"USB Controller Bandwidth Exceeded" error message when you stream video through a USB camera (884470)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use a universal serial bus (USB) camera to stream video, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
USB Controller Bandwidth Exceeded

CAUSE

This issue may occur if you add USB devices to a USB hub while you stream video with a USB camera that is connected to the same USB hub.

When a USB camera begins to stream video, the camera reserves as much bandwidth as possible to improve the quality of the video stream. After this bandwidth has been allocated to the USB camera for streaming purposes, the bandwidth is no longer available for any new devices that are attached.

Note This issue is caused by a design limitation of USB technology. It does not indicate a specific problem with your computer's hardware.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one or more of the following methods:
  • Connect any new devices before you start to stream USB video or audio. You may have to stop streaming the video or audio, connect the new devices, and then restart the media stream after the new device has been detected.
  • Connect your USB camera to a different USB hub.
  • If your computer has more than one USB port, connect your USB camera to its own USB port.

    Note If your computer does not have more than one USB port, you can add an additional USB host controller to the computer and attach some of the USB devices to it to share the bandwidth load. Contact your service vendor for more information about how to add an additional USB host controller to your computer.
  • Connect your other USB devices to a different USB hub or USB port.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to troubleshoot USB in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310575 General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/21/2004
Keywords:kbtshoot kberrmsg KB884470 kbAudEndUser
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