Multiple USB Ports.

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Silverton
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James Silverton

Hello All!

My machine runs XP but has only two USB 2.0 ports. Some of the hardware
that I have will function quite well on one of the two USB 1.0 ports but
really, I think I need about 6 USB ports. There seem to be two
possibilities: install two more USB 2.0 cards or use a plug-in multiport
attachment. That last requires installation of a driver. I wonder what
would be the best way to go?

I'd be grateful for advice.

--


James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
James said:
Hello All!

My machine runs XP but has only two USB 2.0 ports. Some of the hardware
that I have will function quite well on one of the two USB 1.0 ports but
really, I think I need about 6 USB ports. There seem to be two
possibilities: install two more USB 2.0 cards or use a plug-in multiport
attachment. That last requires installation of a driver. I wonder what
would be the best way to go?

I'd be grateful for advice.
Click to expand...

$12 will get you a PCI card with four connectors on the faceplate.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/15-166-002-S03?$S640W$

The fifth connector allows routing a USB cable inside the PC,
such as to a tray mount expansion interface. This particular
USB bay happens to have a regular USB connector on the end of the
cable, which would plug into the card in the first link.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815150025

Using those two products, you can have ports on the front and
the back of the computer. Four on the faceplate on the back
of the computer and four in a 5.25" tray for the front of
the computer.

No driver would be required for that. There is a USB2 driver
in WinXP, SP1 or greater, which should install automatically.

The 5.25" tray mounted USB interface, needs power, and a
"Y" cable allows getting power from a disk drive
power cable. So all necessary cabling is included.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/15-150-025-S03?$S640W$

Paul
 
James Silverton said this on 6/9/2010 1:16 PM:
Hello All!

My machine runs XP but has only two USB 2.0 ports. Some of the hardware
that I have will function quite well on one of the two USB 1.0 ports but
really, I think I need about 6 USB ports. There seem to be two
possibilities: install two more USB 2.0 cards or use a plug-in multiport
attachment. That last requires installation of a driver. I wonder what
would be the best way to go?

I'd be grateful for advice.
Click to expand...

A USB Hub does not require drivers? Or at least I've never had any.
 
Paul wrote on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:10:15 -0400:
$12 will get you a PCI card with four connectors on the
faceplate.

The fifth connector allows routing a USB cable inside the PC,
such as to a tray mount expansion interface. This particular
USB bay happens to have a regular USB connector on the end of the
cable, which would plug into the card in the first link.

Using those two products, you can have ports on the front and
the back of the computer. Four on the faceplate on the back
of the computer and four in a 5.25" tray for the front of
the computer.
Click to expand...
No driver would be required for that. There is a USB2 driver
in WinXP, SP1 or greater, which should install automatically.
Click to expand...
The 5.25" tray mounted USB interface, needs power, and a
"Y" cable allows getting power from a disk drive
power cable. So all necessary cabling is included.
Click to expand...
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/15-150-025-S03?$S640W$
Click to expand...

Thanks, that seemed good advice and I have bought a Vantec card similar
to the one you describe. It cost me $15 at Micro Center but that's not a
lot more.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
Big_Al wrote on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:14:54 -0400:
James Silverton said this on 6/9/2010 1:16 PM:
A USB Hub does not require drivers? Or at least I've never had any.
Click to expand...


I've been asked for drivers that I did not have when using a borrowed
plug-in multiport adapter.

With the Vantec card, I got the messages "New Hardware Detected",
"Searching for Drivers". Apparently the system found the necessary
drivers as the instruction book said it would and I have new USB ports
and got the message that the new hardware was ready for use. My computer
tells me that I now have 5 new "VIA Rev. 5 or later USB Universal Host
Controllers" so that's as expected.

Let's hope it keeps working well.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
 
James wrote to Big_Al on Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:15:59 -0400:
I've been asked for drivers that I did not have when using a
borrowed plug-in multiport adapter.
Click to expand...
With the Vantec card, I got the messages "New Hardware
Detected", "Searching for Drivers". Apparently the system
found the necessary drivers as the instruction book said it
would and I have new USB ports and got the message that the
new hardware was ready for use. My computer tells me that I
now have 5 new "VIA Rev. 5 or later USB Universal Host Controllers" so
that's as expected.
Click to expand...
Let's hope it keeps working well.
Click to expand...

Let me just add that the small-sized card was a bitch to install but I
did finally get it slotted.





on.not
 
 Big_Al  wrote  on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:14:54 -0400:



I've been asked for drivers that I did not have when using a borrowed
plug-in multiport adapter.

With the Vantec card, I got the messages "New Hardware Detected",
"Searching for Drivers". Apparently the system found the necessary
drivers as the instruction book said it would and I have new USB ports
and got the message that the new hardware was ready for use. My computer
tells me that I now have 5 new "VIA Rev. 5 or later USB Universal Host
Controllers" so that's as expected.

Let's hope it keeps working well.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
Click to expand...

It should be be noted that most USB hub does not get installed inside
of any PCs. These are completely "self-contained" external devices
that have a USB cable to plug into a motherboard USB port and will
provide 4 to 7 USB device ports. Some are delivered with there own
power adapter which will provide additional power over the USB ports.
 
I found USB2 cards on e-Bay for under $5 so one of those in a PCI slot will
cure that problem.
 
Get a hub. Never had one required a driver under XP though may under earlier
OS's.

INSURE it's USB2 and also uses it's own power supply and if it does then
check to see if it states explicitely that it provides the specified 500Ma
to each port simultaneously. Most don't provide that much info but it's
certain one without any power supply doesn't as it can only draw the one
500Ma from the pc port it's in.

The reason that's important is that many devices all attached at same time
can require more power than a "non -powered" one has, e.g. Logitech FF
Joystick/Gamepad uses 500Ma all by itself. If there's also a printer
attached and a scanner and a ... something isn't going to get enough power.

You can plug what you have in to what you have now and check what each
device uses for power and then decide if it's pertinent to you but powered
is under $30 Canadian without even looking for any bargain (non powered
often lot less and often bundled with cheap mouse etc. in a laptop carry all
kit).
 
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