CD/DVD and USB problems in FC3

[AlaskaLass]

After a fresh install of FC3, CD and DVD drives and USB devices do not work consistently. The CD and DVD drive problem seems to be related to the USB devices problem in that the CD/DVD drives don't seem to start misbehaving until there's been a problem with the USB devices.

The install: FC3 with SElinux disabled; immediately after first boot, upgraded UDEV and turned off acpi.

THE CD/DVD DRIVES PROBLEM---- At first discs will mount and icon appears in gnome desktop with no problem. After connecting USB devices, at some point CD/DVD drives stop automatically mounting and fail to display the desktop icon. Then I can direct it to mount or unmount using kdf, which sometimes this places the icon on the desktop, sometimes it doesn't.


USB DEVICES PROBLEM----Usually the problem occurs after connecting usb devices 2 or 3 times, but at least once a complete mouse and screen freeze happened even though connecting a USB flash reader was the first thing I did after a boot.

Usually the USB device will work the first one or two times it is plugged in. Then I plug in a scanner or flash card reader and get nothing on the desktop. When the scanner connect doesn't work, I also cannot use the hardware browser tool, it just hangs forever on the screen that says "this may take awhile". The flash card reader seems to partially work sometimes - I don't get an icon on the desktop, but I can see it and mount it with kdf. But then other times it completely fails and the mouse and keyboard freeze so I have to hit the restart button to get anywhere.

Here are 2 examples of what happens:

LOG messages, session #1.

----ACTION---plugged in scanner
kernel: usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using address 3
----ACTION---unplugged scanner
kernel: usb 1-3: USB disconnect, address 3
----ACTION---plugged in scanner
kernel: usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using address 4
----ACTION---unplugged scanner
kernel: usb 1-3: USB disconnect, address 4
----ACTION---plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 5
kernel: Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
kernel: scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi2, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[3479]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host2/2:0:0:0
kernel: usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
kernel: USB Mass Storage support registered.
fstab-sync[3555]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
----ACTION---unmounted using desktop icon, then unplugged flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 5
fstab-sync[3608]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
----ACTION---plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 6
kernel: scsi3 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
hald[2169]: Timed out waiting for hotplug event 332. Rebasing to 334
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi3, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[3703]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host3/3:0:0:0
----ACTION---no icon on desktop, unplugged flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 6
----ACTION---plugged in flash reader
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 25 times
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 7
kernel: scsi4 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 14 times
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda:<4>psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
kernel: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi4, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
scsi.agent[5278]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host4/4:0:0:0
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 19 times
fstab-sync[5375]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 268 times
crond(pam_unix)[5382]: session opened for user root by (uid=0)
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
crond(pam_unix)[5382]: session closed for user root
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 206 times
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 7
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 4 times
kernel: scsi4 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
kernel: SCSI error: host 4 id 0 lun 0 return code = 4000000
kernel: Sense class 0, sense error 0, extended sense 0
kernel: psmouse.c: bad data from KBC - timeout bad parity
last message repeated 619 times
----ACTION----mouse and keyboard frozen, hit reset button
syslogd 1.4.1: restart.


LOG messages, session #2.

----ACTION----plugged in scanner
kernel: usb 1-4: new high speed USB device using address 3
----ACTION----plugged in second scanner
kernel: usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using address 4
----ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 5
kernel: Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
kernel: scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi2, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
kernel: usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
kernel: USB Mass Storage support registered.
scsi.agent[4606]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host2/2:0:0:0
fstab-sync[4638]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
kernel: program python is using a deprecated SCSI ioctl, please convert it to SG_IO
----ACTION----unmounted using desktop icon, then unplugged flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 5
fstab-sync[4794]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
----ACTION----unplugged scanner
kernel: usb 1-4: USB disconnect, address 3
----ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using address 6
kernel: scsi3 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi3, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[4901]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-7/1-7:1.0/host3/3:0:0:0
fstab-sync[5003]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
----ACTION----no desktop icon, but could unmount in kdf, then unplugged flash reader
kernel: usb 1-7: USB disconnect, address 6
fstab-sync[5101]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
----ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 7
kernel: scsi4 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
hal.hotplug[5152]: timout(10000 ms) waiting for /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0
hal.hotplug[5156]: timout(10000 ms) waiting for /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host4/4:0:0:0
scsi.agent[5196]: Attribute /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host4/4:0:0:0/type does not exist
----ACTION----no desktop icon, no entry in kdf, unplugged flash reader and rebooted
localhost shutdown: shutting down for system reboot

[jarifed]

Hpoe this helps
You can try upgrade hotplug
http://fedoranews.org/blog/index.php?p=249
hal
http://fedoranews.org/blog/index.php?p=325
and D-bus
http://fedoranews.org/blog/index.php?p=364

[AlaskaLass]

Jarifed,

Many thanks for your suggestions! I will upgrade hotplug, hal and D-bus as soon as I get home and get back to that unruly computer tonight.

[AlaskaLass]

I was able to upgrade the dbus group and hotplug, but I failed with hal (I tried hal-0.4.7-1 and hal-0.4.6-1).

Both attempts at the hal upgrade resulted in:
failed dependencies: kernel >=2.6.10 is needed by hal-0.4....etc

My kernel is 2.6.9-1.667. I live in a small, rural Alaska town and have only a slow modem connect to the internet, so it's difficult for me to download anything big - ?like a new kernel? - and I wouldn't have a clue on how to install a new kernel. I have not tested the CD/DVD drives or USB devices since upgrading dbus and hotplug.

Do you think I should go ahead and test the system as is? Or do I need to find some way of upgrading the kernel and hal?

Many thanks for your advice.

[jarifed]

Yes you can check the system as is
I just checked the upgrade for the kernel is 16Mb.

[AlaskaLass]

Hello again,

I've been reading the FAQs and other posts, and maybe I shouldn't be so afraid of a kernel upgrade - sounds like it's just another rpm?

Regarding upgrade options: up2date - I used to try to use this when I had RH9, but it could never complete an update round (I suspect because of my slow modem?) and kept getting further and further behind, so eventually I gave up on it. Yum - I tried using this a few weeks ago without success, but I notice there is a new yum.conf posted and it would probably be worth a try. Apt-synaptic - I tried this a few weeks ago after yum didn't work. It seemed to load OK, but wouldn't let me do anything because it said I had 9 broken packages. This was just after using the FC3 install disks, without changing anything, so I was puzzled that I instantly could have broken packages and worried that the "fix" might make things worse, so I just stopped.

I do OK downloading rpms and installing them from the command line. I can download files up to about 10MB if I time it right.

[AlaskaLass]

Hi Jarifed,

Looks like we put up quick replies at the same time. I will go ahead and test my system as is and post the results later today. Then I can always try to download the kernel upgrade (or maybe send off for a CD set to get it).

Thanks again for your advice.

[AlaskaLass]

Alas, the USB devices are still causing problems. There has been some improvement, though: my mouse and keyboard aren't freezing up anymore, and it took a few more USB device plug-ins to make everything go haywire. Here is what happened:

---ACTIONS----used CD-ROM and CDRW/DVD a few times, no problems
---ACTIONS----plugged in and unplugged scanners a few times, no problems
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 6
kernel: Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
kernel: scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi2, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
kernel: usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
kernel: USB Mass Storage support registered.
scsi.agent[4631]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host2/2:0:0:0
fstab-sync[4707]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----icon appeared on desktop, unmounted using icon, unplugged reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 6
fstab-sync[4778]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using address 7
kernel: scsi3 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi3, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[4871]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-7/1-7:1.0/host3/3:0:0:0
fstab-sync[4965]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----no desktop icon, but was listed in fstab and used kdf to unmount, then unplugged reader
kernel: usb 1-7: USB disconnect, address 7
fstab-sync[5026]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 8
kernel: scsi4 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
hald[2174]: Timed out waiting for hotplug event 355. Rebasing to 357
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi4, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[5123]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host4/4:0:0:0
---ACTION----no desktop icon, no listing in fstab or kdf, unplugged reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 8
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 9
kernel: scsi5 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi5, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[5356]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host5/5:0:0:0
fstab-sync[5458]: added mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----no desktop icon, but was listed in fstab and used kdf to unmount, then unplugged reader
kernel: usb 1-8: USB disconnect, address 9
fstab-sync[5519]: removed mount point /media/usbdisk for /dev/sda1
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using address 10
kernel: scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
hald[2174]: Timed out waiting for hotplug event 383. Rebasing to 385
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: sda: Write Protect is off
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: sda: sda1
kernel: Attached scsi removable disk sda at scsi6, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
scsi.agent[5608]: disk at /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-7/1-7:1.0/host6/6:0:0:0
---ACTION----no desktop icon, no listing in fstab or kdf, unplugged reader
kernel: usb 1-7: USB disconnect, address 10
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
kernel: usb 1-8: new high speed USB device using address 11
kernel: scsi7 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: Vendor: SanDisk Model: ImageMate CF Rev: 1.00
kernel: Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
kernel: SCSI device sda: 250880 512-byte hdwr sectors (128 MB)
kernel: usb 1-8: control timeout on ep0in
kernel: usb 1-8: control timeout on ep0in
hal.hotplug[5810]: timout(10000 ms) waiting for /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0
hal.hotplug[5812]: timout(10000 ms) waiting for /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host7/7:0:0:0
scsi.agent[5852]: Attribute /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb1/1-8/1-8:1.0/host7/7:0:0:0/type does not exist
---ACTION----no desktop icon, no listing in fstab or kdf, unplugged reader
---ACTION----plugged in flash reader
... (no messages, no response, nothing)
---ACTION----unplugged reader
... (but at least the keyboard and mouse didn't freeze -for this I am grateful)
---ACTION----put data CD into CD-ROM (which is hdc), no desktop icon, tried to mount using kdf: 1st try got a message saying could not mount hdd(!), closed and reopend kdf: 2nd try was able to mount CD-ROM, but noticed a listing for usb/device (which had not been plugged in)
kernel: cdrom: open failed.
kernel: cdrom: open failed.
---ACTION----unmounted CD with kdf, and manually ejected.

I've also noticed that pppd gets weird after these events, making it hard to use the modem.

[jarifed]

They're are 2 schemes for communicating using usb 2.0 it might be interresting to try this out with the ehci_hcd module

enter in a terminal as root
cat /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/old_scheme_first
It should either return Y or N

If N then you can change old_scheme_first to Y as follows

echo Y > /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/old_scheme_first
use cat /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/old_scheme_first and it should return a Y

I have set capital letters as that's what is showing on my FC3 kernel 2.6.10-1.741_FC3

Additionally you can check this also
cat /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/use_both_schemes
in my case it returns N

Try to see if you can get some help from this mailing list
linux-usb-users@lists.sourceforge.net

The're is also a utility lsusb which you might need to post some information for the above list.
The command lsusb -v

[Woad_Warrior]

as far as your "broken packages" are concerned, there is a menu item in synaptic to view the broken packages, and see what the recomended course of action is. (a broken dependency will cause this error, amongst other things.) your best bet is to check what packages it's saying are broken, and what it wants to do about it. then try to see why it's saying those packages are broken. (maybe the install didn't install something those packages needed, or they didn't install properly, etc....)

[AlaskaLass]

Jarifed,

Thanks for the suggestions. But I do not have these files:

/sys/module/usbcore/parameters/old_scheme_first
/sys/module/usbcore/parameters/use_both_schemes

In fact, I have no /sys/module/usbcore directory. The closest thing I find under /sys/module is a "usblp" directory. The contents of this directory are:
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4096 proto_bias
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 4096 refcnt
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 sections

cat proto_bias returns "-1"
cat reefcnt returns "0"

Within the sections directory, I find the following files:
__param
__versions
.bss
.data
.exit.text
.gnu.linkonce.this_module
.init.text
.module_sig
.rodata
.rodata.str1.1
.strtab
.symtab
.text
all of which have contents similar to "0x229fdab4". I also find ehci_hcd and uhci_hdc directories under /sys/module.

Regarding the lsusb command - very nice. The info provided matches what I see in the gnome hardware browser, and gives so much more (wish I understood what it all meant). To summarize:

Bus 001 Device 001: EHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 2.00)
Bus 002 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 003 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 004 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 005 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)

I have a printer (permanently connnected and always powered up) as Bus 2 Dev 2. My 2 scanners are connected to Bus 1, but I only turn them on when I want to use them. When I want to use my flash reader I plug it into one of my two easy-to-reach USB slots, and it also shows up under Bus 1. The others I don't use regularly (yet).

****************************

Not finding the directories and files that are expected makes me wonder about my FC3. Am I missing a crucial part of the system? Should I attempt to upgrade the kernel and hal? If the problem is with my fedora install, seems like I should stay with this forum, but I will move to the sourceforge list if it is time for that. Waiting your advice (and many, many thanks)...

[AlaskaLass]

Thanks for the synaptics tips, Road Warrior. As soon as I get this device nightmare worked out, I'll give it another try.

[jarifed]

The new and old scheme is only used for full speed devices. and it looks from your output it is only USB 1.1
Well I also checked under my version 2.6.9-1.667 and I don't have it their either . must be only available in later version of the kernel.
Sorry about that.

[AlaskaLass]

Thanks anyway for trying Jarifed.

I've been diligently searching around this forum and others, ....following this lead (http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/report.php?p=200143) I think I must try downloading the kernel 2.10 rpm, installing it, then removing the ehci module. Sigh.

I'm still a bit scared of installing a new kernel, if there is anything I should do before or after "rpm -Uvh", please let me know. Also, which rpm of the 2.10 kernel should I use? My current kernel is:

Name : kernel Relocations: (not relocatable)
Version : 2.6.9 Vendor: Red Hat, Inc.
Release : 1.667 Build Date: Tue 02 Nov 2004 11:24:55 AM AKST
Install Date: Fri 11 Feb 2005 06:04:30 AM AKST Build Host: tweety.build.redhat.com
Group : System Environment/Kernel Source RPM: kernel-2.6.9-1.667.src.rpm
Size : 43753461 License: GPLv2
Signature : DSA/SHA1, Tue 02 Nov 2004 12:06:30 PM AKST, Key ID b44269d04f2a6fd2

Thanks

P.S. Isn't USB 2.0 the high speed one?

[jarifed]

Hi AlaskaLass

As I understand you have 8 usb ports
what I see is

Bus 001 Device 001: EHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 2.00)
Bus 002 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 003 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 004 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)
Bus 005 Device 001: UHCI Host Controller (bcdUSB = 1.10)

so only 1 USB 2.0 and 4 controllers 1.1

As I see your configuration you would have a usb 2.0 in control of 4 usb 1.1. controller having each 2 ports

remember also that detecting a device capable of high speed does not mean it is running at high speed.

So can you provide your type and make of your motherboard so that I maybe get some more information for you.

Don't be afraid installing a new kernel
use
yum install kernel
it will install the kernel for you.

but I understand there is a new release coming out I have checked at the moment but is not yet in the update. (my current version is
This might also fix the problem with removing the ehci module as mentioned in your post.

I will inform this post as soon if it is available when I have downloaded the new kernel and installed it.My current version is 2.6.10-1.760_FC3. Save you downloading a large file and realizing a newer version has just came out.

Fedora Update Notification
FEDORA-2005-142
2005-02-15
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Product : Fedora Core 3
Name : kernel
Version : 2.6.10
Release : 1.766_FC3
Summary : The Linux kernel (the core of the Linux operating system)
Description :
The kernel package contains the Linux kernel (vmlinuz), the core of any
Linux operating system. The kernel handles the basic functions
of the operating system: memory allocation, process allocation, device
input and output, etc.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

* Wed Feb 09 2005 Dave Jones <davej@redhat.com>
- Backport some exec-shield fixes from devel/ branch.
- Scan all SCSI LUNs by default.
Theoretically, some devices may hang when being probed, though
there should be few enough of these that we can blacklist them
instead of having to whitelist every other device on the planet.

* Tue Feb 08 2005 Dave Jones <davej@redhat.com>
- Use both old-style and new-style for USB initialisation.

[AlaskaLass]

Hi Jarifed,

Thanks for helping me understand the USB controllers/ports setup. I've been reading pages the www.linux-usb.org site to try to educate myself on this stuff, but I'm still a long way from understanding it all.

My motherboard is an Intel D865PERLL, not that I have any idea what that means, I just got it off the invoice for the computer. Also, if it might be helpful, I've been looking at my BIOS settings (not changing anything) and under "USB Configuration" I found "high speed USB - enabled" and "legacy USB support - disabled".

About using yum: right now I prefer to download and install rpms "by hand" because I'm on a slow internet connection that isn't all that reliable - it takes me about 1 hour to get 10mb, and it's not that unusual to have something go wrong before it finishes and have to start all over. Also, I'm taking care of two other computers for other people (if I don't lose them, they've been grumbling about going back to windows, and I've found myself looking at other linux distros), and they will need whatever installs I make on my computer. So it is easier to download things once, burn a CD and install on the other computers that way. I know this must sound archaic to someone in a big city with broadband connection.

Thanks again for your interest and help. I'll try to grab the kernel version you recommend, and I've already got the hal rpm.

[AlaskaLass]

Hi Jarifed,

Haven't heard back from you. I hope you aren't having problems with your system now that you've tried upgrading the kernel. I've read some other posts from people who are struggling with problems after upgrading. And then there are all the posts from people like me who have had problems since moving to FC3.

I regret that I'm going to have to move on. It's been over a month and I still can't get FC3 to work reliably on any one of the 3 computers I manage. The other users of those computers have been very patient, but they need to get back to their projects.

After being a happy RH9 user and advocate, I must go to a different Linux distro. I used to think RH was pretty clever to let people like me check out their product, then, when we pioneers felt comfortable with it, we would start encouraging and helping others to move to it - including some business people who would pay for support accounts. Now I cannot recommend RH or Fedora to others. I think it is grossly misleading for Fedora to publish that FC3 is "stable" - this whole experience has felt much more like being a beta tester for a premature release.

Thank you to all the forum members who have responded and been so helpful, I really appreciated your time. Good-bye.