usb modem disconnects when mp3 player inserted

[Tbag]

My usb modem disconnects when I connect my Creative ZEN V mp3 player, I tried to connect the mp3 player in first then the modem but it just doesnt dial up.

Is there anyway round this?

Would connecting a usb hub work?

[redwudz]

Are either powered by the computer? If so a powered hub might help. USB is limited on how much power it can deliver. Try to overload it, and it will just kill that channel.

But you might be better off to just install a PCI USB card, just in case it's a address or data interference problem. In this case a hub wouldn't help as it would still be using the same channel. Have you tried other USB sockets on the computer? You should have more than one channel available.

[Tbag]

its a laptop with 4 USB 2 ports

[Tbag]

I dont have the installation cd for that mp3 player and when the found new hardware popped up it trys to search the internet for the drivers but by then the internet has just disconnected

[redwudz]

Ahhh... Try a powered hub first. Unless neither units use laptop power. Then it might be some sort of USB conflict.

You could look in Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>Universal Serial Bus controllers'. Look in the USB 2.0 Root Hub>Properties>Power Management'. You may see this box checked ' Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. That's one possibility, power related. You may have more 'Root Hub's with the same settings. Laptops are fairly limited for USB power.

But a powered hub may fix that.

I would go to the MP3 players website and see if you can DL the drivers from them, without the device plugged in. Usually USB devices don't need drivers with XP, only with W98. But it may be more than just the driver it needs. If you find the right drivers and programs on their site, that might cure it.

[RabidDog]

DEf usb power ... I use to get the same thing when I turned my USb printer on..Its mains powered but it still caused my Usb modem to disconnect and power off...VIA chipset??

[Tbag]

thanks for the answers, im going to buy a powered hub now and try it.