Why did my computer lose my USB pod?
Submitted by Matt Chambers on Thu, 03/29/2007 - 18:08.
Strangely, my Dell laptop has suddenly lost the ability to recognize my Andrea sound pod. If I try to use the USB audio input with NaturallySpeaking version 9, it tells me that I don't have the required device attached. If I remove the pod, and then reinsert it, the computer tells me that it can't find the right drivers. (As far as I know, no special drivers should be required.)
I'm using Windows 2000. Yes, I have rebooted several times.
I should add that when I
I should add that when I plug the pod in, the "Unplug or Eject Hardware" icon appears in the system tray. It has never done that before.
Matt Chambers wrote: I
I should add that when I plug the pod in, the "Unplug or Eject Hardware" icon appears in the system tray. It has never done that before.
Do you have another computer you can try using the USB pod on? It is very unusual for a USB sound pod to go bad as it is a solid-state device. Of course, it is possible for a cable to have shorted out. By trying it on another computer you will verify whether the problem is local to your computer (in which case it may be a USB controller on the computer) or whether it is actually the USB sound pod.
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Matt Chambers
Strangely, my Dell laptop has suddenly lost the ability to recognize my Andrea sound pod. If I try to use the USB audio input with NaturallySpeaking version 9, it tells me that I don't have the required device attached. If I remove the pod, and then reinsert it, the computer tells me that it can't find the right drivers. (As far as I know, no special drivers should be required.)
I'm using Windows 2000. Yes, I have rebooted several times.
Matt,
This may be due to a known problem in Windows 2000, which also occurred in Windows 98 Second Addition although that version is no longer applicable to DNS 9.
The problem is where you have your USB pod plugged in. In Windows 2000 when you initially plug your USB pod in it is recognized properly. However, USB inputs are labeled the same as serial ports. That is, you have USB 1, USB 2, USB 3, etc. If you have your USB pod plugged into USB 2, or you are using a USB hub to extend the number of USB ports and you have your plugged into one of those, it is not at all uncommon for Windows 2K to lose the ability to recognize your device. Pulling it out and plugging it in again doesn't really work because Windows 2000 has a problem with plug-and-play that was fixed in Windows XP. However, the same problem can occur in Windows XP if the hub into which your USB pod is plugged uses a "Generic USB hub" device type. This is a driver which is provided by Windows even though this driver doesn't require "installation". Also, you can go on for a long period of time without ever having a problem, which then manifests itself out of the blue.
There are a couple of things that you can do to rectify this.
First, try insuring that your USB pod is plugged into USB 1 on your laptop. If you are not using a generic USB hub, try plugging it into the top most, or facing the back leftmost USB port (i.e., directly into the laptop). If you have a current laptop that has more than 2 USB ports, try switching through all of the laptop USB ports until you find one that actually recognize it. However, this doesn't always work right away. Therefore, consider the next couple of tips.
Second, go to the device manager and see whether or not there is an unknown entry under USB devices or anywhere else in the device manager. Try clicking on properties and then update driver.
Second, if this doesn't work, uninstall the device from the device manager and make sure that your USB pod is plugged into USB 1. In Windows 2K you may have to reboot in ordered for the system to recognize your device. However, under most conditions you can simply click the plug-and-play option which is check for hardware changes. If this doesn't update your devices and reinsert the USB pod device, you may have to reboot in ordered for Windows 2000 to recognize it.
The problem is basically that Win2K, once it loses the ability to recognize a plug-in device to a USB port, simply unplugging it and re-plugging it in doesn't work. While this is rare, it is not atypical.
Let me know which approach works.
Chuck Runquist
Former DNS SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS
If you hear the sound of hoofbeats, think horses not zebras.
Law of Parsimony (Occam's razor)
Interestingly, I just got
Interestingly, I just got home and tried the other USB pod I have (also an Andrea). Works just fine. When I plug the other one in (the one that wasn't working this morning), it doesn't work. So it must be the pod. Interesting that it failed, because I was beginning to think they were indestructible.
Sorry, but I just have to do
Sorry, but I just have to do this... the opportunity is there and I MUST LEAP!
Your Andrea sound pod has decided to change it's name and move to that mythical area of South Dakota known as Badlands (how many people do you know there?). Therefore, it's not ever going to work with anyone named Dell again. The two just can't get along and this is their way of divorcement.
Remember that removing and reinserting the pod only makes it angry. It will get even if you keep this procedure going. Just help it pack it's luggage for it's trip and all will be much happier!
Whew... now where did that come from... oh... computer... losing USB pod... pea pods... *ding*!
I may need a vacation... in a galaxy FAR FAR AWAY....
{Extracting Tongue from cheek}