3g usb modem = no flash drive detection

[byan]

Hi There. Hopefully someone out there can help - I'm at wits end! Using a Huawei K3715 usb modem on my new desktop, running Windows 7 Evaluation. Modem works fine (with the occasional dropping of the connection) but pc sees it as a CD Drive not flash drive-why? Also I cannot get any of my flash drives to 'read' on the pc (pc tries to load drivers but to no avail) while the usb modem is plugged in. Unplug the usb modem and then no problems with the flash drives - whats going on? Also having problems with my scanner on the Cannon printer, unplug modem and problems solved! A friend of mine is having the same issue but he is running xp.
Any ideas?

 

[ginggs]

Modem works fine (with the occasional dropping of the connection) but pc sees it as a CD Drive not flash drive-why?

If the K3715 is like any of the other Huawei modems then this is normal.

Also I cannot get any of my flash drives to 'read' on the pc (pc tries to load drivers but to no avail) while the usb modem is plugged in. Unplug the usb modem and then no problems with the flash drives - whats going on? Also having problems with my scanner on the Cannon printer, unplug modem and problems solved!

It sounds like your PC is having trouble supplying enough current to the USB ports.
Tell us more about your configuration; what motherboard you have, which devices are plugged directly into the motherboard (at the back), which devices are plugged in to the front of the case.
Do you have a USB hub? Is it bus or externally powered?

You could also try checking if there's a new BIOS for your motherboard, I have seen weird USB issues solved this way.

PS: Welcome to MyBroadband!

 

[Tweak]

3g usb modem = faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkk

just get a netbook with built in hsdpa, cheaper and alot more economical.

Welcome to hell ;D

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

If the K3715 is like any of the other Huawei modems then this is normal.

It sounds like your PC is having trouble supplying enough current to the USB ports.
Tell us more about your configuration; what motherboard you have, which devices are plugged directly into the motherboard (at the back), which devices are plugged in to the front of the case.
Do you have a USB hub? Is it bus or externally powered?

You could also try checking if there's a new BIOS for your motherboard, I have seen weird USB issues solved this way.

PS: Welcome to MyBroadband!

100% here

Have not used Win7 yet so I'm not so sure how you can disable the autoload "CD-ROM" on the modem. I found that on some setups disabling autoload also helped (but seldom).

ginggs recommendations are still the best.

 

[morkhans]

3g usb modem = faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkk

just get a netbook with built in hsdpa, cheaper and alot more economical.

Welcome to hell ;D

Thanks for all the top tips

 

[BigAl-sa]

3g usb modem = faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkk

just get a netbook with built in hsdpa, cheaper and alot more economical.

Welcome to hell ;D

Samsung NC10 w/o 3g ~R3600, Vodafone k3565 R1000 Total: R4600
Samsung NC10 w 3g ~R6200

Am I missing something on the cheaper?

To OP, have no problems with K3565 and flash drives in Linux or XP on the NC10

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Was working on a similar Huawei modem (k1960) on LINUX today and got to understand how these models work:

They actually use software to switch between the 3G modem and SD card reader. By default they startup in SD card reader mode (even if you do not have one inserted) and then the software will switch it to 3G when needed.

Result is these devices are poorly supported on newer platforms - hence my morning exercise on getting this working under Linux.

This issue is not just with Huawei but many other brands that use this design.

I'm suspecting that modem drivers are disabling your usb as a result. Just my input and please correct me if I'm wrong.