Is it possible to test a USB connection?

[Mallers]

Hi, I have a desktop PC with several USB connections (vaguely recall theres more than one version of USB, hardware is about 5 years old now so I think incorporates newest version?)
In line with a lot of you, am now stuck indoors. For interviews, quizzes and chats with mates ive started using the Creative VFD700 webcam ive had for years but not really used.
Im now finding that half the time its not detected, and when it is detected it may last a few minutes before my PC says it an no longer detect a camera. The error message just says no camera detected, it does NOT say any variant of "somethings plugged in but I don't know what it is"
I wondered if the problem lies with the cam (TBH im assuming yes) or the USB connections, clearly the best way to test is to plug other stuff into them, which ive done and which works. I wondered if there is a way to know for sure?
PS tried redownloading software, clicked run and it didn't appear to do anything, so not quite sure whats happening there! If software is the issue, im not sure how to get round it given the cam is detected sometimes

 

[Meddling-Monk]

You might be experiencing Power Management issues set in Windows. What happens is, Windows has a setting that allows it to tell the USB devices to go into low power mode after a while, and what happens then is everything on the USB disconnects and has a hard time being detected again unless manually removed and reconnected or the system restarted.

If this is what you are experiencing (it may not be, as there's a variety of possible issues), then the way to stop this, is to go into Device Manager, go to USB Controllers, and look for the Hubs that are listed there, and go to the Power Management tab. There, if the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is ticked, untick it. Repeat for all your USB Hubs listed in there. Then restart your machine.

Again, assuming it was merely a Power Management issue, this should in theory now be solved and the devices no longer become undetectable after a while (usually around 10 minutes). If not, you'll have to do more diagnostics then to find the root cause of the issue.

 

[Mallers]

You might be experiencing Power Management issues set in Windows. What happens is, Windows has a setting that allows it to tell the USB devices to go into low power mode after a while, and what happens then is everything on the USB disconnects and has a hard time being detected again unless manually removed and reconnected or the system restarted.

If this is what you are experiencing (it may not be, as there's a variety of possible issues), then the way to stop this, is to go into Device Manager, go to USB Controllers, and look for the Hubs that are listed there, and go to the Power Management tab. There, if the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is ticked, untick it. Repeat for all your USB Hubs listed in there. Then restart your machine.

Again, assuming it was merely a Power Management issue, this should in theory now be solved and the devices no longer become undetectable after a while (usually around 10 minutes). If not, you'll have to do more diagnostics then to find the root cause of the issue.

Hi, I think I have it figured out now. It was only the webcam giving me gyp, looks like it was down to a driver issue. Cam isn't supported after windows 8 and I just updated to most up to date win10. I think the drivers were just capable of giving me some usage here and there until latest update and then wigged out. Im looking to get a new webcam, but I hadn't factored in the bubonic plague were all hiding form. Nary a cam to be had and those that are around are either cheap and rubbish or good cams but priced well north of where they were beginning of year (price irrelevant as they aren't available anyway!)