USB 3.0 to 1.1?

[Anon_F]

OK my 6 year old laptop is seriously needing external storage.
Have i got it right and that USB 3.0 is compatible with 1.1 but at slower speed etc?
So if i buy a Flash driver or external hdd that is usb 3.0 will it see 1.1?
Probably go flash drive as it's cheap & easy?

 

[EvanDavis]

From what I have read USB 3.0 is backwards compatible

 

[Ian]

Most USB 3.0 devices will work fine on any other USB version port - it just degrades to the lowest speed. However, USB 3.0 can draw 900mA as opposed to 500mA for 2.0 (and 1.1?). This may mean that some USB powered external drives will only work on the versions they state they are compatible with.

I'd imaging that most USB sticks and external power HDDs will work on any USB version - I've never had a problem mixing versions before, they've just slowed down considerably. I'm fairly sure I've even used my self-powered Samsung M3 drive on a USB 1.1 computer (and that only explicitly states 3.0/2.0 compatibility).

Are you sure your laptop doesn't have a USB 2.0 port? At 6 years old I'd have thought it would have? If you have the model number then I'll go check.

 

[Anon_F]

Ian, through SiS Sandra i have found it's USB 2.0.
Details below of the Toshiba Laptop.

Toshiba Satellite Pro A120 Series
Intel Core2 CPU @ 1.66GHz
Bios 2006
USB2.0 (Toshiba 82801G (ICH7) USB2.0 Enhanced Host Controller

 

[Ian]

Excellent .

How about something like this little USB drive:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Sli...25603&sr=1-1&keywords=2.5+external+hard+drive

It's only £9 more to go from 1GB > 2GB, so it may be worth going for the larger one then you've got a backup device that will last you for years.

I've got one of these myself (had 2 until I knocked one off a shelf ) and they work well.

A 32 USB drive costs less than £15 (good value one here), but it may not be big enough?

 

[Anon_F]

Thanks Ian.
Went and bought an 8GB this a.m as a stop gap to save data to.
Go 2 partitions to delete and when done should be ok.
Must say the cost of flash drives have really come down in price, more than i thought!

 

[Anon_F]

Linux partitions now deleted so back to 60GB HDD.
Now up to 36GB free.
Will now use Linux via the Linux USB flash drive instead.
Films & Music will stay on flash drive.