Front port USB connections

[camaroguy1998]

A friend called me tonight, I built him a system 4-5 yrs ago based on an ASUS A7N8X-E(skt A) running XP Pro and is in an Antec Dragon style case.
When we built it he said he didn't need or want the front USB ports so we didn't hook them up. He has decided he wants them now! I told him where and how to hook them up and sent him a PDF of the manual with all the connections shown in it. He says he has connected them correctly. He has 2 USB drives one is a Super Talent 16G drive the other is an Attache' 2G drive, when he plugs the 16G drive in it lights up but windows pops up and says it does not recognize the device. When he plugs in the 2G drive it does nothing at all. When he plugs them into the rear USB ports they work fine. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be?
Getting my hands on the case is difficult since he lives almost 1 1/2 hrs away. So this is being done by phone and email.

[dkarko]

At first i thought it would be that the extra usb are 1.1, but the manual it says 2.0 for the extra ports. I don't know why but this seems typical, i mean if something doesn't work on the front panel connect it on the back and tada it works...
Did he try connecting something simple? Like a mouse or keyboard?

Edit: Correction i checked the A7N8X-E Deluxe manual, there was no A7N8X-E on asus page

[DL126]

If they are indeed hooked up correctly, it's most likely a voltage issue.
Some boards don't supply enough power to front ports to run some USB accessories.
I've seen it happen many times.
Not necessarily with jump drives, but for example I have a USB powered, 2.5" external HDD that doesn't work quite often on front ports.

[skier]

my traveldrive doesnt work on my 2.0 front ports, but it works in my back 2.0 ports plugged into the same USB header(they are in an expansion bay(above the vid card)) and this drive can run in USB1.1 if it needs to

[camaroguy1998]

USB Device Not Recognized
One of the USB devices attached to this computer
has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.
For assistance in solving this problem, click this message

This is the message he gets whenever he plugs the 16G drive in!
He clicked on the link and it doesnt tell him anything he didnt already know!
"The Drive Is Not Working"

[vicaphit]

do any other USB devices work in the front ports?

[camaroguy1998]

do any other USB devices work in the front ports?

Good question, I am not sure if he has tried anything else in those ports.
I will suggest he does!