External Hard Drive Question

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External Hard Drive Question

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Cully1980

Inactive

8. May 2007 @ 08:05

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Hello

I am looking into purchasing an external hard drive to back up my pics and stuff, however before i do this i was looking to find out if there is anyway i can check to see if my comp and laptop are Usb2 or 1

is there a quick way of finding this out as the comp is about 3 years old and the laptop is 2

also if it does turn out they are both USB1 does it really make the time alot longer in transferring the files to the HDD, and do you normally have to by a different type of hdd as the one i am looking at is a western digital 320gb

Thankyou for your help

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ireland

AfterDawn Addict

8. May 2007 @ 08:11

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How do I know if my computer has USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 support?

Most computers ship with built-in USB 1.1 ports that support USB 1.1 device speeds only. USB 2.0 support is usually added to a computer via a USB 2.0 add-in card, though some newer computers may have USB 2.0 ports built-in.

Please use the following steps to determine if your computer has USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 ports.

Note: Apple® does not provide native support for USB 2.0, therefore, USB 2.0 speeds are not supported when using USB 2.0 devices on Macintosh® operating systems at this time.

Select your operating system

Windows 98/Me | Windows 2000/XP

Windows® 98/Me

1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.

2. Click the Device Manager tab.

3. Click the plus (+) sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers.

Note: If Universal Serial Bus Controllers is not listed, there is a problem with the USB controller or the USB controller is not enabled in the computer's BIOS. Please contact the computer or card manufacturer for updated drivers and/or for information on how to fix or enable the USB controller.

* If Enhanced Host Controller and/or USB 2.0 Root Hub Device is listed, then the computer has USB 2.0 ports.

* If Universal Host Controller and/or Open Host Controller is listed, then the computer has USB 1.1 ports.

Windows® 2000/XP

1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Manage.

Note: Windows XP users may need to click Start to access the My Computer icon.

2. Click the Device Manager icon.

3. Click the plus (+) sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers.

Note: If Universal Serial Bus Controllers is not listed, there is a problem with the USB controller or the USB controller is not enabled in the computer's BIOS. Please contact the computer or card manufacturer for updated drivers and/or for information on how to fix or enable the USB controller.

* If Enhanced Host Controller and/or USB 2.0 Root Hub Device is listed, then the computer has USB 2.0 ports.

* If Universal Host Controller and/or Open Host Controller is listed, then the computer has USB 1.1 ports.

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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. May 2007 @ 08:21

Indochine

Senior Member

8. May 2007 @ 08:17

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USB 1 tops out at 12 million bits per second which is only good for mice and keyboards. USB 2.0 can go (theoretically) at 480 Mbps thus allowing hard disks to be used. USB 1 is useless for hard drives.

To check...

(1) open Control Panel. Click on System

(2) System Properties appears

(3) Click on Hardware tab

(4) Open Device Manager

(5) Click on Universal Serial Bus Controllers folder

(6) If you see the word "Enhanced" you have USB 2.0

The key word is ENHANCED. If you have an ENHANCED USB Host Controller then you have High Speed USB (USB 2.0)

(7) If you see the word "Standard" you don't.

[ + quote]

On m'a dit que je suis nul à l'oral, que je n'peux pas mieux faire !

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. May 2007 @ 08:20

Cully1980

Inactive

8. May 2007 @ 08:19

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great thanks for that

so does that mean i would not be able to use the following if my comp is on USB 1.1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B000EXZB0...&pf_rd_i=468294

basically its a Western Digital Western Digital My Book 320GB Essential USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

also does anyone know any websites in the UK that stock the USB 2.0 card

[ + quote]

Indochine

Senior Member

8. May 2007 @ 08:22

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USB 1 tops out at 12 million bits per second which is only good for mice and keyboards. USB 2.0 can go (theoretically) at 480 Mbps thus allowing hard disks to be used. USB 1 is useless for hard drives.

USB 2.0 PCI card £14.69 inc VAT at Medusa

http://www.medusa-uk.com/product_info.ph...d=186&f=froogle

Quote:
Building this USB 2.0 PCI Card into your PC immediately provides you with the USB 2.0 standard. You can use the 4 connections on the card to connect high speed USB devices, such as a card reader, an external hard disc or a digital camera. If those devices also feature USB 2.0 functionality, a lightning-fast data transfer between the PC and the equipment up to 480 Mbps is possible. This not only enables you to quickly and reliably upload digital photos and copy files, but also to create a network connec-tion via USB 2.0, for example. The USB 2.0 PCI Card is also downward compatible with USB 1.1 equipment.

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On m'a dit que je suis nul à l'oral, que je n'peux pas mieux faire !

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. May 2007 @ 08:33

ireland

AfterDawn Addict

8. May 2007 @ 08:26

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USB 1.0 can operate at 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbps).

USB 1.1 allowed a maximum transfer rate of 12Mbits/second. USB mice and keyboards need only 1.5Mbits/s to function. That performance level is also named 'USB'.

USB 2.0 has a raw data rate at 480Mbps, and it is rated 40 times faster than its predecessor interface, USB 1.1, which tops at 12Mbps. Originally, USB 2.0 was intended to go only as fast as 240Mbps, but then, USB 2.0 Promoter Group increased the speed to 480Mbps in October 1999.

You can use USB device with USB 1.0, USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 as long as your PC or laptop has USB ports, but USB 2.0 device transfer data at 480 Mbps on systems with USB 2.0 support only.

FOR LAPTOP

LINK
http://www.ebest24.co.uk/products/comput...for-laptop.html

AND HERE
http://www.ptronix.com/eshop/5101.htm

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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. May 2007 @ 08:40

Cully1980

Inactive

8. May 2007 @ 09:29

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so i take it this means i do have a usb2.0
it says

Intel(R)82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 ENHANCED HOST CONTROLLER -24CD
Intel(R)82801DB/DBM USB UNIVERSAL HOST CONTROLLER 24C2
Intel(R)82801DB/DBM USB UNIVERSAL HOST CONTROLLER24C4
Intel(R)82801DB/DBM USB UNIVERSAL HOST CONTROLLER 24C7
USB ROOT HUB
USB ROOT HUB
USB ROOT HUB
USB ROOT HUB

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ddp

Moderator

8. May 2007 @ 09:45

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yes & moved to correct forum

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