Thanks everyone. The powered hub worked! Moral to the story, regardless of the power output of USB 3.0 ports (which should be enough on paper), always use a powered hub even if just one block erupter!!

I will try a hub just to see but I dont think it is going to help. Like you said, 0.5 to 0.9A should be plenty.

When you say declare the port, you are referring to the COM3 declaration in the flag line, correct? It is definitely COM3 according to windows and that is what I am putting in the command flag line options.

Device manager in windows sees it fine. The mining software will not see it.

I thought of using a powered hub but USB ports provide up to 0.5 A of power which should be sufficient for an erupter.

I am using 2 computers, one is an Alienware laptop M18XR2 using Win7, brand new with USB 3.0 ports. The second computer is the one I would prefer to get it working on and that is a Win XP Dell desktop that is 1 year old and has USB 3.0 ports as well. Neither computer will see it in the mining software but both see it in Windows itself.

I have used several versions of both CGminer and bfgminer. All the way from 2.10 up to the most recent versions. Bitminter, only the most current version.

I have used the most common command line flags:  --icarus-options 115200:1:1 --icarus-timing 3.0=100 -S COM3. I also use the no-gpu version of the softwares.

Hello, guys, newb here (to mining but not to windows hardware or software) with an erupter question. I just bought an erupter I am trying to get working as a second mining device. I have followed every guide I can find on how to install the erupter but no mining software can see it. Windows (both 7 and XP) see the device just fine after the drivers are loaded. Cgminer, bfgminer and bitminter clients are report no mining devices, however. I am not using a powered hub, just using USB port on computer. I am ready to chuck this thing as I have been monkeying around with it for about 2 weeks now with no luck. Can anyone give me some help??