This occurs on a couple of different PCs running WXP and it's very frustrating and it's definitely buggy. This snag occurs when I plug in my external USB 2.0 card reader device. The OS complains that the device could operate faster if plugged into a USB 2.0 port. But they're ALL USB 2.0, I'm certain, on both the machines! No such snag occurs when I plug in other devices, notably a thumb drive. This card reader is clearly sold and labeled as being USB 2.0 compliant. Sure, it's a cheapie from China but that's not the problem, according to WXP.

Anyway, what matters here is that the device in question never establishes USB 2.0 protocol with the PC, and it falls back to real awful SLOW 1.1 protocol. It takes about a half hour to fill a 4gb card with a couple of huge files! It's a Sandisk brand SD/MMC card and I wouldn't dream of faulting it.

Anyone else ever run across this odd set of circumstances? Has anyone any insight into this problem? Thnx

The title of your topic indicates you feel this problem is about hubs, but you don't mention hubs in your message. ??? Your message is about a card reader.

A USB hub is like an extension cord for USB. You connect a hub to one USB port, and the hub allows you to connect 4 or more devices to it. A card reader is just that, you insert your memory card in the reader.

So, are you using hubs, and if so, did you try your card reader directly connected to the computer - that is, without using a hub?

I get the term "hub" from the PC's internal architecture. I almost started this thread in the Hardware section; it was a tough choice. When you receive that message from the OS saying that the device could "perform faster" if plugged into a USB 2.0 port, it offers the user to click for more info and when you do click, it shows the available USB ports delineated according to their associated hub. Every port is connected to a hub. I figure that is how USB architecture is always set up. No, the term hub here is NOT referring to an external device nor a PCI-slot add-on.

Okay. The motherboard has an integrated hub - more than one port is controlled by the same controller. If other devices work fine, then I would suspect the reader or memory card before the computer. I would also disconnect all other USB devices and try it. And you might try it on another computer.

Can't be the card because you can plug the reader in without one and see same. Yes it's the same with no other USB devices present. The OS says one thing. To surmise therefore that the reader is faulty is too big a leap for me. Seems I've seen this message with some other devices before; gotta look into it more, thnx!

Can't be the card because you can plug the reader in without one and see same
To surmise therefore that the reader is faulty is too big a leap for me

I don't see how you can rule out the reader as the culprit. If the reader alone gives the error, and other devices work fine - that points to the reader to me. Have you tried the reader on another machine? Does the reader have its own power supply?

I agree that if you are sure that your computer is USB 2.0 and other devices get the 2.0 speed then it is in some way more than likely the device especially if you get the same results on multiple computers. Just to be sure would you make sure that your computer is USB 2.0 (how to tell). If it comes with its own power supply then it probably needs it for full speed after all it is there for a reason. If it doesn't then it probably should. Why don't you look up reviews/forums on it to see if others are having the same problem with that model.

I'm working on it, don't worry. But the situation is hairy. There was a time that I was convinced that this PC had USB 1.1 ports in the front and USB 2.0 ports in the back (2 in each location). That was because I could NOT get a TV tuner dongle to work in the front, but got it to work plugged in the back! [It too was a real cheapie from Hong Kong.] But looking back at some documents, I see that the outfit (3btech.com, fairly reputable) that sold me this PC, listed it as having all USB 2.0 ports. I get no balk from WXP about port speed when thumb drives are plugged in the front! When I do get the message and I click the balloon about where to find USB 2.0 ports, what's listed is a single controller, under which, indented, is listed a single hub (in bold), under which, indented, are listed 8 ports, all unused, some hypothetical no doubt. When I go to Device Manager, there is no such convenient "organizational chart". It lists first FIVE Root Hubs, then FOUR Host Controllers, then one Enhanced Host Controller. I don't know what to make of it exactly! I'm doing some more tests, give me a little time.

I can plug in my digital camera, with flash memory in it, and there's no message about port speed. And I have an older card reader (but that one ONLY reads), which gives no message about port speed. I'll try doing transfers to the 4GB card by placing it inside my digital camera and see if it cranks at top speed. Maybe the problem is the reader. For now I'm tired. As for the problem card reader/writer, there's no model number and no brand. I probably paid 3 or 4 dollars for it total, and it came from Honk Kong, no offense.

I'll post again when I know more.

Looking back, oops, I neglected to answer about the power supply. The card reader taps its power from the USB connection.

Remember though that the port speed message also appears on another PC. I'll look into that machine's internals later (it's on a different floor). But this PC here has a Biostar K8M800-M7 Socket 754 Mainboard, and the mfgr's specs show 2 rear USB 2.0 ports and internally, "2 x USB 2.0 Header". Rather difficult to fathom exactly.