StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I have four USB ports on my laptop, and lately they've been acting up. I've noticed it with my mouse, and my iPod Shuffle dock...they will often switch on and off between detecting the device and not detecting. This is sometimes triggered by jostling the device, sometimes not. I don't think it's physical damage to the ports that is the problem, as nothing has happened to the computer that would have damaged all four ports. The iPod Shuffle dock is also brand new and I've tried three different mouses and they all have the same problem. When I plug the dock in, I get a message telling me it would be better off connected to a "high speed USB port", of which I apparently have 8. This happens no matter what port I plug it into it. Anyone know what could be causing this?

Due to this and a few other glitches I've been experiencing, I've been thinking of just formatting my harddrive and reinstalling Windows Vista clean. The only thing of any value I have on the computer is my music collection. The only thing that's stopping me is the thought of the hassle of reinstalling all the necessary drivers and whatnot.

If they want High-Speed ports, that implies you have USB 1.1 ports, which is almost impossible, since I don't even think they make those anymore.

It just occured to me that I don't even know how to format my laptop. I think I have a Vista installation disc somewhere, but I might not, since it came pre-installed. I have a Toshiba Satellite. Can I get a disc from Toshiba or Microsoft for free, or if I wipe the computer am I SOL?

HemlockGrey wrote:It just occured to me that I don't even know how to format my laptop. I think I have a Vista installation disc somewhere, but I might not, since it came pre-installed. I have a Toshiba Satellite. Can I get a disc from Toshiba or Microsoft for free, or if I wipe the computer am I SOL?

There should be the means to generate install disks within the Toshiba utilities. I'm pretty sure that that's how they all do it these days, laptops and desktops alike.

High speed usb is USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 is full speed) it seems that for some reason the os believes you only have usb 1.1

XP has done this to some computer's I've dealt with... no idea about Vista's usb behaviour though.

Now if it's a new laptop.. this side of '04 at minimum then it should have usb 2.0 hardware... maybe it's missing whatever drivers are needed for 2.0 and the hardware's defaulting to 1.1