dell does not see USB after power off

That's it. It's my dad's computer, one of those slim ones. It quit seeing his digital camera (but it still sees his card reader). It sees his printer when he installs it, but as soon as the printer goes into sleep mode or the computer powers down it does not see the printer anymore until he reinstalls it.

Oh, and yes it's the newest driver, and he tried unplugging and plugging back in. It's an X83 if that's any indication, and he's not using a USB hub.

 

There could be a P/S problem; if by the Dell "slim" you are referring to the 4300S there is a problem. The specs of a 4300S show "Dell Soft Power 250 watt and output wattage 200W maximum. The unit has a 170W P/S and because of the form factor (odd size) there is no other P/S available. I don't believe a 170W is adequate and the problems you have cited may be proof.

If it is a 4300S and you expected a 250 P/S, you may want to take it up with Dell. Good luck.

 

Maybe I'm out of the park here, but since the printer has its own power supply why would it overtax the PCs power supply?

 

Orndog

What he means is the power supply is marginal anyway!

But if you have a sleep/suspend mode problem this may help!

Try this with the printer problem 1st!

Get the printer installed then before the computer goes into suspend or sleep do a normal full shut down! If it don't shut down then this could be part of the problem! But if it does shut down normally bring it back up and see if the printer hangs on!

What kind of printer anyways?

If this works then unplug camera! Go to control panel and romove camera. Reboot once without the camera. Then reinstall camera.

If still no camera then hook camera on your computer long enough to see if maybe camera has gone south!

Mike

 

I believe 170W is very marginal. If the unit is a 4300S, there may be a P/S problem depending on the configuration. A friend bought a 4300S expecting 250W as advertised, but an eyeball inspection of the PC revealed a 170W P/S. The PC was returned for a 4400 that had a 250W as advertised. The load overwelmed the 170W.

Mike's suggestion may help solve the immediate problem, but 170W has limitations vis a vis a 250. Many users want 300W or above depending on expectations and use.

 

I agree with Ken!

170! Hmmm!

Orndog as you say the printer does have it's own power! It uses that power to print but not to receive the print job! The computer transmits the print job and does use a very small amt of power to push the print job out!

And if his ia a USB camera it probably pulls all of its power from the computer!

Add to this any kind of added hardware like a CDRW or even the wall AC power is low or has a short or ground fault. This combo leaves a marginal power supply with no reserve!

let us know!

Mike