Adding a USB HUB and how do they work?

[DJW]

I am running windows 98SE with a desktop computer that only have 2 USB
outlets in the front. I recently plugged in a USB 4 port hub. When I
unplugged my web cam from the computer and plugged it in to the Hub it
said on the screen that new hardware was found and wanted to reinstall
drivers. So I canceled the action and put it back in the free outlet on
the computer.
My question is does the hub's first in line port mirror the port it
is plugged in to? And do the remaining 3 ports are now like brand new
ports on the computer and any old equipment that was installed and
configured using the 2 old ports on the computer now need to be
reinstalled if they are used? I thought a Hub would be a plug and play,
meaning any installed hardware using any HUB or old port could be hot
swappable with any other already installed hardware peripheral without
any new reconfiguring.
Also can the computer's USB controller, control all 5 ports plus the
one the HUB is plugged into at once with hardware?

 

[Chris Stolworthy]

I am running windows 98SE with a desktop computer that only have 2 USB
outlets in the front. I recently plugged in a USB 4 port hub. When I
unplugged my web cam from the computer and plugged it in to the Hub it
said on the screen that new hardware was found and wanted to reinstall
drivers. So I canceled the action and put it back in the free outlet on
the computer.
My question is does the hub's first in line port mirror the port it
is plugged in to?

Mirror no. It acts as a brand new port.

And do the remaining 3 ports are now like brand new
ports on the computer and any old equipment that was installed and
configured using the 2 old ports on the computer now need to be
reinstalled if they are used?

Yes if you plug them in to the new ports on the hub the PC will most likely
want to install the drivers again. However it should be no big problem as
your drivers are already installed, so it should find them automatically.
Just run the wizard.

I thought a Hub would be a plug and play,
meaning any installed hardware using any HUB or old port could be hot
swappable with any other already installed hardware peripheral without
any new reconfiguring.

As I said above, the computer will need to setup the drivers each time you
plug it into a new USB port.

Also can the computer's USB controller, control all 5 ports plus the
one the HUB is plugged into at once with hardware?

Not sure exactly what you mean here. But the computer will control all
ports from the USB hub. I believe the controller for the HUB is actually
built into the HUB itself.

 

[kony]

I am running windows 98SE with a desktop computer that only have 2 USB
outlets in the front. I recently plugged in a USB 4 port hub.

Since this is an older system you might consider getting a
PCI, USB2 controller card. I'm assuming it has only USB1.1
which may be a significant bottleneck with several things
hooked up to a USB hub. Maybe not, since you have the hub
you might as well try it but if you encounter prblems like
sluggishness the next thing I'd try would be moving to USB2
with a PCI card... ideally one with enough ports that you
dont need the hub anymore or at least not for as many higher
speed devices.

When I
unplugged my web cam from the computer and plugged it in to the Hub it
said on the screen that new hardware was found and wanted to reinstall
drivers. So I canceled the action and put it back in the free outlet on
the computer.

Let it install them, it can probably find then on the HDD
aleady from the last install.

My question is does the hub's first in line port mirror the port it
is plugged in to?

No. Port it's plugged into sees a USB hub, the USB hub sees
what's attached to it.

And do the remaining 3 ports are now like brand new
ports on the computer and any old equipment that was installed and
configured using the 2 old ports on the computer now need to be
reinstalled if they are used? I thought a Hub would be a plug and play,
meaning any installed hardware using any HUB or old port could be hot
swappable with any other already installed hardware peripheral without
any new reconfiguring.
Also can the computer's USB controller, control all 5 ports plus the
one the HUB is plugged into at once with hardware?

It can use devices plugged into any of them. You may need
to install drivers again moving them to the hub. It's not a
problem really, just do it and move on.

 

[Joel]

I am running windows 98SE with a desktop computer that only have 2 USB
outlets in the front. I recently plugged in a USB 4 port hub. When I
unplugged my web cam from the computer and plugged it in to the Hub it
said on the screen that new hardware was found and wanted to reinstall
drivers. So I canceled the action and put it back in the free outlet on
the computer.
My question is does the hub's first in line port mirror the port it
is plugged in to? And do the remaining 3 ports are now like brand new
ports on the computer and any old equipment that was installed and
configured using the 2 old ports on the computer now need to be
reinstalled if they are used? I thought a Hub would be a plug and play,
meaning any installed hardware using any HUB or old port could be hot
swappable with any other already installed hardware peripheral without
any new reconfiguring.
Also can the computer's USB controller, control all 5 ports plus the
one the HUB is plugged into at once with hardware?

Unlike WinXP, Win98 may require driver for specific hardware. IOW, you
may want to check to see if the USB-Hub comes with driver, and you will need
to install the driver for Win98 to recognize the Hub.

I haven't used Win98 for age to remember all small detail, but I do
believe that *if* you have the driver installed then the HUB would work with
Win98. And there may be a chance that buugy driver may cause problem, and
that's the beauty of Win98 and some older technology.

 

[Joel]

It can use devices plugged into any of them. You may need
to install drivers again moving them to the hub. It's not a
problem really, just do it and move on.

It has been too long for me to remember... but when I was using Win98 I
often had to install the driver came with hard drive for the device to work.

Hmmm.. I know I always have few HUBs but don't remember much about driver
for the HUB, but I have 5-6 memory card readers and each required a specific
driver to work. And the driver can control what the reader can or can't not
do (like handling larger size).

Man, looking back to the old days with so many problems/requirements I
still feel the pain <bg>. Lets see

- Different digital camera model's required diff. driver's

- Memory card reader (they didn't have lot of multiple formats then)
required diff. driver's.

- Different Mouse/Tablet etc, required different driver (tablet can be
accepted but mouse?).

- Different portable storage required different driver's. It was the jungle
of drivers and headache .. now, I can just plug the portable storage to any
USB port, and system and be able to transfer without having to remember to
bring along a CD full of drivers <bg>