USB3 memory stick not recognised in USB2 port.

Question

Hi, We have a brand new, direct from Dell UK, Optiplex 5080. It has 4 USB port to the front.

Our Sandisk Ultra USB3 memory sticks will read OK from the single 'Blue ' USB3.2 port.

They will not read from either of the USB2 ports. With our older Dell Optiplex 9020 they read fine in all ports.

I accept that a USB 2.0 port will be slower but I though a USB3 stick should be able to be recognised and not throw a windows error

Is there a setting or driver missing?

Thanks, J.

fireberd · Answer

Do you have a USB 2.0 flash drive (or some other USB 2.0 device) that you can try, to see if the ports work or are dead? Have you tried the rear panel USB 2.0 ports?

With a new unit, best to contact Dell support as only Dell support can do warranty support/repair.

I don't know which version of the 5080 (always include which model you have on any initial problem post) you have but the Tower model front panel has two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A (Blue port) and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C port.

speedstep · Answer

usb2 ports don't supply enough 5v power 900ma  vs 500ma

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi,   I have replied to you via a private message.   -Gautam.

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi,   Please reply to our private message so that we can look into the issue.   -Gautam.

Wedders · Answer

Hi,

A USB memorty stick does not require 900mA so the current supply ability of the port is not relavent in this case.

These USB sticks workwithout issue on other older Dell Optiplex machines with USB 2.0 ports but not this new machine. Windows reports the device as unrecognisable.

speedstep · Answer

Port power is absolutely relevant.

USB flash drives attached to the same passive hub won't work at all whereas a mouse or keyboard works fine on the same port.

Passive USB2 Ports only supply 100MA of power.

That's also why USB Ports Built into keyboards won't work with flash drives either.

USB2 Wired Keyboard with 2 Port USB Y-U0003-DEL5 CN-0U473D for example.

@DELL-Chris M might have more information.

Quite easy to check this by using POWERED vs Passive Hub.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Individual-Switches-Included-HB-UMP3/dp/B00TPMEOYM

Wedders · Answer

Hi Fireberd, thanks.

Yes we are contacting Dell support but are still awaiting an answer.

The ports work fine with another near identical Sandisk USB3 stick so I thought it might be an issue with the USB device itself...but if I plug it into the blue USB3 port (on the same panel) it works just fine.

I'm wondering why the Desktop can't recognise a specific USB stick on a specific port, when all other combinations of ports and USB sticks seems OK. hmm...

Wedders · Answer

Hi, The port has been load checked and can supply a full 500mA. Whilst a USB decive may need lots of amperage these USb memory sticks are drawing ~10 of mA during the initiailisation routine. I see dont see why current  is a factor in this case, a memory stick should never need 100's of mA to work.

speedstep · Answer

If you try a powered usb hub and it can see the drive you have answered the question.

Windows 10 is not able to show USB power draw in Device Manager.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/usbview

Its in the sdk

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2120735

There is also a troubleshooter tool

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshoot-common-usb-problems-5e9a9b49-ad43-702e-083e-6107e95deb88

"USB Device not recognized: One of the devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it."

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi,   I have replied to you from a private message.   -Gautam.

speedstep · Answer

Thats wrong. If 100ma was fine for flash drives then the USB2 ports on dell and others keyboards would work with usb flash drives.

As I said adding a powered hub will verify the issue.

Power use for Sandisk USB3 flash drive 896 MA almost 5w

This is also why they make power tap cables to use 2X usb2 500MA

https://www.newegg.com/p/0ZK-08UH-071F9

power tap cable

These details come from the manufacturer

Wedders · Answer

Hi, I appreciate any helpful input and I'm not here for an argument on the specifics of current draw but this is catagorically not the issue here, the basics of power supply to the USB stick were evaluated, tested and eliminated some time ago. Thanks.

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi,   I have replied to you from a private message.   -Gautam.

speedstep · Answer

https://www.amazon.com/Duttek-Splitter-Charging-Converter-Extension/dp/B07FGDWM7B

Wedders · Answer

Hi... We have plenty of equipment here for monitoring current draw independnatly of the PC and no, we are not using a power hub, I'm working out of an electroincs lab and we can very confortably measure at mA resolution. I have good confidence in the ability of the engineers here to determine such issues.

Please, this is not a current issue.

Optiplex Desktops

USB3 memory stick not recognised in USB2 port.

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