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USB Issue in Interface 1000 Potentiostat

If you recently purchased a Gamry Interface 1000 Potentiostat and are experiencing a problem connecting it to a computer, your computer may have the Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller driver installed.  Please read on for some background and workaround.

Background:

The Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller driver package installs 3 drivers and 1 application:

  • Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver
  • Intel USB 3.0 Root Hub Driver
  • Intel USB 3.0 Host Controller Switch Driver
  • Intel USB 3.0 Monitor

The Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver and Root Hub Driver enable USB 3.0. The Intel USB 3.0 Host Controller Switch Driver allows the system to switch between USB 2.0 and 3.0. The monitor does exactly what it says. It monitors USB communication.

The Intel USB 3.0 Host Controller Switch Driver is responsible for monitoring all USB ports and deciding which version of USB to use with which device. That's where the problem lies.

Interface 1000 reboot cycle

Open device manager and look for this:
Write down the Chipset ID

Broken Hardware - Chipset ID

 

Open Add/Remove Programs and look for this:

Offending driver

 

Use Add/Remove Programs to uninstall the Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller driver package.

Reboot.

Depending on the Chipset ID, download the driver packages.

For the 8/9 Series

http://ow.ly/OuUQ0

For the 7 Series

http://ow.ly/OuV5i

DO NOT RUN THE SETUP.EXE

Extract the package to C:\Intel\eXhi\
Open Device Manager.
Right click the device with the yellow warning icon.

Second Unknown Device

 

Click Update driver software.

Browse my computer for driver software.

Click Browse.

Browse to one of the C:\Intel\eXhi\Drivers\Win7

Click OK.

Allow it to install.

Reboot.

Connect your Interface 1000.

Done.

Good to know:

When you apply the workaround, you force the USB 3.0 ports to function as USB 2.0.  The only way to re-enable USB 3.0 is by installing the entire Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller driver package.