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"A USB device has malfunctioned and exceeded the power limits of its hub port."

post #1 of 13
11/29/05 at 1:02am
Thread Starter 
Whenever I plug in my iPod (HP version) into to the computer I get a message that reads:

"A USB device has malfunctioned and exceeded the power limits of its hub port. You should disconnect the device.
The location of the device is shown in bold type.

USB Root Hub (8 ports)
Unused Port
Unused Port...
?UNKNOWN USB DEVICE
?UNKNOWN USB DEVICE
Unused Port
Unused Port

Recommendation: To Re-enable the port, disconnect the hardware and click Reset. If you click Close, the port will no longer function."

I have tried reinstalling the USB and updating the USB drivers. HP says that its the computer, Dell says that it is the iPod. Any suggestions?
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post #2 of 13
11/29/05 at 1:19am
its the computer. Our USB ports aren't powered
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post #3 of 13
11/29/05 at 1:28am
Ummmm - I'm pretty sure the USB ports on the machine itself should be powered.

How else are you going to plug in a USB mouse?

gdrich: Have you tried plugging the iPod into another machine?
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post #4 of 13
11/29/05 at 3:53am
i would uninstall your usb hub on your lappie and then reinstall. ensure you have the newest notebook system software from the dell site. it sounds like you have bad usb drivers or it sounds like you have not installed your usb control drivers.

did you by chance do a clean install? if so, did you remember to install all your drivers? which lappie do you have?
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post #5 of 13
11/29/05 at 6:48am
Is it a USB 1 or 2?
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post #6 of 13
11/29/05 at 9:41am
USB ports do have power, however most ports have additional power (somthing like 5V) and are often referred to as power USB ports.

Not sure of the power requirement of your HP MP3 player, however i would suspect it would be less then the standard usb power.

Other option would be to buy an external Self-Powered HUB.
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post #7 of 13
11/29/05 at 1:18pm
usb ports not powered? come on, pass on useful info would ya.

i had the same problem. i bought a self powered hub, and it seems to work fine.

i also thought it should work with the computers internal plugs, but have been overall satisfied with my dell.
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post #8 of 13
11/29/05 at 2:42pm
Quote:
The USB connector provides a single nominally 5 volt wire from which connected USB devices may power themselves. In practice, delivered voltage can drop well below 5 V, to only slightly above 4 V. The compliance spec requires no more than 5.25 V anywhere and no less than 4.375 V at the worst case; a low-power function after a bus-powered hub. In typical situations the voltage is close to 5 V.

A given segment of the bus is specified to deliver up to 500 mA. This is often enough to power several devices, although this budget must be shared among all devices downstream of an unpowered hub. A bus-powered device may use as much of that power as allowed by the port it is plugged into.
I suggest you try it on a different machine to see if it is the iPod or the laptop.
edit: I just read some more of that article and this may explain what's wrong.
Quote:
When USB devices (including hubs) are first connected they are interrogated by the host controller, which enquires of each their maximum power requirements. The host operating system typically keeps track of the power requirements of the USB network and may warn the computer's operator when a given segment requires more power than is available (and will generally shut down devices or hubs in order to keep power consumption within the available resource).

A number of devices use this power supply without participating in a proper USB network. The typical example is a USB-powered reading light, but fans, battery chargers (particularly for mobile telephones) and even miniature vacuum cleaners are available. In most cases, these items contain no electronic circuitry, and thus are not proper USB devices at all. This can cause problems with some computers—the USB specification requires that devices connect in a low-power mode (100 mA maximum) and state how much current they need, before switching, with the host's permission, into high-power mode.
Is the iPod on when you connect it?
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post #9 of 13
11/30/05 at 5:26pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, its on when I plug it in. What is weird is that I've had the thing for about a year now, and all of the sudden it just started doing this. I'm not doing anything different and haven't changed any settings.
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post #10 of 13
11/30/05 at 9:47pm
again, i would uninstall and reinstall the notebook system software. drivers can get corrupted from time to time.
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post #11 of 13
12/1/05 at 3:50am
sounds like your ipod needs more juice than the lappies usb ports are willing to provide it, cant you power the ipod externally??
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post #12 of 13
12/1/05 at 8:32pm
maybe the problem is you are using a Ipod... pieces of junk .
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post #13 of 13
12/5/05 at 12:16am
Thread Starter 
Yes, thanks for that last response. It was much help. Even if you don't like Apple you have to admit that iPod has been a success. As far as powering it some other way than the usb, you can. It can be charged by plugging it into the wall. But, you have to get music on to it somehow.
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