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Warp wrote:
> Darren New <dne### [at] san rrcom> wrote:
>> No. The problem is that each USB device is supposed to have a unique
>> serial number, so the OS knows when you plug the same device into a
>> different port. On a sufficiently cheap piece of USB hardware (espcially
>> those where it doesn't matter, like a mouse), they don't manufacture the
>> bits that are different for each item.
>
>> Hence, when you plug the same device into the same port, Windows says "I
>> saw that before, but it doesn't have a serial number, so I'll assume
>> it's the same thing." When you plug it into a different port, Windows
>> assumes it's a different device, and goes through the install dance again.
>
> What I don't understand is why Windows can't do "hmm, I *already* have
> the driver for this device installed, I don't need to install it again,
> I'll just support the device right away". It's not like connecting it to
> a different usb port would make recognizing the type of device more difficult
> than connecting it to the same port as yesterday.
That's exactly what keeps me wondering as well. The Laptop (about 4
months old, BTW) recognizes the USB Headset on one USB, but not on the
other, AND it doesn't usually need any installation whatsoever, you just
plug it in and it gets recognized as a pair of headphones and a mic.
I just don't get whats going on. Of course, always using the same USB
slot solves the problem, but it IS kinda strange, given the actual idea
behind USB, right?
--
aka "Tim Nikias"
Homepage: <http://www.nolights.de>
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Tim Nikias wrote:
>
> I just don't get whats going on. Of course, always using the same USB
> slot solves the problem, but it IS kinda strange, given the actual idea
> behind USB, right?
>
Doesn't solve, but works around usually. Think the possibility of having
a memory stick with open files (wait, *gasp*, that's... POSSIBLE) on
that very USB-connector, when in need to put in the headset.
--
Eero "Aero" Ahonen
http://www.zbxt.net
aer### [at] removethiszbxtnetinvalid
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Warp wrote:
> Why can't all USB devices be like that?)
They can. It just costs a few pennies more to put a distinct serial
number on every device.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
"That's pretty. Where's that?"
"It's the Age of Channelwood."
"We should go there on vacation some time."
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Tim Nikias wrote:
> I just don't get whats going on. Of course, always using the same USB
> slot solves the problem, but it IS kinda strange, given the actual idea
> behind USB, right?
And you're following up on a message where I explained what's going on,
ya know...
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
"That's pretty. Where's that?"
"It's the Age of Channelwood."
"We should go there on vacation some time."
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>> It will, for things like thumb drives. Why it won't for *other* things
>> is beyond me, especially given that a significant number of items are
>> now USB based... :(
>
> So much for the much-touted plug&play... :P
>
> (With some devices plug&play works and is really nice. For example,
> if you connect a simple game controller to an USB port, it just works.
> Why can't all USB devices be like that?)
There are some USB standard protocols that are understood by the OS without
the need for any drivers, like for keyboards, mice, game controllers, data
storage etc. Of course a manufacturer is not forced to use these standards,
but if they don't they will need to provide some extra driver software
(usually providing some extra functionality above the standard OS protocol).
Also what Darren said, for things like game controllers it is very expensive
to add some unique serial number, as there is no other need to have any
non-volatile information stored inside it (unlike a pen-drive or camera).
To store a serial number you will need to add some extra chip and program
it, or hard-code some bit-pattern circuitry inside the device - both
extremely expensive compared to just assembling parts in exactly the same
way.
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Darren New wrote:
> Tim Nikias wrote:
>> I just don't get whats going on. Of course, always using the same USB
>> slot solves the problem, but it IS kinda strange, given the actual
>> idea behind USB, right?
>
> And you're following up on a message where I explained what's going on,
> ya know...
Well, to my defense, I did say that the Headset doesn't actually require
installing or has any disk for that matter. So no matter if there's a
serial number or not, plug&play is what should be happening, not "plug
in one slot and recognize it, plug it in the other and the system has no
frickin clue what the USB device is".
If it would ask to reinstall some weird OS-given drivers that aren't
installed with the basic OS, but are found on the OS' Install CD, I
would have agreed, but since *nothing* is required when plugging it in,
it DOES seem kinda strange that one USB recognizes the Headset and the
other doesn't.
I've got the same headset. Plugging it into any of the 7 USB ports on my
PC (Windows XP) or the two on my Mac (Leopard) doesn't make a
difference, but it does on the two USB slots of my friend's laptop
running Vista.
Regards,
Tim
--
aka "Tim Nikias"
Homepage: <http://www.nolights.de>
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Tim Nikias wrote:
> I've got the same headset. Plugging it into any of the 7 USB ports on my
> PC (Windows XP) or the two on my Mac (Leopard) doesn't make a
> difference, but it does on the two USB slots of my friend's laptop
> running Vista.
That was my bad. I got confused between the game controller and the
headset. Yeah, it should recognise the headset in both USB slots, I'd
think.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
"That's pretty. Where's that?"
"It's the Age of Channelwood."
"We should go there on vacation some time."
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