Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 159

With all those USB sync cradles for the Visor about to hit the market, I thought it important to post this here (consider this my random act of tech help for the week):

-------------------------------------------Microsoft Knowledgebase Article (Article ID: Q240075 - Oct-15-1999)

USB Devices May Not Work in Windows 98 Second Edition

The information in this article applies to: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

SYMPTOMS
Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices that are plugged in to a computer running Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition may not work if the following hardware components are installed on the computer:

* An AMD processor (running at 350 MHz or faster)
* A VIA Technologies USB controller

CAUSE
This behavior occurs because there is a timing-specific problem in the Universal Host Controller criver (Uhcd.sys), which may prevent USB devices from enumerating under specific timing conditions.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, download and run the appropriate file for your language version of Windows.

(files can be downloaded from the following URL)
http://support.microsoft.com/suppor...s/Q240/0/75.asp
-------------------------------------------

If anyone is concerned they have an AMD processor: check your PC for an "Intel Inside" logo. If it has one, then you don't have to worry (unless you've replaced the processor, but then you know what it is, don't you...). If there is no logo, check the documents that came with your PC, or call the manufacturer.

If your PC DOES have an AMD processor running at or greater than 350Mhz, but you don't know the version of Windows you have, open the My Computer folder on your desktop, and from the Help menu select 'About Windows 98'. If it does not say Windows 98 SE, then you should not need to download the update.

------------------
- Zippy
NEC/Smart Phone Forums Moderator, PDA Buzz

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: brooklyn, ny, usa
Posts: 190

thanks for the tip!

i have a via tech. usb card in my office pc. it times out on me from time to time and now i know why!

thanks again.

sluggo

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 24

So, I read your post, and frankly, I was excited. I've been having some trouble getting my Visor to sync. I figured, I'm an AMD Athlon user. I'm using a VIA USB controller. The answer to my problems! Ha-za!

Well...... It didn't work. Any other ideas?
My only other USB peripheral is a joystick, and it's working great. My machine will not recognize the visor cradle.....

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 159

Winkle,

The only thing I can suggest at this point is to try and find another PC out there in the World that has proven its support of USB, and (if you're allowed to use it) see if you can get the Visor cradle working on that.

If not, then you can assume it's broken, and will need Handspring to replace it.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 24

Well, that's actually harder than it sounds. There aren't too many proven USB-friendly machines around me. I have tried it on a machine that *claimed* to be USB-capable (a pentium laptop running Win98 SE.) and no dice. Wouldn't even recognize it as an unknown device.

I'm currently holding at Handspring. I called their Tech. Support Line. Maybe I should have called their customer support line, but it looks like it's for checking order status, rather than DMA. I'm not sure..... Still.....

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 159

Yeah, I realized the difficulty of the test as I was writing it. I'm aware not everyone is surrounded by new USB enabled PCs like I am at work (poor little me!). Your problem certainly doesn't make it easy to write "looks like it's broke -- return it" and then walk away.

Good luck getting through to HS, and I hope it IS just a busted cradle.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 24

Hey, man. Thanks for your help, anyway. I'm going to go ahead and assume it's broken as well. I've now been holding for 1hour 25min.

*sigh*