Random I/O device error when transfering files

camra88 · #1 (**permalink**) 7th Aug 2006, 9:02 pm

I'm having this same problem with my 2 MP3 players and cell phone. The I/O error from the USB 2.0 file transfer seems to pick and choose some files (for no apparent reason). It's either an MP3 or AMV file from what i have experienced, but i assume that is not the only files that would give me these errors.

The files are in perfect working order--both my PC's read them fine, and i've used them on my old MP3 player before. Now these randomly-picked (and once they're "picked" the computer "remembers" those certain files, so they will never ever transfer, except sometimes)

I've ruled out the having to format my mp3 player in order to fix this, because it only does it 80% of the time, which means that 20% of the time, the files transfer with no problem whatsoever

It does it on my cell phone which has never had transfer problems in the past, my new MP3 player, and my old MP3 player which has all these files on it from before.

I can, however, transfer every single file with 100% success if i plug my mp3 players into my laptop that is networked to my PC (which has alll those files), and transfer them to my player via the network. So I have to assume its a problem with my desktop.

I've gone through the device manager, and uninstalled the "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller", which thereafter windows has to reinstall all the usb drivers. This has fixed this problem only one time, and has proven unsuccessful every other time i've tried it. Rebooting does not solve the problem.

I am at a total, and complete loss of what to do. I transfered all these files onto my old MP3 player on my old AMD Athlon XP system, and I have since upgraded to the AMD Athlon 64 bit system. I am almost thinking there is something wrong with the mainboard? Or drivers? What's causing this problem???

Thank you !

admin · #2 (**permalink**) 8th Aug 2006, 2:17 am

camra88

Sounds like you have an issue with either WINDOZE itself or with the USB cable or with your computer's HARDWARE.

If you said you've tested on a laptop and it transfers fine, then it's not the MP3 player or the cellphone that's the problem.

Try the following:
1. Try ANOTHER USB cable if you can.
2. Also try another USB port on that computer too. Try all the USB ports just in case.
3. If you can, get a hold of a PCI USB card and plug that into your computer than use the USB ports from there to plug your MP3 player into.

If those still produce the I/O device errors, then it's either WINDOZE that's the problem or yes, it could also be a hardware issue.

Let me know of the results....

Que · #3 (**permalink**) 8th Aug 2006, 3:29 am

Can't add anything to the post above, except some ide-driver issue. Are you running standard microsoft drivers for you harddiskcontrollers (ide-controllers), these are adviced to use over the manufacturer's drivers, 99% of the time. Most conflicts seen sofar seem to be related to nforce chipset boards, nforce4 is a bad mf'ker, moreso in combo with maxtor harddisk drives.

camra88 · #4 (**permalink**) 8th Aug 2006, 11:34 am

im running nforce4 AMD drivers. The first time I installed these drivers, it asked me if i wanted to install those IDE drivers, and i clicked Yes. I later found out that this can cause stability issues, so I reinstalled them, but this time i clicked No when it asked to install those IDE drivers. (although I do not know if it left the existing driver alone, or removed it... I do not know) Would this cause problems with the USB ports though? Also, what is "WINDOZE"?

Thanks!!!

Que · #5 (**permalink**) 8th Aug 2006, 3:00 pm

Windoze = windows, 60125 bugs included
Have you tried the other usb-ports?
Since the error happens many times with the same files, can you put all the files in one folder on another partition, so completely unfragmented, to see if the error is there? Or burn them to a disc, transfer them to the device, and see if the problem is still there.
Are there other usb-ports in use, is it possible to disconnect the other devices from them, at least switch 'm round, might be the combination device/port.
Them nforce4 chips are troublesome with maxtor drives relating file transfer, that's why I mentioned it, you might have a maxtor, or not.
Check device manager for other devices using the same irq, submenu "view-resources by connection", if other devices share the same irq, let us know.
I/O errors usually are memory management problems in windows, that is, different devices using confilcting segments of the memory.
Sometimes it can be changed,
through device manager-hardware-rightclick the usb controller-properties-recources-
if it is possible there for you to give the usb-controller a higher memory range, it might work. Even better if you can give it another irq.
I've heard of the problem on the internet occuring after an update to winxp service pack2.

camra88 · #6 (**permalink**) 8th Aug 2006, 9:07 pm

the nvidia drivers are sharing the same irq. is that an issue? Also, the AverMedia sharing the same IRQ, it's just one card with differnt features, is that a problem? Also, i couldn't find a way to change neither the IRQ or memory range of the USB controller,

OK, i transfered a file today that would NOT transfer yesterday. Everything is transferring fine again. AARRGGHHHH!!!! This is making me... sooo angry... i can't do that test with moving it to another partition if i can't find a file that wont work now.

What's really annoying, is once everything is (magically) transferred to the chiPod, if i transfer a file that mysteriously brings up that I/O error, it screws up the data table (is that what it's called?) of the flash memory, which makes certian folders disappear, and if you make any new, empty folders, it automatically is filled with files that are named with square symbols, and are showing sizes over 2 GB. And the folders can't be deleted. THe only way to fix this is to do a format, and start over. So once i get this USB problem figured out... everything should be hunky-dory, right?

thanks for helping me out!

EDIT: I finally got to a file that brought up the I/O error. I moved it from partition D to partition C, but that did NOT fix the problem.

Que · #7 (**permalink**) 9th Aug 2006, 12:59 pm

So, with the data sent through 2 networkcards, and the laptop's usb port, everything is o.k.
That excludes the harddisk-mainboard-memory-mp3 player of being the problem.
Are you using other devices (mouse-keyboard-memory reader etc.) on other usb ports, remove 'm, try a ps2 mouse
You even could remove the avermediacard, to see if that helps. If it does, replacing it in another slot may help staying rid of the problem.
There's something wrong with that usb hub, at least the way windows implements it.
Maybe this will help, http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=908673

camra88 · #8 (**permalink**) 9th Aug 2006, 6:16 pm

I have my mouse, keyboard, biometric scanner, and printer connected to the USB ports behind the computer.

Also, after that last problem with the I/O error lastnight, i moved the player to seperate USB ports from what i normally use, and it transfered fine (i do not know if this fixed the problem, because there are no problems 20% of the time)