USB items work randomly

[Dave M G]

Ubuntu Users,

	I have been using Ubuntu for a number of months now. It has taken me
some time to recognize the patterns well enough to say this with
certainty, because the problems involve a number of devices behaving
randomly.

	Recently I have been reporting on list problems with a sound device. In
the past I spoke about problems with my Wacom tablet. Both are connected
by USB.

	I also have an SD card reader connected by USB. It has also had
problems, but I hadn't reported on them. Sometimes when inserting a card
in, it does not come up on my desktop. However, usually I resolved this
with attempts to reinsert the card, reinstert the device, or reboot the
machine. It never struck me as that odd until I realized how random my
other USB devices were behaving.

	I also have a USB scanner, and a USB printer. Printers are notoriously
fickle anyway, so I did not think much about it. Also, these devices are
not continuously connected as my Wacom tablet and sound device are, thus
making any pattern hard to detect.

	Without going into too many lengthy descriptions of my detective work,
I am reasonably certain at this point that the fact that all these
devices are USB has significance.

	As I right this, my Wacom tablet it working properly. At a rough
estimate, it works one out of every 5 boot ups. My SD card reader works
the majority of the time, say 2 out of every 3 times. My sound card was
working perfectly for months, and now is not. Although, oddly, yesterday
it was providing system even sounds, though not music or video sound.
The printer and scanner aren't connected often enough to make any
sensible estimations of their reliability.

	All USB devices are connected through an independently powered USB hub,
with the exception of the USB sound device, which is connected directly
to the computer.

	I can verify that the hardware is all in perfect working order, because
I can boot into Windows where the exact same set up has absolutely no
flaws. This has to be a Linux settings issue.

	Is there a way I can probe Ubuntu's USB settings for problems? Can this
be resolved?

	Any advice would be much appreciated.

--
Dave M G