usb "peripheral switch" error Laptop to Printer

We have jsut purchased a Belkin 2x1 USB Peripheral Switch
to connect a new HP laser printer to 2 computers. It is NOT a multi-function printer/fax/whaterver - simply a printer. The one PC (a desktop HP) connects fine. My laptop (an Averatec) sees the switch but I cannot get a job to print to it, going through the switch. I have tried 3 different usb ports. I can print directly to the printer with no problem. Both computers are running Win XP with SP2 installed. I have run and re and re- and un adn re-installed printer drivers form HP and WINXP and the belkin software, but to no avail.
I have tried short 6 foot usb cables and a 10 foot cable(Max recommended is 15 feet). I still get this Windows error message.
"USB device not recognized. One of the USB devices....has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it." I've talked to Belkin and still cannot get it working. My laptop has been getting sluggish over the past few months, so I am thinking of doing a system restore.... or maybe just going back to a earlier restore point. But befroe I do I thought I'd check for other suggestions. Virus protection is Norton (a sluggish program itself!) defrag done recently and it shows as not required. Suggestions?

 

Hi,
What are the listings under Universal Serial Bus Controllers in Device Manager (laptop)?

 

Universal Serial Bus controllers
Intel® 8280 1DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host controller – 24CD
Intel® 8280 1DB/DBM USB Enhanced Host controller – 24C2
Intel® 8280 1DB/DBM USB Enhanced Host controller – 24C4
Intel® 8280 1DB/DBM USB Enhanced Host controller – 24C7
USB Composite Device
USB Printing Support *** (at one point this line read “Unknown Device”
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub
USB Root Hub

*** note: when this "support" shows up, the driver is listed as Microsoft 7.01.01

Would it make any difference IF the printer is installed on the LPT1 port or a USB port when installed? Belkin said it should go to LPT1 otherwise it’s a “virtual port”? PS. I have screen captures available of the various messages I’ve seen. Not sure if these could be posted on the forum (newbie!) .

kindaNuOld

PPS I have begun uninstalling programs to try that route..... I uninstalled the previous printer & toolbox HP 2500. It said there were shared files no longer in use ... any clue?

 

USB controllers SEEM to be OK, but that does not necessarily mean that they are working the way the manufacturer intended.

You say "when this 'support' shows up ", is the error message still the same then or does Windows not see the printer at all?

Anyway, find the latest release of the "Chipset Driver Update Utility" at the Intel website for your chipset model. To find which chipset you have, you need to look at the first or second BIOS screen (and press the Esc key if you have a splash screen, probably an NEC splash screen, at the start). If it goes by too fast, try pressing the Pause key, so you may need to press one then the other very quickly (and try them in the reverse order).
If Intel says it's an OEM chipset, you will need to look up the downloads for your model at NEC.
You could try using Everest in my signature, but I would cross-check what it comes up with.

I have seen that "slowing down" too many times, especially when Norton is involved. I check for malware, then just start "ripping and gouging " with Norton first to go. If the system does not come up with some improved speed then I try a repair/reinstall. Hopefully NEC has provided you with a full system disk and not a recovery disk.

Yes, good idea. I always say Yes to removing the old files. You want your new drivers to take the place of any old ones.

Matt

 

Belkin 2X1 USB Switch


....well, it was looking promising; but NO.

I ended up going to the recovery disks. It did help clean up and speed up the laptop (it's an Averatec, not an NEC), The chip bios said it was an Intel (r) Chipset 852/855gm/gme

and I have gotten the printer to actually print, every so often. 3 times now!
I also bought (on trial) a Targus Slim usb 2.0 4 pocket hub running on A.C. Power. The fellow at Staples thought this might help boost the usb port's signal.

When I first tried printing thru' the switch, it came up "unknown device ".
I plugged the cable in thru' the Targus hub and BINGO I got "Printer support" in device manager.
It printed one page in wordpad.
I then immdeiately tried an Open Office doc with graphics and an adobe pdf. ......and nothing!

I've rebooted, and reconnected various ways.

ONE thing I noticed during my re-installs when I was adding a fax printer, the MS wizard said to connect the cable and THEN turn on the printer...
so I tried that with this printer thru' switch and it worked ... once.
Other oddity; on one try, I turned the printer and laptop off and then turned the printer on and that wordpad document that never did print earlier, did print, as soon as the printer came on!!

This has also been happening with the HP desktop PC that is also attached thru' this switch. And today it printed 1 copy for adobe then it would not print again, until I turned the printer off and on again.

I am thinking the problem is linked there somehow, but..... what now?

I'll try calling Belkin again but thought I'd let ya' know I am still alive and trying. I have not been able to determine the pattern yet. Suggestions?


PS on earlier shut-downs and just on my last shut-down, I get an error "end program ccApp... not repsonding" What is ccApp?

 

Did you find the updated chipset drivers? After going round and round at Intel looking for a direct reference to your chipset, I found it just seems to point you to the "Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility" (I called it wrong thing in my earlier reply). Try the first one in the list:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!
If it says it cannot update your system, look for updated drivers at Averatec.
BTW, your chipset page at Intel:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009239.htm

It is starting to look like the switch itself is the cause if the HP system continues to have further problems.

Power?...the Averatec may not have enough power to run through the switch and on to the printer. If you can borrow a self-powered USB hub, add it into the system (I think the best place might be between the switch and the printer).

Matt

 

Belkin 2X1 USB Switch will NOT take large files; it's a USB1.0

My tests this morning were to chart the cable lengths (6 vs. 10 foot), the use of the Targus AC powered usb hub and the software programs and file sizes, and any reboot sequences;
because while it was working it was not always working.
It seems to print when the printer is turned on after the laptop is on, but only with smaller text files.

I have NOW, JUST been informed that this @$#^%^ switch is a USB 1.1 compliant unit that will not handle large files (mostly those with graphics). That has been the centre of MOST of my problems. Unfortunatley the Belkin rep I spoke with did not advise me of this.
My boss ran into a problem on Friday and found this out from a different Belkin rep.
He also told her this unit will not work with a TOTAL cable length greater thatn 15 feet
INCLUDING the length (4inches) of the switch itself.
AaaRRrrGGGGhhhhHHHH

Thanks for your time and asistance. Now we need to go out and find a witch or devise a method to share this HP (1600) printer betweeen this laptop and the HP desktop unit. suggestions....

P.S.
I will look into those chipset driver updates.

 

I could not find that program on my system, but saw it in another thread. It is Symantec/Norton. You be able to go to Start -> Search and locate the file (it should be in the folder Symantec Shared). Right-click on the file and select Properties, there you should see it's description. If it is an updater or some type of "helper" you should be able to disable it from within Norton, otherwise you could stop it running using msconfig.

USB 1.1
Do you run on a network? Check at the HP website for "Jetdirect ". These are a dedicated printer server for HP printers (and probably the best way to share HP printers, they are finicky to set up otherwise...as you have seen). You will need to see if your 1600 is supported (USB or LPT connection).

I have found HP printer support to be very helpful (at least over here). Try an email to their printer support, they may have some suggestions.
Look up the printer at the HP support website www.hp.com/support. They have a good knowledgebase.

Matt