Hi-Speed USB

[PhilD]

When I plug my Memory Stick into a USB port on my pc I get the message that it is a "Hi-Speed USB device in a non Hi-Speed USB port. Do I need to fit a new USB card or is there a way of telling in the Device Manager which ports are Hi-Speed?

[vicars]

You don't need to do anything. It is just saying you will not get the best speed out of the device (not very noticeable to be honest). If you change your USB card in your computer it will not give this message anymore so long as you upgrade to USB2. I am not sure though if there is a way to suppress this message as it is annoying.

[kempie]

If you wish to turn off USB error messages read here.

[dodgyshirt]

USB 2.0 is 48 times faster than USB 1.1 which is very noticeable when transferring large files to your Memory Stick.

Your motherboard must be fitted with USB 2.0 in the first place and will show up in Device Manager as Standard Enhanced USB controller.Updating the drivers will not magically transform your motherboard to USB 2.0 unless fitted.

Finally USB 2.0 will only work on a PC running XP with at least SP1 applied.

Birdie's advice will only apply if all these criteria are met which would also mean that the PC had not been set up properly in the first place.

[PhilD]

Thanks for all your help. I do have USB 2.0 and XP. My daugher's i-pod gives the same message but works OK so I'll try again with the memory stick.

[lebesset]

if you have a laptop which has only usb1.1 installed , you can get faster by installing a pcmcia usb2 card

HOWEVER , this sure ain't 48 times faster ; question is , anyone know how much faster it might be?

[dodgyshirt]

The 48 times quoted is a theoretical figure which I doubt could ever be achieved except under laboratory conditions which is why Firewire which only claims to be 40 times the speed of USB 1.1 is consistently faster than USB2.0 because this speed is a constant.

HOWEVER USB 2.0 is still much faster than 1.1 for file transfers.

Phil your PC may indeed have USB 2.0 but not necessarily on all of its ports.Try the Memory Stick in all of them to check which is 2.0 standard and make sure in Device Manager that the Enhanced Controller is listed. If it isn't you may have to install the drivers from your motherboard installation disk.

[PhilD]

Thanks dodgyshirt. I tried the memory stick in one of the rear usb ports and it worked ok. I then tried it in one of the front ports and it would not recognise it. I went into device manager and downloaded the drivers from the memory stick cd which then worked ok. However in device manager I get the message that the enhanced host controller cannot start. I have tried updating this several times but it still will not work.

[dodgyshirt]

Is the PC a commercially available one, i.e. .Dell, H.P. etc or is it a custom built one. If its the latter, the front USB ports may not even be connected as these are remote from the motherboard and the connectors do not match the motherboard headers sometimes, causing the builder to disregard them.

If you right-click the enhanced USB controller in Device manager and select properties, what does the device status say. If not working properly use the troubleshooter.

Remember, you must have at least Service Pack 1 installed for USB 2.0 to work.