USB ports - general question

I've been having a problem with a web cam and Skype. I''ve installed and
uninstalled the webcam software several times. (I also realize this isn't a
Vista problem per se, but bear with me please.)

The last time I tried the web cam in a different USB port. The problem went
away. My question, is this just a coincidence or do the various USB ports
on my computer have 'assigned' properties ... or are they all 'equal'?

Thanks, Dave Horne

Most setups have a single ( or 2 ) Enhanced USB controllers. USB is
internally routed. Say you have 6 sockets on your PC. Any USB 2.0
device connected internally routes to the Enhanced Controller and it's
Root Hub. Simultaneously, each socket is assigned to a separate but
dedicated USB-1(.1) Controller/Hub to handle the slower devices.
This is why when you plug in slower USB 1.(1.) devices into different
sockets the Operating System detects them as new devices.

"Dave Horne" <> wrote in message
news:en8lBK4%...
> I've been having a problem with a web cam and Skype. I''ve installed and
> uninstalled the webcam software several times. (I also realize this isn't
> a Vista problem per se, but bear with me please.)
>
> The last time I tried the web cam in a different USB port. The problem
> went away. My question, is this just a coincidence or do the various USB
> ports on my computer have 'assigned' properties ... or are they all
> 'equal'?
>
> Thanks, Dave Horne

Dave Horne wrote:
> I've been having a problem with a web cam and Skype. I''ve installed
> and uninstalled the webcam software several times. (I also realize this
> isn't a Vista problem per se, but bear with me please.)
>
> The last time I tried the web cam in a different USB port. The problem
> went away. My question, is this just a coincidence or do the various
> USB ports on my computer have 'assigned' properties ... or are they all
> 'equal'?
>
> Thanks, Dave Horne

No, the ports should all be equal *unless* you have a desktop computer
with a separate USB PCI card. In that case, the ones on the PCI card
will be different from the ones on the motherboard. If the ones on the
motherboard don't work and the PCI card ones do (or vice versa), the
first thing to do is to go to the hardware mftr.'s website and get the
latest drivers. The motherboard USB ports will either be covered by
drivers from the motherboard mftr. OR if you have an OEM machine (Dell,
HP, etc.) get drivers from them.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks guys! DH

Thanks guys!. DH