Just to be clear, if you tested continuity on the breakout cable connectors and validated pinout of the header vs the the connector (pretty sure that was standardized very early on, possibly the very beginning, but just in case), then the next thing I would try would be basic USB 1.1 devices, like mouse, keyboard or USB hub. Maybe that USB2.0 pendrive draws too much power (power delivery was underspecced on some early USB implementations, AFAICR) or is simply incompatible for some reason.

I've actually tested two different sets of USB headers, and they both have the same problem. According to the manual the pinouts on the motherboard match the usb 1.0/1.1/2.0 standard, and my headers match this.

USB Connector (P24)

6 VCC 1 VCC
7 Port 1- 2 Port 0-
8 Port 1+ 3 Port 0+
9 Ground 4 Ground
10 NC 5 NC

I don't have any usb 1.1 devices unfortunately

This might do the trick:

"Extended USB Support for Win95 including Mass Storage"
https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid= … 038&menustate=0

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-04-08, 01:30:

I've actually tested two different sets of USB headers, and they both have the same problem. According to the manual the pinouts […]
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I've actually tested two different sets of USB headers, and they both have the same problem. According to the manual the pinouts on the motherboard match the usb 1.0/1.1/2.0 standard, and my headers match this.

USB Connector (P24)

6 VCC 1 VCC
7 Port 1- 2 Port 0-
8 Port 1+ 3 Port 0+
9 Ground 4 Ground
10 NC 5 NC

I don't have any usb 1.1 devices unfortunately

USB mice and keyboards are usually USB 1.1 . The basic/generic corded ones that one can get at an office supply store, dollar store or department store should be quite compatible. The more exotic programmable ones and at least some cordless ones have issues with older OSes in some situations.

EDIT: If the flash drive does not work in Windows 2000 either, I doubt the patch pete8475 mentioned will help Windows 95 unless if the issues have different causes under each OS.

EDIT2: Which release of Windows 95 are you using, by the way ?

pete8475 wrote on 2025-04-08, 01:45:

This might do the trick:

"Extended USB Support for Win95 including Mass Storage"
https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid= … 038&menustate=0

This - it includes USBSUPP and USBUPD2 + generic mass storage drivers + tray utility for ejecting the media safely.

darry wrote on 2025-04-08, 11:59:

...
EDIT2: Which release of Windows 95 are you using, by the way ?

^ This is relevant because you can only use USB-support with OSR 2 (version B) or later.

The correct methodology is:

1. Install Windows 95 OSR2
2. Install XUSBSUPP
3. Install Intel Chipset Driver-package (infinst)

If you don't regularly use USB storage devices, kill the utility that polls the USB ports in the background to free some CPU cycles and enable it when needed.

I generally rarely need the USB ports for file transfers, given how easy it is to get networking up and running on Win95 - and given that compatible NICs are a dime-a-dozen.

darry wrote on 2025-04-08, 01:20:

[...]

(pretty sure that was standardized very early on, possibly the very beginning, but just in case)

Sadly not - there were various alternatives to what we now consider standard out there, in particular one where the two ports were numbered in opposite directions (so +5V on the one was next to GND on the other) was pretty common on VX boards. So definitely validate pinout in cases like this and be prepared for weirdness.

dionb wrote on 2025-04-08, 13:28:

darry wrote on 2025-04-08, 01:20:

[...]

(pretty sure that was standardized very early on, possibly the very beginning, but just in case)

Sadly not - there were various alternatives to what we now consider standard out there, in particular one where the two ports were numbered in opposite directions (so +5V on the one was next to GND on the other) was pretty common on VX boards. So definitely validate pinout in cases like this and be prepared for weirdness.

Thank you for that info.

As a rule, I don't assume anything about header pinouts on older boards and USB/COM/LPT header cables. I never assume anything about pinouts on modular PSUs. I didn't really start using USB until after ATX had started becoming a thing. The few motherboards I did have to use USB headers on were new and came with matching cables.

Thanks for the advice. I am using OSR2 (pretty much went by your 95 setup guide @leonardo). But like I mentioned, Windows 2000 is having issues with any pen drives I plug in too, so I don't think it is an OS level issue.

I will triple check the pinouts as you recommend dionb, but I've gone ahead and ordered a ISA NIC card so I can transfer over LAN 😀

So I've tried attached the headers around the other way (vcc on the ground pin and vice versa). Pin 1 on the mobo should be next to that triangle from what I understand.

Same issue, as you can see in the screen shots in both 95 and 2k. The device is detected but refuses mass storage drivers in Windows 95, I assume windows 2k has built in storage drivers...

I assume your USB pen drives work in a Windows 10/11 computer?

sangokushi wrote on 2025-04-09, 05:58:

I assume your USB pen drives work in a Windows 10/11 computer?

Indeed they do

@stinkydiver

I know I'm repeating myself, but do you not have any basic, preferably wired, USB mice or keyboards that you could try, just as a quick test ?

EDIT: What is the revision on the 82C371SB chip ? Apparently, "SU052" does not support USB 1.0 (or 1.1) whereas "SU093" does. See Re: Populating empty USB sockets on a PIIX3 motherboard (Micronics W6-LI, 440FX)

I've tried with a usb mouse and keyboard but no dice 🙁

I am not sure of the chip revision, there are stickers over the chips on the motherboard and I don't really have it in me to peel them off 🤣

What's the revision of the motherboard? It's next to the ISA slot

sangokushi wrote on 2025-04-11, 03:46:

What's the revision of the motherboard? It's next to the ISA slot

Rev 1.31

FYI I have tried updating the bios with no luck, see thread BIOS update shinanigans

Based on the information on Octek website, only Rhino 9 and above support USB:
https://web.archive.org/web/19980209183746/ht … aq_pen.htm#pen9

Thanks for that link. I've updated the motherboard to the latest bios available, but I still have the same issues in Win95 and 2000. So looks like ill have to call defeat on this one 🙁

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-04-22, 22:37:

Thanks for that link. I've updated the motherboard to the latest bios available, but I still have the same issues in Win95 and 2000. So looks like ill have to call defeat on this one 🙁

Unfortunately.

And one likely culprit is the PIIX3 revision on your board. I get that you don't want to peel stickers, but maybe there is a software way to query that info, if you are curious. Maybe the old Intel USB check utility can detect that .

darry wrote on 2025-04-23, 03:40:

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-04-22, 22:37:

Thanks for that link. I've updated the motherboard to the latest bios available, but I still have the same issues in Win95 and 2000. So looks like ill have to call defeat on this one 🙁

Unfortunately.

And one likely culprit is the PIIX3 revision on your board. I get that you don't want to peel stickers, but maybe there is a software way to query that info, if you are curious. Maybe the old Intel USB check utility can detect that .

It looks like @red-ray's SIV utility can tell them apart.

See here:
Re: Good PCI Video Cards in 1997

I'm going to run it on my 440FX boards this evening and see what it says