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Hi :D
Extra USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports are always handy on a Desk top PC, you can buy a USB2 HUB but this will use an existing USB port so in fact a 4 port hub you only gain 3, a better alternative is to install a internal USB2 PCI Card (USB 2.0 with a maximum speed of 480Mb/s), see Fig 1Click to zoom Fig 1
Fitting a USB Card
First shut off all power and hit the start to drain any left power to the LEDs/Fans then take of the side panel put on your static cuff, at the back of your PC you will see metal strips with one screw holding them in (this is inside back panel) take out the screw with a suitable screwdriver and the small strip will lift out (note some plates need to be moved back and forth to break the thin tag along one edge), now you have a hole at the back 10cm X 1-1/2cm about 4inch X ½ inch this is were the USB ports will show at the back of the PC, the metal plate (the same size as the one you just took out) on the USB Card as you can see fits the same way as the one you have taken out, the copper connectors along one edge of the Card go into the slot adjacent to the hole at the back of your PC, you will also notice on the metal plate a screw hole the same as the one on the plate you took out so just line up the card with the PCI slot and the plate hole and gently push in then fit the screw with a suitable screwdriver , put the side panel back on and boot up the PC,
Windows XP will make its own drivers for the USB card and Windows XP will tell you when you can use your new USB ports (about 10 – 40 seconds) Note PCI slots (the white ones 3 at the bottom of the Motherboard) Fig 2Click to zoom Fig 2 (Red arrows = PCI Slots)
Fizz :D
Nice one Fizz, if I may add just an additional comment…
Before installing a USB card check the wattage of your PSU (power supply unit) and discuss with the supplier of the USB card your intentions, PC’s these days are getting more reliant on USB’s (silver/black flat connector instead of PS2 connectors DELL pc’s are re-known for this :wink:) PS2’s are the little green and lilac female plugs at the back for keyboards and mice, if you have a printer/cam/a.n.other device attached ( that’ll bring some comments I bet :roll:) via a USB you are getting close to sucking all the power from the USB BUS (BUS is the circuit that the USB’s use) eventually you’ll plug in something like a USB stick or even try printing something and your PC will lock up (to prove this, and if it already happens to you turn off the PC, unplug the USB’s (but NOT the mouse & keyboard!) turn on the PC and plug them back in one at a time untill the system lock occurs) USB’s have been fully ‘hot swappable’ since W2000 so no need to turn off the PC when plugging them all back in.
So, check your PSU wattage and system capabilities, also ( and I had to Google this) most machines prior to 1996 do not support USB!Have fun
Druid :D
most machines prior to 1996 do not support USB!
Thank you i did not know that, Fizz :D
@fizz wrote:
Druid :D
most machines prior to 1996 do not support USB!
Thank you i did not know that, Fizz :D
Mentioned that for the benefit of the boards as there are still quite a few old work horses out there going as strong as the day they were built and may of been upgraded to 98 etc, if you need to re-boot an older machine for example to DOS, using ACTIVE or similair from a USB is useless, you’ll need to get your good old floppy out :o.
If I get my floppy out …. Mrs PB complains !!!
I followed your instructions, but fear I may have misunderstood!
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