Looks like the revision is SU093 which should support USB 1.1. So this is beyond me why it refused to work

I ran SIV on two different 440FX systems. The first, which has working USB is shown here:

Next the Octek board with no USB components populated:

Oddly the Octek board shows no USB controller whatsoever... does this mean it is SY052?

Also both machines are showing cards which are no longer present in the system, which is odd

Is USB enabled in the BIOS of your Octek board? I had to enable it in mine for it to show up in SIV.

There is no option for it, I'm already on the latest bios too.

Try a Linux live CD from... Around y2k.
If Linux won't make it work, it's broken.

The PIIX3 datasheet suggests that there is a USB Enable bit in PCI configuration space for function 0.

However, there are potential pinout differences depending on whether USB is being used or not. A 3.3V supply is only needed if USB is enabled, if not, it can be supplied with 5V only.

maxtherabbit wrote on 2025-05-20, 02:26:

There is no option for it, I'm already on the latest bios too.

Do you have USB headers on your motherboard? If not, perhaps it doesn't even have USB support

jakethompson1 wrote on 2025-05-20, 03:12:

The PIIX3 datasheet suggests that there is a USB Enable bit in PCI configuration space for function 0.

However, there are potential pinout differences depending on whether USB is being used or not. A 3.3V supply is only needed if USB is enabled, if not, it can be supplied with 5V only.

Indeed there is. After spending more time than I would have liked with the datasheet, (it's in "miscellaneous status register") I whipped up a little COM file in DEBUG to turn it on.

After turning it on, and running WIN, win98 pops up and prompts to install the driver. Then when I run SIV I get this:

So if SIV is to be believed, I have the working revision. Of course, so does stinkydiver and it still doesn't work. Makes me think twice about going to the trouble to solder on the components.

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-05-20, 03:25:

Do you have USB headers on your motherboard?

No pin headers, just the unpopulated footprint at the I/O shield

This feels like information that should have been in the first post.

Gee I wonder why something that was deliberately disabled during manufacturing doesn't work?

I say you gave up too easily. I have USB working fine on my i430VX motherboard (some generic model I can't be bothered to look up ATM).

I'd happily try other things to troubleshoot, but I have run out of ideas.

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-05-22, 04:15:

I'd happily try other things to troubleshoot, but I have run out of ideas.

Try nusb36e from here.

BTW, when I say working, I mean as in I insert my USB storage stick and everything works fine. I can read from it and write to it.

mockingbird wrote on 2025-05-22, 04:29:

stinkydiver wrote on 2025-05-22, 04:15:

I'd happily try other things to troubleshoot, but I have run out of ideas.

Try nusb36e from here.

BTW, when I say working, I mean as in I insert my USB storage stick and everything works fine. I can read from it and write to it.

That is my end goal, USB storage function 😀

In the mean time I've been using FTP to transfer files which is fine. Still, would be nice if that USB slots worked...

In all probability since it was unpopulated from factory, there are other components missing, like resistors and diodes.

myne wrote on 2025-05-22, 06:20:

In all probability since it was unpopulated from factory, there are other components missing, like resistors and diodes.

You are conflating me with the OP. My board (Rhino Pro 6) does have missing protection diodes and a PTC footprint. I have not installed any components nor the USB connector itself. I have also not attempted to test anything beyond twiddling with the PCI config register and running SIV.

Stinkydiver had pin headers from the factory and they mysteriously do not work, despite having the correct south bridge revision

myne wrote on 2025-05-22, 03:17:

Gee I wonder why something that was deliberately disabled during manufacturing doesn't work?

Some of us are inspired to unironically ask such questions and attempt to answer them

maxtherabbit wrote on 2025-05-22, 13:53:

myne wrote on 2025-05-22, 03:17:

Gee I wonder why something that was deliberately disabled during manufacturing doesn't work?

Some of us are inspired to unironically ask such questions and attempt to answer them

Yup.

Sometimes, it's because it couldn't be made to work due, for example, to a chip flaw or to a short-sighted design. Replacing the chip might be an option if a fixed revision exists. Working around some other issue might be practically impossible, even today.
Sometimes, it's because it couldn't be made to work practically or at a reasonable cost, so the design was changed at a late stage. In modern days, it might be possible to work around this.
Sometimes, it's because of market segmentation, where expensive model B has a feature implemented and cheaper model A does not, with both being based on the same design. That one is pretty obvious.
Sometimes, it's something else.

It can be fun to find out.

maxtherabbit wrote on 2025-05-22, 13:52:

myne wrote on 2025-05-22, 06:20:

In all probability since it was unpopulated from factory, there are other components missing, like resistors and diodes.

You are conflating me with the OP. My board (Rhino Pro 6) does have missing protection diodes and a PTC footprint. I have not installed any components nor the USB connector itself. I have also not attempted to test anything beyond twiddling with the PCI config register and running SIV.

Stinkydiver had pin headers from the factory and they mysteriously do not work, despite having the correct south bridge revision

Ah. Right. My bad.

Again, I'd try a linux livecd.