A Guide / solution / problem error / failure fix for:
- USB 2 PCI card with Via chipset - VT6202, VT6212 / VT6212l, VT6214/L
BIOS info in top left (is the latest BIOS):
W6524SMS V1.7
042303
bottom left:
04/23/2003-SiS-650-6A6IXM4CC-00
Might help to past into a word processor or something to see a bit more clearly... as long as the word wrap works, maybe even cut bits out you don't want as you read through
If you print and save until you got time to kill on the train or whatever even better and less pressure
Ok, hello, nice to meet you. It's regarding the PCI card's with Via USB 2 chipset called VT6202, VT6212, VT6214/L. Very visible by looking at the large chip on the card.
I have made a guide attempt a to successful installion of them!
I have made a check-list of things for you to check or learn, as a result of my trial and error this evening and morning.
Before all this 'tutorial' of how to get it working, I should say I installed the card and after I clicked CANCEL to all the initial windows XP 'detected new hardware' dialog I double clicked the setup file which you can find this here:
VIA Drivers Download - VIA Technologies, Inc.
or directly from that page to the zip file here:
http://www.viaarena.com/Driver/VIA_USB2_V270p1-L.zip)
It asks you to restart before doing anything else so restart and see what happens! As most people are here already or in my opinion can be sorted out from this point I won't mention taking out the card at any point or re-installing or un-installing any drivers.
P.S I had service pack 3 installed - won't hurt but read further down in Windows section if worried
You can find SP3 here:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/ms...2300ebfde4.exe (316mb)
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MAIN TOPICS - BIOS AND WINDOWS SETTINGS
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1. BIOS RELATED
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PRESSING THE "DEL" KEY A GOOD FEW TIMES WHEN COMPUTER COMES ON OR FLICKS WHEN RESTARTARTING WILL GET YOU INTO BIOS
[Screenshots available but best reading and making notes first so you know what you are changing BEFORE trial and error!]
THOSE HEADINGS WITH OVERLINE ARE IN THE BIOS MAIN MENU AND I'VE JUST LISTED THE IMPORTANT ONES BELOW SO YOU CAN CHECK AND CHANGE IN ORDER
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IN BIOS GOTO "ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES" MENU
APIC Mode [Enabled] = Worth having and a necessity as APIC stretches your IRQs from the standard AT of 15 to about 23 or 24, this way you Pc doesn't use the same one or get completely conflicted as much.
IF [Enabled] seleced above this brings up sub menu:
MPS Version control for OS [V1.4]
MPS = Multiprocessing Support. I tried selecting either option (V1.1 or V1.4) and then testing the USB 1 ports and the USB card ports (once it's starting working for me after the rest of this tutorial) and neither had any difference I could see. I used a USB memory stick to copy and this MPS option didn't make a difference.So as the name suggests, even though my computer says "ACPI multiple processors" in the Device Manager and only has 1 processor it makes no major difference to what we're doing regarding a USB and Firewire combo PCI card as long as APIc is [Enabled]. (more on ACPI below)
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IN BIOS GOTO "INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS" MENU
USB Controller [Enabled] = My recommendation
Before I had this working I had it disabled after reading another post and it making sense to get rid of this, even if temporarily, to make sure it's one less thing to get in the way. It turns out after I got it working alone I enabled the USB in the BIOS (which is USB V1) and then both work fine together at their own speeds. I did check the USB 2 card to make sure it's not at USB 1 speed and thankfully it isn't!
USB Keyboard Support = [Disabled] = My recommendation
- [Enabled] Only really used for older operating systems that don't manage USB keyboards
- As XP does manage UsB keyboards this will make little difference, especailly if you use the PS/2 keyboard port on the PC with the standard supplied PS/2 keyboard. Basically better to take this dedicated port and free up a USB which requires more processor effort and system resources to manage.
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IN BIOS GOTO "POWER MANAGEMENT SETUP" MENU
IPCA function [Enabled] = Set ACPI on (IPCA is ACPI mispelled!)
ACPI Suspend Type [S3(STR)] = (Everything off except memory)
the rest below are only my preference to limit any of them being the reasons for any problems, I don't need them personally
Power Management [User Defined]
|--> Suspend Mode [1 Min]
Switch Function [Disabled] (this option instead of [Break/Wake] to make sure never falls asleep maybe)
Power Button Override [Instant Off] (Hold power button for 4 secs in case it ever falls asleep and doesn't wake up... or to switch it off at anytime instead of using "Shut Down" in windows and waiting for it to go off itself!! Pretty much only done personally in 'out the door' emergencies or if system hangs whilst shutting down too long
). Not recommended... but as long as a PC isn't writing to the disk or doing anything important it's usually non-fatal!
Power/Sleep LED [Dual LED] (stays on or blinks IF in sleep mode)
After AC Power Lost [Power Off] (just stays off in case of loss of power/disconnection)
Comments on some of the above:
IPCA = ACPI but mispelled!... I read online they got the letters in wrong order (it looks mirrored) and there is nothing else to stand for it in manual or from my reasearch and big give away is not just the ACPI menu isn't elsewhere but the fact this is the first setting in the 'Power Management Setup'!
Big typo but who can blame them having come so far... 8) let's not slate them for something so petty we can work out ourselves
I think peopel should mispell more things so we learn what it really is and appreciate they are human!
so ACPI aka IPCA is the BIOS settings for power savings and few other things implemented by Microsoft. It also makes all the IRQ's (Interrupt Request) which is like a time slot for the computer, less conflictive and restrictive, increasing the likelyhood it all works with less blue screens! Hoorah!
After setting this, you can see, if you really want, that all your devices in your Device Manager, quite often share the same IRQ.
If you want to view this: open Device Manager, click "View" from the menu, then "Resources by type" in right window pane.
Then click double click Interrupt request (IRQ). I have mostly lots of 16's, 18', 19's and few singles or double but not much
It's all good as long as it works without less hassle or performance issues which, again only in my experience and from what I read, does.
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The bit just below is ONLY IF for some reason you NEED to put your devices on separate fixed IRQs (most wouldn't - it's not worth the hassle/improvements)
Under 'Computer' in the Device Manager see if it says "Standard PC" or "ACPI Multiprocessor PC". If it says "ACPI Multiprocessor PC" or similar and you want seperate/configurable IRQ's then just right click on it
click Update Driver, "install from a specific location", "don't search, I will find the driver from a specific location"
Pick "Standard P"C as the new driver.
When rebootingdon't forget to get into your BIOS quickly (hit DEL a few times) and disable IPCA (ACPI wrongly spelt) found under the 'Power Management Setup'...
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IN BIOS GOTO "PnP/PCI Configurations" MENU
Only one in here worth trying is:
Reset Configuration Data [Disabled]
on the right of the screen describes it as "Select Enabled to reset Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) when you have installed a new add-on and the system has caused such a serious conflict it cannot boot". If used it goes back to disabled by itself and I have to admit I used this once or twice to see if it made a difference but I don't think it hurts for it to get windows to try and reset the configuartion data (usually the 2nd screen after the BIOS which you might not even see or may see partially for a few second where it show the hard drive and CD-ROM's at top and the IRQ's at the bottom)
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2. WIN XP RELATED + SIMILAR
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I had service pack 3 installed - if you have SP1 or 2 I don't think it harms to have updated and worth updating anyway in my experience for other things all round including more drivers support/better handling/security patches/cockups undone etc. 99% won't see any difference which is probably a very good thing. It's just the odd very rare device that completely doesn't worok or have have a work around or update. Service pack 1 and 2 weeded most of those out.
You can find SP3 here:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/ms...2300ebfde4.exe (316mb)
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USE THIS SECTION TO GET INTO WINDOWS "Device Manager" OR SKIP IF YOU KNOW HOW...
THIS LOOKS INTO WHAT YOU GOT AND THE THINGS TO CHECK WHEN I MENTION IT FURTHER DOWN:
1. right click on "My Computer" icon on the desktop
-OR- click "START" button in bottom left of screen, "RUN", AND TYPE IN "explorer". This will open 'windows Explorer' and find "My computer" and right click on it
2. Then select "Manage"
3. On left hand side click "Device Manager"
- HOW TO SEE WHATS RELATED TO OUR USB PROBLEM
I say 'USB problem' as most are installing a USB 2 PCI card or USB 2 & FIREWIRE PCI Card (usually 4+2 external ports) which only has problems with USB side of things- the firewire installs ok always, though email me if you have issues- most don't even use this too since USB's popularity)
4. On right hand side of the 'Device Manager' you'll see the parts of your computer.
5. At the bottom click the |+| sign next to "Universal Serial Bus Controller"
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ISSUES LISTED WITH THINGS TO CHECK
I HAVE PUT A CHECK-LIST TOGETHER AND GENERAL READ SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM AND CHOOSE WHICH SOUNDS/LOOKS FAMILIAR
Q. "Unknown Device" under "USB serial bus controllers" in Device Manager
A1. then it may be a printer or something similar plugged into the new USB card physically connected but not switched on itself. Unplug everything and for testing for troubleshooting (which is why you're here probably) use something like a memory stick or similar instead so it avoid anything with an off/on switch to forget at any time during testing!
A2. Not only that but things like printers may come under the "USB serial bus controllers" in Device Manager but with a question mark or 'Unknown' next to it. This happens if you connected the USB but not switched on the printer. Windows and the card still can detect things plugged in but not on but only half-way until you switch the printer or whatever on to get the rest of the information from it. So it makes sense when it says 'unknown device'
A2. A USB stick is good to use as the only thing in and out during setup of the card and trying to see it woprk but copying from USB stick to PC is very obvious and consistant (windows will tell you if it doesn't work or say nothing after finishing to copy the file!). A memory stick is also small and least fiddly when pushed in and out of usb ports. Most don't need any more drivers and chances are you already installed them. Use what worked before installing anything new. This takes an extra thing out that could go wrong. If you're trying to install something new... don't! Wait till it's working with existing/working USB things.
Q. USB hubs (or extensions?) may cause "Unknown Device" too
# 1. Hubs are so cheap and quite unreliable after trying many, some even say USB 2 compatible but they are lying. Avoiding them at all cost has to be the way forward to rule yet another thing out! You get my drift keep ruling things out physically. It actually has benefits if you stop using these hubs!
For example: I had a usb hub ONLY to extend it from the back of my PC to the front so it's easier access. Instead of a hub I just used an extention cable of a metre or two to give me one front access. It means one less thing the card can make a problem with and then later you can try adding it.
# 2. I don't see a problem extending each port with a extender cable (basically male and female with wire in between), say two running from back to front! That way I get the front access + less processor usage and less power usage as any hub drains more of each which can *easily* cause "Unknown Device" in the Device Manager.
# 3. For Pentium 4 and old systems, USB is often slower because it needs/relies on the processor and system to manage the data going and coming. Firewire 400 (1st version) is 400mbps and more independant doing 400mbps consistantly. USB supposedly does 480mbps but starts slow and if you keep plugging in or using another external storage it will need to splpit it's attention by half or a third if using 3 USB's at the same time + plus not using the net or something where the processor is in constant use. You can try this by copying next time on your memory stick and then opening Internet Explorer and another application. you'll see the estimated time increase as it realises it needs more time to deal with traffic and the applications it's trying to now load.
# 4. Unless you power your hub (usually needs a 5V usb cable attached to the hub itself) you can only get about 100ma per device WHICH can also be a reason it comes up as "unknown" or a pop saying "usb failed"!!! So at least, at first, with isolate and simplify before adding anything. Always plug directly into the new USB 2 card since this will supply max power whereas almost all hubs don't!
IN GENERAL
In general if you have lots of applications installed + virus checker + peripherals etc you should count towards 30 before accepting any changes Windows has detected and dealt with either being plugged in and almost 10 seconds for taking anything out. My PC like others out there in same generation [MSI 6524 P4 motherboard] didn't seem to detect or install something at first but toward 30seconds the operating system + virus checker etc had done what it needed to do by then. This avoids pluggin something in and saying 'aww it don't work still' and taking it out too soon never to be able to let the poor thing think about what you pushed into it.
I first realised this when looking down the back of the pc and looking at the screen again saying hang on I didn't change anything further how come it changed on screen! Basically a delay so give it time and make plenty of tea and look at some other things online or in my case work on another computer in the meantine (without losing concentration which is an art in itself! time-slicing I believe it's called
)
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any further probs, just put main lines of your query in an email to me like:
trying to get VT6212 working on p3 450 or whatever
installed driver
tried this and then that X Y Z
did this in bios and have changed these X, Y, Z settings
overall at the end get error saying usb not found
had some tea
final result it detects the card but doesn't let you use anything with it like a usb mem stick or printer
any jokes or what you might have done are welcome! e.g. jumped for joy when I thought it was working but wasn't!
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???OK THE END???
YOU DECIDE....
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I didn't do this for the money, I did it for the LOVE of old computers and how it is possible with sheer heart to get them working (@ 7am thru the night)
+ after having the card 10years and waiting for the drivers + my PC to be solid enough to try this again and spending time when it didn't first time is a miracle!
Send me money if you feel you feel this effort worked or at least an email of some sort 9reminds me I'm not alone doing these things and makes me wanna do more!)
It's hard to sit and write it but I did it because of love for doing something which most people have forgot when going about life nowadays, No love for job, travel, always another unending short-term reason you end up hating all the more for it wihout any solid goal. With love you'll get there! That's why I've paid for the software I use even though I initially had the dodgy versions of it, I just though one day day "damn these guys made something that's so good over so much time and rely on the 9-5 thing as least as possible and do what they love. My idea seperate to this 'article' is to love what you do and then we wouldn't have such cold number above your head systems, it would be people loving what they do from person to person even if they have to meet or connect ot every one of them. Without that it's just life-less.
Paypal address for any payment is:
dirtanddrift@gmail.com
CHEERS! It's secure etc without any details being sent over - sending a "gift" donation makes it an easy few steps - I've only got it as I sent a few bob to all those sahreware and freeware makers. I have some cool tools free but paid for (weird but this can make the world go round without forcing the issue!)
Keep the USB 2 & Firewire PCI combo card alive and kicking yeah? with these older machines/non-laptops!!
Copy and paste this for your future reference (you know how computers tend to get unwell or even change their minds sometimes!)
I'm on the emails if you need and willing to revise this as and when you share your results!
Oh yeah I took BIOS pictures & Device Manager list screenshots incase you try the above with the least amount of changes first time and wanna see mine
OVERKILL I KNOW BUT I LOVE IT! IMAGINE WHEN IT GETS WORKING!
dirtanddrift@gmail.com
Finally got my VT6212l 4-port USB 2.0 to work on WinXP SP2
Linear Mode
