USB Windows Utility

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ETRO_SSN583
Level 9
Level 9
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I am looking for a freeware Win utility that has the following capabilities -

   

 

   

1) Detects all USB devices on a system.

   

2) Allows user to turn power off on the port, and back on again. Goal is to

   

force a Win driven renegotiation of a device that is hung, in my case a wireless

   

link that has dropped connection. ipconfig is no help here. The other case is

   

a webcam that does not always startup.

   

3) Can handle scripts to implement 2) to be run in task scheduler.

   

 

   

Anybody know of one ?

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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4 Replies
HeLi_263931
Level 8
Level 8
100 solutions authored 50 solutions authored 25 solutions authored

Computers typically are not designed to switch power on USB ports. If they did, how would a device be detected the first time  - when the power is off it doesn't start up...

   

The USB ports power lines are always connected to the 5V power lines. There might be exceptions in that some devices disable the port when power negotiations fail, but I don't know of any. Your best guess could be a powered USB hub, whose power supply you could control (but this requires hardware).

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ETRO_SSN583
Level 9
Level 9
250 likes received 100 sign-ins 5 likes given

What I am looking for is a SW equivalent, by running win script, that will

   

simulate an unplug/plug re-negotiation cycle for a specific USB port,

   

of my choosing.

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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HeLi_263931
Level 8
Level 8
100 solutions authored 50 solutions authored 25 solutions authored

It seems like 'devcon' from the Winowd driver kit is what you need:

   
        
  • devcon.exe disable <_ID with wild cards_>
  •     
  • devcon.exe enable <_ID with wild cards_>
  •    
   

You can also look at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/916296/how-can-i-cycle-a-usb-device-from-c/919836#919836 to find a windows scripting solution.

   

It looks like googling for "windows software usb unplug" yields some more detailed information.

   

But this still assumes that the USB-renegotiation will properly re-init the affected devices.

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ETRO_SSN583
Level 9
Level 9
250 likes received 100 sign-ins 5 likes given

Thanks hli, thats exactly what I need.

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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