USB Expansion Question...

[Gib]

I've used all USB ports and need more. Do I simply go
out and purchase the 6 in 1 external USB
expander/device...and if so, does XP have problems with
plug and play if I do use this device?? Thank you!

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I've used all USB ports and need more. Do I simply go
out and purchase the 6 in 1 external USB
expander/device...and if so, does XP have problems with
plug and play if I do use this device?? Thank you!
.

You can go buy one if you are out of USB ports. XP
shouldn't have any problems with it but you never know with
Microsoft.

 

[CWatters]

Two options, both work....

a) External Hub (I recommend a _powered_ hub NOT an unpowered hub).

b) An internal PCI card with 4 or more extra ports. If your PC only has USB
1.0 ports this is the best option because you can add USB 2.0 ports this
way. USB 2.0 ports support USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 devices. USB 2.0 is much
faster and is ideal for use with USB 2.0 external hard drives. USB 1.0 is
way too slow for that. Make sure the card uses the NEC chip (I think most
do).

I have both of the above on my PC. ...

I have a USB 2.0 Printer and a USB 2.0 hard drive connected to ports on a
PCI card.

I have a bunch of USB 1.0 devices connected via a powered hub.

I have a Pocket PC is on it's own USB 1.0 port on the PC.

Before you unplug anything make a note of what you have plugged into each
port. It should be possible to move things around easily but I have had
problems with some devices not working when moved to other ports. Moving
them back cured the problem. I believe this is probably due to poor quality
or old drivers rather than the plug and play system itself. Some devices
(like my Pocket PC) don't seem to like long cables and or hubs but they are
rare. Plug any problem devices directly into a port on your PC.

 

[Buz [MSFT]]

Also there are some keyboards that will give you at least one extra port.

Buz Brodin
MCSE NT4 / Win2K
Microsoft Enterprise Domain Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.

Please do not send e-mail directly to this alias. This alias is for
newsgroup purposes only.

 

[Lucifer]

Two options, both work....

a) External Hub (I recommend a _powered_ hub NOT an unpowered hub).

b) An internal PCI card with 4 or more extra ports. If your PC only has USB
1.0 ports this is the best option because you can add USB 2.0 ports this
way. USB 2.0 ports support USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 devices. USB 2.0 is much
faster and is ideal for use with USB 2.0 external hard drives. USB 1.0 is
way too slow for that. Make sure the card uses the NEC chip (I think most
do).

I have both of the above on my PC. ...

So do I.

The USB 2.0 card (and attached hub) show up as 2.0 in device manager.
But they only run at USB 1.0 speeds (I measured them).

The hub runs at 2.0 speeds on a separate computer that only has USB
2.0.

I've never figured that out.

 

[CWatters]

So do I.

The USB 2.0 card (and attached hub) show up as 2.0 in device manager.
But they only run at USB 1.0 speeds (I measured them).

The hub runs at 2.0 speeds on a separate computer that only has USB
2.0.

I've never figured that out.

Which version of WinXP are you running?

USB 2.0 is only supported in WinXP SP1 not the original release of XP. It
also seems to matter how you got to SP1....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329632&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Colin

 

[Lucifer]

Which version of WinXP are you running?

The original XP Corp; never installed SP1.
And your comment below ('how you got to SP1') makes me wonder if I
want to...

The only thing I really need 2.0 for is external drives, and they're
attached to a USB 2 computer with SP1; that works.

USB 2.0 is only supported in WinXP SP1 not the original release of XP. It
also seems to matter how you got to SP1....

Even though Device manager SHOWS USB 2.0 device?
Is that just reading a string that says 2.0, even though it's not
actually supported?

 

[CWatters]

The original XP Corp; never installed SP1.
And your comment below ('how you got to SP1') makes me wonder if I
want to...

I installed WinXP Pro on my new PC, then updated it to SP1 using a CD a
friend made, then I added a USB 2.0 PCI card with four ports and an external
hard drive. It all worked first time.

Even though Device manager SHOWS USB 2.0 device?
Is that just reading a string that says 2.0, even though it's not
actually supported?

Sorry no idea.