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Author Topic: USB upgrade question  (Read 900 times)

Offline Maverick

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USB upgrade question
« on: October 08, 2000, 04:53:00 PM »
I am going to try one more time to ask for advice on how to proceede. I hope I get at least one response this time.


I have a non USB computer. (P3 500mhz 128meg RAM) and it seems alomost all peripherals are now wired for USP instead of ports.

I saw in a store a USB adapter card that plugs into a slot on the Mboard and provides 2 USP ports. Is this a viable way to get some USB items hooked up?

Is there a way other than this card to adapt my system to USB that works? I have limited resources att his time so a whole system upgrade isn't an option.

If I have to get another mboard and use all other items (CPU memory etc.) what should I look for? Is it like the Athlon where you have to have a special case?

HALP I'm a puter dweeb and need the info please type slowly and use small words.

Thanks
Mav
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Offline Big Mac

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2000, 05:32:00 PM »
Mav,

Without looking at your system, you have a P3, you most likely have have a ATX case.  I think you would be able to just buy a new motherboard and use all the components out of your existing computer.  I have used many motherboard brands, I prefer Asus but whatever you choose go to their website and make sure it takes your chip, proper slot type, ram type and is usb.  If your current case is not an ATX, cases are cheap, just get one with a 300 watt power supply.

Big Mac
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Offline -lynx-

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2000, 04:57:00 AM »
Mav - if you mobo takes PIII then it's an ATX board and it's bound to have USB ports. All you need in this case is a metal bracket with USB sockets that is screwed in place of the ones that cover unused slots in the back of your machine. My girlfriend's puter had to be upgraded this way cuz it was still in an AT case. Cables from USB sockets are then plugged into the mobo and you have USB ports.

I'm pretty sure that anything you plug in a PCI slot has little to do with USB.

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Offline Maverick

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2000, 02:51:00 PM »
Lynx,

Well color me stupid!  You were absolutely right. There are 2 USB ports back there I never noticed. I suppose then I can just plug in a USB item and let the puter take over from there. I had never thought about USB before and know absolutely nothing about it. Might be time to do some research  

Thanks very much for the help.

Mav
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Offline Sac1

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2000, 03:09:00 PM »
Look underneath where your mouse and keyboard plug in, there should be 2 USB ports.  Mine where ther but covered by the metal plate.  Just take the plate off and punch out the 2 slots.  I also can not see a PIII without it being a ATX board and it should have the ports
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Offline kbman

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2000, 05:29:00 PM »
Hi Mav,
        Before you will be able to use any USB device you will need to install the USB root hub from the Win 98 CD on your system.
Control Panel/Add/Remove Software/ Windows Setup/ Components. Install the root hub and re-boot and away you go. Good luck!

kbman
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Offline Maverick

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2000, 01:16:00 PM »
 
Quote
Originally posted by kbman:
Hi Mav,
        Before you will be able to use any USB device you will need to install the USB root hub from the Win 98 CD on your system.
Control Panel/Add/Remove Software/ Windows Setup/ Components. Install the root hub and re-boot and away you go. Good luck!

kbman


UH OH major problem. I am using winblows 95 not 98. Is USB a 98 only function??? AAAARRRGGGG it might be time to go to 98. Anything I should look out for in the conversion???

Mav
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Offline RangerBob

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2000, 05:01:00 PM »
I can't remember if USB is a Windows 98 only or not thing, but I expect you can check that out on the web.

I did do this with an older computer I had. I purchased the same item from a mail order outfit for only about $8. It has 2 USB slots with a wire leading to a small computer type plug to be connected to the mother board. I went to my mother board site listed on the web and found a diagram of the board with the correct USB connecter location shown on the board. Your manual will have this if you still have it.

Just plug it in, follow any install instructions, and it will work just fine.

Ranger Bob
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Offline bloom25

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2000, 03:30:00 PM »
On the other thread you say you have win95C.  Windows 95 C has USB support and is almost just like Win98, but faster and more stable IMO.  Look under device manager to see if you have the USB device listed down near the bottom.  If you don't you may be able to load the USB supplement patch to add USB support without wasting your money on an OS "upgrade."



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Offline Han Solo

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2000, 04:46:00 PM »
Win 95 B also can have USB support, but again you have to install it from your Win 95 CD
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Offline Maverick

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2000, 07:28:00 PM »
 
Quote
Originally posted by bloom25:
On the other thread you say you have win95C.  Windows 95 C has USB support and is almost just like Win98, but faster and more stable IMO.  Look under device manager to see if you have the USB device listed down near the bottom.  If you don't you may be able to load the USB supplement patch to add USB support without wasting your money on an OS "upgrade."



Bloom,
Cool! Thanks much for the advice. I'll try checking into the info you gave me and see if the USB thingie will work.

Mav
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Offline Lephturn

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2000, 11:59:00 AM »
There is a patch for W95 USB support.  Poke around on Microsoft's site and you should find it.

Check your BIOS first and be sure that the USB is enabled and that an IRQ is being allocated to it.

That should do the trick.  

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Offline qts

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2000, 01:50:00 PM »
If you want to get USB working properly, go for Windows 98SE. Up until 1996-7 there were actually 2 versions of USB (sorry I don't recall further details), and the 95 s/w often couldn't cope.

Then they standardised it and then W98 came out. USB support in W98SE is very good.

A word of warning: Aces High does not work with USB in Windows 2000.
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Offline DrSoya

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2000, 04:43:00 PM »
I would add that some USB peripherals require Win98SE. USB support in Win95 is not really good.

The Saitek software even specifically requires Win98SE and won't work correctly in plain Win98.


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DrSoya
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Offline bloom25

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USB upgrade question
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2000, 02:22:00 AM »
I would think, Dr. Soya, that downloading W98 Service Pack 1 ought to correct that issue for 1st edition users.  (windowsupdate.microsoft.com)



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