One of the most pointless error messages that comes up on a windows xp machine is the “Hi-speed” USB device message. The balloon that shows up in the lower right hand corner that reads “HI-SPEED USB Device Plugged into non-HI-SPEED USB Hub A HI-SPEED USB device is plugged into a non-HI-SPEED USB hub. For assistance in solving this problem, click this message.” Setting aside the bad grammar issues for another day, this error message really is pointless. Clicking the Balloon does not yield any solutions. The speed of USB ports is limited by the hardware, add new USB hub is the only solution. Since there is no point to the error message why put up if it? Here are the steps to turn off the error message.

First you need to get to the Device manager. You can right click on the “my computer” icon and choose properties. Then click on the hard ware tab of the properties window to choose the device manager.

Or open the run window in the start menu and type: devmgmt.msc that takes you right to the device manager window.

In the device manager you will need to find the USB Controllers. The list is alphabetical, look to the bottom of the list. Click on the plus sign to expand it.

In the sub list of USB hardware look for something that has the term Universal or Open in the name. If you disconnect any USB devices before you start, it reduces the number of items in sub list you have to sort through. When you find the controller right click on it. And choose the properties in the menu.

In the properties window for the USB controller there is an advanced tab. Click on it, then look at the bottom. There will be a check box that reads “Don’t tell me about USB errors”.

Check that option then click OK, and then close all the windows. When you connect a high speed USB device you will no longer see the “Hi-speed” error.