Hello,
I have an 1100M in my classroom and due to network restrictions we have to transfer programs with a USB flash drive. Anticipating problems I bought a USB extender cord so I wouldn’t have to worry about wear in the PathPilot PC USB port. The problem I have is that PathPilot is not reading the USB in the file management window, I know that there is power to the USB port but it won’t read. I know have 2 of the 4 ports doing this. Has anyone heard of this or have a solution for this?
@Mike_Banks Welcome to the forums! Do either of the ports showing this issue, work if no extender is used?
Hi Sam
No they do not, I tried plugging the mouse into each of them as well as the keyboard and……nothing.
Did you power-off-reboot before trying this? USB is very sensitive to external electrical noise and the controller will hang up a noisy port to stop it causing more interference. A reset or power-off sometimes is the only way to reset it.
Extender cords, especially cheap ones are likely to exacerbate the problem if this is what it is.
Hi Roy,
Yes, the machine gets powered off everyday. I have tried plugging the Tormach keyboard and mouse in those ports and they still do not work.
It seems this has been answered but just to clarify, you are plugging directly into the ports on the control computer right? Not ports on an external USB hub?
These machines have a bit of history with eating usb hubs. I typically replace mine annually to get rid of flaky keyboard/mouse/touchscreen/pendant issues.
Assuming you are talking about the ports in the computer itself. Most USB ports are bussed, meaning that multiple ports are connected to a single input on the motherboard.
Yes I tried directly into the port.
You can open up a support ticket if needed, as this forum isn’t official support.
Based upon that tidbit (keyboard and mouse are non-op in the ports) it sounds like those ports are inoperative/faulty.
If you have a port that is working, you can get a powered or high quality USB hub to gain additional ports from the ones that are working to be able to run the extension cable and ensure all devices plugged in will function as opposed to a passive extension cable.
They used smaller traditional form factor PCs years ago like the one I have for my 440 as opposed to new small form factor mini PCs or the operator console. If that is the style of your controller hardware, the ports might have been disabled in the PC BIOS (it’s a possibility, don’t know for sure what specific motherboard you have but it’s a thing to look into) if you have the technical understanding to investigate that.
If they are the front ports, they might not be plugged into the mainboard or the connector came loose.
If you are comfortable with Linux/UNIX, you can pull kernel messages before and after plugging peripherals in using '“dmesg” or “lsusb” (google/AI will provide you further documentation).
Easiest thing is the first thing mentioned….plug in a powered hub to get enough extra ports to free up a port that is working.
On the off chance make sure the cord is ok. There are quite a few USB cords that are power only.
Hi Marc,
Yes I have tried all different options.
I’d open a ticket. Sounds like those usb ports are fried. Or they have come loose from the board inside.
For what it’s worth, Ashcraft nailed it. If you have USB ports that doen’t work then you have to either put a hub on a good port or replace the controller.
If you have an active warranty you should create a ticket.