Having a similiar problem. Usb devices like camera and printers work fine, but usb storage devices are not found.

I enabled usb-storage, ntfs-3g is installed.

I read about the usb2.0 being the problem and the workaround to disable ehci_hcd module but was unable to do that, rmmod or modprobe couldn't find it. It is clearly visible from in dmesg though.

A snippet of dmesg after plugging and unplugging two usb sticks. "Maybe the USB cable is bad?" message repeats when having the usb sticks on.
Code:
[11509.652094] usb 1-3: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 37
[11509.752144] hub 1-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 3
[11874.204095] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11877.176432] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11880.144075] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11883.112089] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11883.224080] usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 42
[11883.328151] hub 1-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 7
[11904.472097] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11907.440096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11910.408093] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11913.376095] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11913.616090] usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 47
[11913.716121] hub 1-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 7
[11927.340096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11930.308096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11933.276124] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11936.244118] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11939.212116] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11942.180123] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11945.148114] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[11948.116096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12802.472072] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12805.440124] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12808.432105] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12811.404432] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12814.380097] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12817.348106] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12820.316096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[12823.284092] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13440.844089] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13443.812089] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13446.780089] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13449.748087] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13452.716096] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13455.684119] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13458.652105] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[13461.620106] hub 1-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 7.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?