else sharing an IRQ with my video card. BUT, with this system I can't get around having the USB Host Controller (on IRQ 16) sharing with my AGP card which is also on IRQ 16.

From everything I read when I got this board, that configuration is hardwired and I can't get around it.

Do you get any error/warnings in the Event Viewer around the time of your system lock?

CDsDontBurn · Aug 15, 2006, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyre Straits

Do you get any error/warnings in the Event Viewer around the time of your system lock?

the last time it happened was a little over an hour ago, and this is the only error i got around that time....

Quote:

The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master \\BLOO on the network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{44EC0F28-14F8-4A40-BF64-EF2184C55745}. The data is the error code.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

but lol....i don't think it would be a network issue as "BLOO" is my sister's computer

.

EDIT:
i think i've found a way around it. kinda ghetto, and annoying to do, but it seems to be working w/100% effectiveness. instead of shutting down my machine, i'll put it in hibernate instead. w/all the drivers and basic resources already loaded, all i have to do is go back into the BIOS and enable the USB controller again.

Tipstaff · Aug 15, 2006, 08:35 AM

Do you have any cards in the reader when this is happening? Any other USB devices? If you have any other USB devices, did you recently switch their hookups?

Also, is it a removable card reader (say, a 3 1/2" drive that is using an internal header)? If external does it use an outside port on the front of your case that is connected to an internal header on the motherboard, one of the 2 bottom ports on the back, or is it one of the top 2 USB ports on the back?

Dyre Straits · Aug 15, 2006, 10:03 AM

Tipstaff:

In my case, occasionally I'll have my camera's memory card inserted but most of the time I don't. My particular card reader has had other problems, too. Actually, it's Microsoft Update problems-related. For some reason, MS Updates wants to install Genesys drivers for this thing and those are not the right ones. Took me some hair-pulling troubleshooting to figure that one out.

Now what happens is, if I don't use the reader often enough, Windows seems to want to forget it's installed. Then, when I pop in a card it won't work until I shutdown completely, leave the card in (most of the time) and then boot up and let the system redetect it.

And, yes, I do have several USB devices. Those don't get changed except for my XBOX 360 USB controller. Even that gets plugged back into the particular port on the front of the case, though.

Another thing: I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that my card reader is USB 1.1...not 2.0.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 15, 2006, 05:09 PM

It may be that the mobo is trying to boot the SD card or whatever's in there... if I leave my external drive/USB key on my system won't boot because that has no boot device and it fails to try and boot the next device.

Aug 13, 2006, 12:45 PM	#1
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	USB card reader & boot failure I've got a USB card reader, and lately it's been causing issues w/my computer not booting. for the longest time it was working properly, but recently it hasn't been allowing my computer to fully boot into windows. at first, i thought i had some kind of driver failure, so i reformatted (i was going to anyways because i format my comp a week or so before each new semester starts) my computer. after i installed the drivers, and some software, i got the same issue again (i don't remember at what point exactly in the driver/software install that it happened again). Then, i went into the BIOS, and disabled the USB controller. went to reboot, and it worked! i was like "ok, whatever." When the USB controller is enabled and i go to boot into windows, it gets to the windows splash screen, then a black screen (which is normal, but usually lasts like 2 seconds before getting a display again), however it remains at the black screen. I then have to do a hard shut down, and after i go to reboot my machine again, it gives me that option screen as to how i want to boot into windows again (safe mode, command prompt, last known good settings, etc.) as if my computer fully did boot into windows. anybody have any idea as to what it could be? system specs in sig if that helps. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 14, 2006, 08:52 PM	Thread Starter #3
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	gotcha.....well, what IRQ can a USB controller go on? the only ones i have available are the serial and LPT ports. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 14, 2006, 09:58 PM	Thread Starter #5
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	i do have those ports disabled....always have . oh yea...also the sound port, since i have my audigy __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 15, 2006, 08:35 AM	#8
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Do you have any cards in the reader when this is happening? Any other USB devices? If you have any other USB devices, did you recently switch their hookups? Also, is it a removable card reader (say, a 3 1/2" drive that is using an internal header)? If external does it use an outside port on the front of your case that is connected to an internal header on the motherboard, one of the 2 bottom ports on the back, or is it one of the top 2 USB ports on the back? __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Aug 14, 2006, 06:07 PM	#2
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Perhaps....DMA/IRQ sharing troubles.... try tooling with those in BIOS, see if you can reallocate some IRQ's differently.

Aug 14, 2006, 09:52 PM	#4
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	If you don't use those ports disable them, I did Then that's more IRQ's for you! Anyway try it just to test it out and see if that's the issue

Aug 15, 2006, 05:09 PM	#10
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	It may be that the mobo is trying to boot the SD card or whatever's in there... if I leave my external drive/USB key on my system won't boot because that has no boot device and it fails to try and boot the next device.