How easily connect USB hard drive to other systems?

[Mozzy]

In general, if I have a portable hard drive with a USB connector
then, assuming the other system has a USB port, what other items need
to be in place for them to access the data on that drive?

It is most likely that the target system will be running WinXP.
Below are the sorts of things I would like to know about.

------

Are there certain XP patches which need to be installed?

Is it likely that a motherboard which has a USB port will need to
have a BIOS upgrade in order to see a USB hard drive?

Does the 137 GB limit apply to USB hard drives or does XP use its own
drivers to access it?

 

[Bill Sharpe]

A few more questions and one answer:
Does the portable hard drive come with any software?

Have you tried plugging the drive into a different computer to see if
it's recognized?

Does the portable hard drive support both USB2.0 and USB1.1?

How old is the motherboard that you are asking about the BIOS upgrade?

XP AFAIK supports USB fully as installed and doesn't need patches.

Bill

In general, if I have a portable hard drive with a USB connector
then, assuming the other system has a USB port, what other items need
to be in place for them to access the data on that drive?

It is most likely that the target system will be running WinXP.
Below are the sorts of things I would like to know about.

------

Are there certain XP patches which need to be installed?

Is it likely that a motherboard which has a USB port will need to
have a BIOS upgrade in order to see a USB hard drive?

Does the 137 GB limit apply to USB hard drives or does XP use its own
drivers to access it?