VIA USB Filter Patch version 1.10 is Copyright(C) 2002 VIA Technologies, Inc.


Question: What issues does this patch address?
Answer:
This filter patch is version 1.10 of the VIA USB filter patch. It contains all of the following fixes, listed as a history of which fixes were added by version number of the patch.

1.02  (1) A connected usb hub that has no usb devices connected will be disabled
          after another usb hub is attached at the another available root port.
      (2) When transfering large of ammounts of data, the system will hang.
 
1.05  Fix the issues where the driver will page fault under Windows 98SE.
      
1.06  Fixes noise from USB audio converter or speaker.
      Supports usb add-on card.

1.08  Supports Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

1.10  Adds support for Windows XP.
      Fix the issue where USB devices will be reenumerated when system resumes from Standby mode.

Question: What systems should use the USB filter patch version 1.10?
Answer: Any system, with any Microsoft operating system that supports USB, that has a VIA chipset based motherboard.

Question: How do I install the USB filter patch?
Answer: To install the driver click on the appropriate link at www.viaarena.com. Choose the "Save File" option and save it to your folder under Windows where you file your drivers. Unzip the file. (If you are using Windows ME or Windows 98 with the Plus enhancement pack, they have a built-in compression agent that will allow you to extract zip files by right clicking and highlighting "Extract All". If you are using WinZip or another third party Zip/Compression program, follow the instructions of the program to unzip the file. Double click the "SETUP.EXE" icon. The program will then run. Follow the prompts. You will be asked to restart. Always restart after installing drivers.

Question: How do I uninstall the USB filter patch?
Answer: Double click on the Setup.exe icon. The program will then run and there will be an option to either install or uninstall. Check the uninstall option. You will be asked to restart. Always restart after installing drivers.

Question: How can I identify the filter patch on my system?
Answer:
1. Select "Start" menu and click "Run".
2. Type "regedit.exe" in the pop-up "Run" window.
3. Open the registry key under: 
For Win98/WinME: 
"My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\PCI&VEN_1106&DEV_3038&SUBSYS_1
2340925&REV_??&BUS_??&DEV_??&FUNC_??"
For Win2000/WinXP: 
"My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB\?
&????????&?"
"?" means a number or a character and it is hardware dependent.
4. Check whether there is an item "LowerFilters" in the above key.
If you can find this item, it means that you have installed the filter driver
successfully.

Question: I cannot get USB to work. What can I do?
Answer: 
1) Check that USB is enabled in your bios. Consult your motherboard manual to see how to do this. 

2) Windows 95, first edititon and Windows NT does not support USB. All other operating systems have their own USB driver built in. 

3) Check your motherboard manufacturer's web site to see if they have a BIOS that provides more power to the USB or fixes any known issues.

4) Make sure that you do not have a device or many devices that require more power than your USB port can supply. A standard onboard USB has 450 to 500 mA of power (this is the USB standard). Examples of power used by USB devices: 

Microsoft USB mouse - 100mA
Saitek Cyborg 3D joystick - 20mA 
Kodak DC4800 camera - 2mA 
USB network card - 180mA 

Cannon Scanner N65OU uses 500mA of power just plugged in and up to 800mA when scanning 

If all these USB devices are used at the one time they would need 1102mA of power but the total provided by the motherboard USB is only 500mA. The only way to use many USB devices at once is to get a Powered USB hub. A powered USB hub uses 0mA and has up to 5000mA available. If you want to or need to use many USB devices at a time, you have to get a powered hub. Some devices like scanners, even on their own need a powered hub. They can run off the motherboard, but it is not recommended if they use over 400mA. Some devices can also be plugged directly into power and use self-power mode rather than using the bus-power provided by the motherboard. You coudl check to see if this is an option for any devices you use.

To find out how much power your devices are using - go into System Properties from Control Panel. Go into Device Manager under Hardware and under the tab for Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Go into USB Root hub and look under power. It will list the mA for devices plugged in. There will be a USB root hub for every two ports you have available on your board. This will vary between 2 and 6. 

5) Other things that will effect power to the USB are 1) BIOS settings made by motherboard manufacturers 2) Power Supply - an insufficient power supply will reduce power to the USB 3) CPU speed - the higher the power consumption of the CPU, the less power will be supplied to the USB and 4) the more peripherals you have in the PC will reduce the power to the USB 

Question: Where can I obtain some help for USB devices on VIA chipset motherboards under Linux?
Answer: Please consult the Linux guides on www.viaarena.com

