Portable Hard Drive - USB 1.1

[DarkStar]

I have been thinking of getting a smallish (size and capacity) USB portable hard drive to store my photos and camera video on. However, my ancient computer has only 1.1 USB drives and the people I have spoken to tell me that a portable hard drive needs to have a separate power supply like a desktop HDD because a 1.1 USB connection will not supply sufficient power for the device to work. Does anyone know from personal experience if this is in fact correct. A look at WD and Seagate sites do not mention backward compatibility from 2.0 > 1.1 but the Freecom site does.
So, before I go splashing out on a new drive I thought I would solicit opinions from the more experienced here at IDNetters 

Ian

[Steve]

Is it possible to install a USB card into your machine to allow USB 2.0 compatibility?

[Ted]

Is it possible to install a USB card into your machine to allow USB 2.0 compatibility?

Something like This

[Rik]

The power supply is not an issue, it's the same for 1.1 and 2, Ian. However, the speed difference is significant and I'd certainly recommend adding a USB2 card if you have a free slot.

[DarkStar]

Thanks for replies. 
I knew that USB 2.0 was a lot faster than 1.1 but I didn't realize it was that much faster.
I also wasn't aware that upgrading to USB 2.0 was that simple.  Perhaps it won't be in my case, see below.
My computer is just over 5 years old and although it has 4 USB sockets two are vertical just over half way up the back to one side and the other two are horizontal at the bottom in the middle. Not exactly designed for easy access. As I obviously cannot install a 4 port device as shown in Teds link perhaps it would be possible to get a 2 port and just update two of them. Would it be possible to have 2x2.0 and 2x1.1 without any problems? Not being a hardware techie any advice is welcome.

Ian

[Rik]

You can mix quite happily, Ian. If you have a free slot, though, you should be able to install the card Ted linked to.

[DarkStar]

I have just been having a look on the web and find several places have 2 port USB cards. However, i find there are such things as 2.1 and 2.2 PCI slots that I need to watch out for. Have looked at the computer spec docs that I got with the computer and there isn't any mention of the USB devices.
Just how easy is it for a non techie to install one of these. I assume I would need to remove the present card and install a new one in it's place, any wiring / connecting up to do? Does the PC / Windows automatically recognize the new device the same as it does a new external HDD?
I think I'll have a search online for instructions, and take the side off the CPU in the morning before I switch on and have a good look round in there.

Ian

[Ted]

Can you give us a pic of the inside of the pc. Or the make and model?

[Rik]

It's a bit like putting a plug in a socket, Ian, only longer. If you have a standard size case, though, you can fit the 4-port card with no problems, just find a spare slot. You do need to know that the spares are PCI and not something older though, how old is the machine?

There would be no need to remove the existing ports, which may well be connected to a motherboard chip anyway. Windows should recognise the card and install drivers automatically.

[ducky22]

Definitely go down the additional card route.

USB1.1 will operate around 1mb/second (megabyte) while USB2 should give around 20-30mb (depending on the computer's ability to process the data!)

[Glenn]

I have just been having a look on the web and find several places have 2 port USB cards. However, i find there are such things as 2.1 and 2.2 PCI slots that I need to watch out for. Have looked at the computer spec docs that I got with the computer and there isn't any mention of the USB devices.
Just how easy is it for a non techie to install one of these. I assume I would need to remove the present card and install a new one in it's place, any wiring / connecting up to do? Does the PC / Windows automatically recognize the new device the same as it does a new external HDD?
I think I'll have a search online for instructions, and take the side off the CPU in the morning before I switch on and have a good look round in there.

Ian

Ian, It's just a matter of removing the side of the PC, unscrewing a blanking plate , then fit the new card into the free slot and re-fitting the screw and case side. Windows XP & Vista should find the drivers for the device.

[Steve]

As Glen said, but in addition which OS and service pack are you running i.e XP SP2

[Ted]

You do need to know that the spares are PCI and not something older though, how old is the machine?

He says its around 5 years old, so will almost certainly be PCI although it may have a ISA slot.

[Rik]

Thanks, Ted, I must learn to read posts.

[Ted]

At the rate you type Rik, i'm surprised you have time to read at all

[Rik]

Oh, I don't, I just reply to the subject line.

[Steve]

If no spare slot, there is probably a PCI modem not required any more.

[Ted]

If no spare slot, there is probably a PCI modem not required any more.

Is there one that is?

[DarkStar]

Right, have had a look on the net and seen a bit about the PCI / ASI slots. One is black, one white I believe. When I open it up in the morning (the whole side comes off, plenty of room in there) I will see if I can take a photo and post it on here, then the more knowledgeable can analyze it  

The computer is a Mesh, just over 5 years old and is running XP Home SP3.

If I don't get time to look in it tonight I'll do it tomorrow morning and report back.

Ian

[Ted]

Don't think you'll have any problem there.
But as you say, have a look and see.

[Rik]

We'll be here Ian.

[Ted]

One small tip Ian
It doesn't sound as if you will have an "earthing strap".

Just leave the machine plugged in at the mains socket, but make sure that the switch on the socket is off.

The earth is still connected even though the live and neutral connections are disconnected. 

[DarkStar]

Have now taken a couple of photos of the CPU, inside and out. Your verdict is awaited.

Ian

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Den]

One small tip Ian
It doesn't sound as if you will have an "earthing strap".

Just leave the machine plugged in at the mains socket, but make sure that the switch on the socket is off.

The earth is still connected even though the live and neutral connections are disconnected. 

The switch on a socket only switches the live side of the socket and not the neutral so be carefull incase the polarity is reversed.

[Sebby]

To be honest, I wasn't aware that that were so many PCI slot variants, Ian! What I would say is that the slots in your computer are what I would call standard PCI slots, and you shouldn't have any bother fitting something like what Ted linked to on eBay.

[Steve]

But looking at the photo something's going to have to go or move. There is a free slot on the board but no way of fitting it. How about the bottom one is that usb or IEEE 394 or both.The top card I am presuming is amodem you could bin that?

[Ted]

The switch on a socket only switches the live side of the socket and not the neutral so be carefull incase the polarity is reversed.

Not on a double pole switched socket, where both the live and neutral are switched, which is most likely, although to be fair, not guaranteed. The chances of the phases being reversed are quite remote but again not unheard of.

[Rik]

Ian, while you're in there, give the machine a dusting (I use a paintbrush and vacuum cleaner)...

[Steve]

Ian, while you're in there, give the machine a dusting (I use a paintbrush and vacuum cleaner)...

I use a hairdryer then complain to the wife that someone needs to do a bit of dusting and hovering around here

[Rik]

That would work too.

[DarkStar]

I use a hairdryer then complain to the wife that someone needs to do a bit of dusting and hovering around here

I nearly put a bit in my last post about not looking at the dust. If I mentioned to my wife about dusting she would say "you know where the duster is"   

So, I have now had another, closer look inside after reading the comments. The bottom 'board' which carries the two USB sockets appears to be connected to the motherboard by a 'flat cable' for lack of a better word. It does not not fit into a PCI slot at all and there is no slot in a position to take a card in that position. The third space up (looking from the outside) has two square sockets marked phone line and the round ones are MIK and SPK, this I believe is the old, now redundant modem connection board? The connector above that is not used at all and has a flat cable plugged into the rear of it that runs to the motherboard. If I temporarily unplug this cable I would be able to get at the modem board and remove that, hopefully without too much trouble. Question, do these boards come out and replace easily ie: are they a tight fit? So it looks as though Steve's suggestion re: removing the redundant modem board is the (only) way to go.

Ian

[Rik]

They are, of necessity, a tight fit, Ian, but not to the extent of needing tools. Just ease it out by lifting at each end alternately until it's loose. When you fit the new card, otoh, try and press it down evenly along the entire length.

[Steve]

You seem to have some Mesh card locking system unfamiliar to me. If you can unlock the card it should pull out towards you. If you can find a USB card with a cable attachment as well you maybe able to convert the front sockets if you have any to usb 2.0.As Rik says installation is straight forward line it up and ease it in  and check its aligned along the socket

[Rik]

I've seen that lock before, Steve, it's just a matter of flicking a clip instead of removing a screw.

[DarkStar]

 
Now that I know what to do and having I hope taken on board (brain cells are not what they used to be ) all the welcome advice I will have a look round for suitable USB card and try my hand at updating the machine. Have never fiddled about with the workings of a computer before so am a bit wary of what I am doing.
If I had realized that I could upgrade the USB when I had the operating system reinstalled I would have had it done then. Had the memory upgraded from 512MB to 1Gb. Should have gone for 2GB.

Rik, I was going to get a can of that compressed air to do the inside dusting once until I found out how much they are. £10+ 

Ian

[Rik]

Do you have a Costco near you, Ian? They do they for a fraction of that price.

[DarkStar]

I live in the sticks in Suffolk Rik, nothing like a Costco near me. There is a Maplin in Ipswich about 15-18 miles away. Don't go to Ipswich if I can help it, hate the place.
I have a local computer shop 3 miles away that builds their own machines. He is pretty reasonable so I'll ask there first. ie: pick his brains  and then search the net.

Ian

[Rik]

He might even do the job for you for a small amount...

[DarkStar]

He might even do the job for you for a small amount...

You're not suggesting I spend money Rik
Seriously though, I had thought about that but I only have the one machine and I get withdrawal symptoms after about an hour without it and am now quite taken with the idea of doing it myself now that I understand what is required.

Ian

[Rik]

It's only a five minute job, Ian, once you've done it, you'll not think twice about changing other cards. 

[Steve]

There is an AGP slot I think in your picture begging for a AGP graphics card   Should improve graphics performance if you can pick one up cheaply.

[DarkStar]

I have identified a Belkin USB 2.0 PCI card that has good user reviews on the net. Most have installed it in older machines like mine without any problems and it appears to be plug and play, seems Windows already has the required drivers, so I'll have a look round for prices. I have printed off a picture of it and will have a look inside to make sure it will fit. A picture here:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=122162

I'll delve into the AGP graphics card later when I've got the USB card installed and working (hopefully)

Ian

[Rik]

You should have no problems with that, Ian. Windows has the drivers for any standard USB card.

[vitriol]

Good luck, just take your time.  It's dead easy.

[DarkStar]

 
Belkin USB 2.0 PSI card arrived this morning, circa 11:30 (early, different postman). After chasing up the road to get my parcel off him because he wouldn't wait for me to answer the door I brought the CPU downstairs, blew and hoovered the dust out - got the old modem card out and put the new USB card in it's place and plugged all the cables back in. Started up and waited for Windows to find the new device and bingo  everything working. Downloaded a video clip and did a differential backup
Couldn't believe how much faster it is. I new it was faster but the transfer speed has gone from around 10mbps or less to well over 200mbps!
So, a big thank you to everyone for your help and above all encouragement.

Ian

[Steve]

Glad it worked out. Now whats next

[Rik]

Great news, Ian. Now about that graphics card... 

[Ray]

Nice one, Ian, and in case you hadn't noticed Rik is rather good at spending peoples money for them.   

[Rik]

I do spend my own as well, Ray, but it's more fun spending for others.

[Ray]

I do spend my own as well, Ray, but it's more fun spending for others.

Oh yes, it is definitely better spending other people money, Rik. 

[vitriol]

Whats next?  I remember seeing an empty AGP Graphics card slot on one of you photos. I find that a dedicated card makes windows run much smoother.  Much better than using the integrated graphics chipset.

Go on.......help windows out a little.

[Rik]

Did anyone count the RAM slots? 

[Sebby]

Good to hear, Ian.

[DarkStar]

Apologies for being late replying but my Granddaughter has been over with the children, very hectic, needed time to recover
Now I have got the bit between my teeth, what is involved in installing a graphics card. Is it as simple as the USB card. Do I need a spare place at the rear of the computer to plug anything in or is it all contained within the CPU?
Also, I don't play games etc so what exactly are the benefits of a graphics card? Photo and camera video improvement? Any improvement on You Tube clips. Mind you with Christmas coming up and my son coming over from Dubai for a week or so that would probably have to go on hold for a while.

Did anyone count the RAM slots? 

Updated my RAM to 1GB when I had Windows re-installed and have plenty to spare for what I do with the computer. Might double up again at a later date though.

Ian

Edit: Have just Googled graphics cards and now see what they look like. Will have a look in CPU in the morning before I "Fire Up" to see what I can do.

[Steve]

Not as simple as the USB card,but possible. You will have to  clear the case slot opposite the AGP slot. Disable the on board graphics in bios and enable the AGP card.Install drivers for the new card.

Then you will be persuaded to buy a new WS monitor with DVI input

[Rik]

Preferably an Eizo. 

[Ray]

Preferably an Eizo. 

[Sebby]

Preferably an Eizo.