I tried to add some USB items to a previously perfectly functioning Win
98SE, AMD K-6 2 333MHz, Shuttle Spacewalker HOT-591P system with the result
that the system slowed down to a crawl and the added items did not function
properly.

Prior to adding a Logitech corded optical mouse with USB plug, Handspring
Visor USB docking cradle, and a Belkin mini four port USB self powered hub,
the system functioned just fine.  The previous mouse was an old serial
mouse, which predates the system, and the only USB item was a recently
added Memorex scanner which was functioning all right.  The system also has
in it a cable modem connected to 3Com ISA NIC card, an internal software
telephone modem, a CD-ROM reader, an internal HP CD burner, a sound card,
and an HP home laser on the parallel port.

After plugging in the AC powered USB hub, with the PDA cradle and the
optical mouse attached, the optical mouse appeared to function alright at
first.  However, after a period of use, a period that could vary from five
minutes to the better part of an hour, the light on the Logitech mouse went
out and there was no response from it in terms of cursor movement.  No
error messages upon the dysfunction.  Control panel said the device was
working just fine even after it stopped functioning.  This was true whether
the serial mouse was still connected or not.  I also tried the mouse with
the hub removed and the scanner removed -- same result, a locked, no light
optical mouse.  So, today I brought the mouse into work and hooked it up to
the PS-2 port of my compter at the office.  No problem.  At this time, I
have no PS-2 port on the home motherboard; the board can take one without
using a slot, and I have ordered the part today.

The Handspring USB docking cradle would not sync with the computer.  I
tried uninstalling and them reinstalling the software, but still no
go.  So, I brought the cradle to work today, swapped it with a cradle here,
and it worked like a charm.

So, the issue does not seem to be one of the added hardware itself being
defective.  The home and office systems both use Windows 98 SE, both with
most of the "critcal updates" and service packs available online from
MS.  Only one time has there an error message on one of the many
reboots.  The message stated that there were no available stack tables (?),
that four were allocated, and that win.ini possibly should be updated to
allow for more.  A text search of the win.ini file did not reveal a stack
table line or setting to my tired eye.  The contracted term is used in many
files when they are searched for text with the MS Windows search facility.

I am rather new to USB problems.  Any thoughts on why the system slowed to
a crawl and how to get the system to properly recognize the mouse and
docking cradle?  I expect to have a PS-2 port to plug into the motherboard
to take the mouse out of the equation, but the port and slowing of the
system are issues I obviously would like to eliminate.

Thank you for your input.  Dave Ralph

David E. Ralph
Chemung County Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
215 E. Church St., Ste 301
Elmira, NY 14901
VOX 607-734-1647
FAX 607-734-1018
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

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