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Some PowerBooks, iBooks exhibit USB 2.0 port problems

updated 09:20 am EST, Thu January 29, 2004

USB 2.0 port problems

One MacNN reader notes that some of Apple's newer laptops may exhibit USB 2.0 port problems: "It seems that on the newer aluminum-clad G4's (and iBooks with USB 2.0), when the computer goes to sleep, the USB port does not properly come back after waking up. Some USB 1.1 devices will power up and mount, but no USB 2.0 devices will. I have duplicated this with our devices and USB drives from M-Systems, C-One, Sony, Lexar and SanDisk. It affects Mac OS 10.2.7, 10.2.8, and I'm currently verifying it with all versions of 10.3. Interestingly, this problem does not happen with the G5. Different chipset, I guess?"

by MacNN Staff

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MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 09:40am | report spam | close Reply |
Me too!

I am glad to hear that someone else is having this problem. Is anything being done about it??

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 09:45am | report spam | close Reply |
USB 2.0 problems

I agree with the USB 2.0 problems. I've noticed on my PowerBook G4 15" Alum. that after being asleep and then plug-in a USB drive in any of the two USB ports sometimes the USB drive will not mount and I have to reboot to make it work. A real pain sometimes.

Marty

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01/29, 10:03am | report spam | close Reply |
So happy to not be alone

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with this problem. I've had to reboot my 12 Aluminum G4 powerbook so many times just to get to recognize my USB 2.0 thumb drive or flash card readers. Very frusterating.

I noticed I could always duplicate the bug too. That is I could put the system to sleep, then wake it up, after waking it up, if I inserted a USB 2.0 device, it didn't recognize it. And sometimes, if the device was inserted before I put it to sleep, it would loose the device.

Thanks for posting your findings, until now thought I was alone, hopefully they'll find a good fix for it soon.

Greg

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01/29, 10:17am | report spam | close Reply |
USB 2.0 does not work

Even without sleep, USB does not always work with any brand of USB 1.1 or 2.0 flash memory devices.

the new Aluminum systems really SUCK.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:18am | report spam | close Reply |
I too have seen this

I have a 17-inch 1.33ghx machine and I keep having problems getting my Sandisk SD card reader working in the left usb port.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:18am | report spam | close Reply |
Me too!!

My USB 2.0 hub fails to come back on after my G4 iBook wakes up....

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:22am | report spam | close Reply |
Report To Apple

I have this problem also and have told Apple using the OS X feedback page. All you other posters have notified Apple, right? The only way they'll fix it is if thousands of people complain about it.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:37am | report spam | close Reply |
me too

Another me too post - this has been driving me nuts. I've replaced KVM's, cables, you name it.

Now let's see Apple fix this damned annoyance.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:39am | report spam | close Reply |
lawsuit

lets sue them, its the only way!

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 10:56am | report spam | close Reply |
replug

I've found that if I pull it out and replug it in it usually works, sometimes takes two or three times. Not the end of the world for me. Hopefully the bitching will get them to address it in future units, cuz if its a chipset thing don't expect new motherboards. I'd say that this problem makes me only 99.88% satisfied with my powerbook instead of 100%. You're right, these machines suck, let's sue!

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01/29, 10:57am | report spam | close Reply |
Another verification

I've reported it to apple in their developer channels, their consumer channels, and other 'less public' channels and yet the problem remains unfixed. If people want to do yet another class action against apple - visit:

http://www.bigclassaction.com/

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 11:12am | report spam | close Reply |
Nasty Bug

This issue has been plaguing my usage of my iBook G4 with my external USB 2.0 hard drive.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 11:21am | report spam | close Reply |
Confirmed

I have had the same problem on my 4 motnhs old 1GHz 12" PB G4. I recently managed to revive my flash key memory by going to System Profiler and scan the USB ports. Can anyone else reproduce that "fix"?
Worse is that I called Apple last week to ask if this was a common problem. He impolitely cut me off and said I would have to pay $50 in case my call was not covered by warranty. He refused to even speak until I had given him my credit card! I have been a loyal Mac customer for 14 years, bought 4 macs and 2 iPods, member of .Mac, converted numerous people from the PC world. And then Apple's response to a question that must have been common... Rude.

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01/29, 11:23am | report spam | close Reply |
Me three

I was wondering why my flash drive wouldn't work all the time. Rebooting fixes the problem, but rebooting sucks. I'm running 10.3.2 on a 1.25GHz/15.2" PowerBook.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 11:54am | report spam | close Reply |
Slow down

Ok, I haven't seen this personally on my Al Powerbook but before jumping to conclusions about another hardware problem, this may be software/driver related (not that it doesn't need to be addressed).

Sleep actually seems like it might be a complicated thing to do in an OS. Does all the hardware get initialized properly when it wakes up etc. I'm sure all these issues were examined in the design, but it seems like it could be a complicated process and may point to a software defect.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 11:59am | report spam | close Reply |
Newsflash..

This has happened to every Mac I purchased - iMac G4/800, iBook G3/700, G5 Dual 2. This is an old story, and I have to believe, a known issue.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 12:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
Newsflash..

This has happened to every Mac I purchased - iMac G4/800, iBook G3/700, G5 Dual 2. This is an old story, and I have to believe, a known issue.

I had this problem on OS 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3.2 now.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 12:53pm | report spam | close Reply |
Same with add-on cards

My UMAX S900 running 10.2.8 has the same problem with a USB 2.0 PCI card that I recently added to it. This leads me to believe that the problem is with the driver NOT the hardware.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 01:34pm | report spam | close Reply |
Changes to USB Port Soft

I think something changed in the USB port support in OS 10.3. My Lexar reader's driver no longer works with 10.3 (or 10.3.1 or 10.3.2), and neither does my Epson Stylus Photo 825's. I am also having this same problem...

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01/29, 03:44pm | report spam | close Reply |
Add on Card Problem

I have the same issue running an iogear USB 2.0 card in my Dual 500 mac. My USB 2.0 CD writer will only run at 1.1 speeds after sleeping.

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01/29, 04:33pm | report spam | close Reply |
Try sleep with password

I was having the same issue with my USB card reader - so I bought a new one. That one exhibits the same problem. HOWEVER: In the forums here I learned that if you have the machine sleep WITH password, so that when you reopen the machine you must enter your password - my USB functions normally as if I had rebooted. So, the only real annoyance for me is that I must reenter my password every time I open my machine. ::sigh:: That, however, I can live with. At least my card readers work now... one for work, one for home.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 05:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
10.3.3 seeds coming

MacRumors.com has an article sugesting that Apple is currently seeding 10.3.3 to developers. Among their list of fixes are major changes to a number of items, including USB.

Hopefully this will solve the problem. That would be great if it was just a USB driver issue.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 05:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sleep w/passwd broken

This is still broken for me, as I have always had my machine prompt me for a password when I open the lid.

I still can't use my USB 2.0 flash drive after sleep.

My guess that it's driver related. If 10.3.3 indeed has a fix, it would be great!

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 05:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Hmm

Must be Microsoft's fault, or Dell's,or PC users' faults. Apple is perfect and can do no wrong. Never. Ever.

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 06:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
Same problem

1.33GHz 17" PB + 10.3.2 + any USB 2.0 device, but mainly PQI card reader

MacNN.com Reader
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01/29, 07:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Iomega

There's a statement from Iomega about this issue on MacFixIt.com today.

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01/29, 08:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
Iomega

That's because I posted it to both places. Thanks to everyone who tested it out with their configurations since we can't have every machine in our lab at Iomega (I know, it IS a pity!). FYI, I have 10.3.3 and will test it out tonight. From the looks of it, it could either be a hardware issue or something at the driver level. Either way, I think that through this, Apple has been made more aware of the issue and has more incentive to fix it since the iBook issue has recently been brought to light. Thanks again!

Wayne

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01/30, 09:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
So. . .

did 10.3.3 help?

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Some PowerBooks, iBooks exhibit USB 2.0 port problems

updated 09:20 am EST, Thu January 29, 2004

USB 2.0 port problems

Related Articles

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Me too!

USB 2.0 problems

So happy to not be alone

USB 2.0 does not work

I too have seen this

Me too!!

Report To Apple

me too

lawsuit

replug

Another verification

Nasty Bug

Confirmed

Me three

Slow down

Newsflash..

Newsflash..

Same with add-on cards

Changes to USB Port Soft

Add on Card Problem

Try sleep with password

10.3.3 seeds coming

Sleep w/passwd broken

Hmm

Same problem

Iomega

Iomega

So. . .

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