I bought a flash drive for my mother for Christmas. I just realized that one of the computers she uses, which is really old, doesn't have any USB slots. Is all hope lost for using the flash drive on this computer or is there some sort of device I can buy? The only slots I see are comm ports. Maybe a comm port to USB adapter? Would that even work? Does it exist? Any help is appreciated! Thanks.
2006-12-04 03:17:02 · 16 answers · asked by acgref 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
I should also add that I do believe that the computer runs a really old operating system. We got the computer in 1994 so it's probably whatever came before Windows 95! I can't remember exactly.
2006-12-04 03:29:24 · update #1
depends a lot on the software that's running as well though. older versions of windows (NT and earlier) do not have the ability to handle USB even if you have a port.
i'd have to say good luck with the adapter, it's out there but companies sell what people will buy, and probably there just aren't enough people out there who would be running a computer old enough not to have a USB port yet new enough to have the right software. There's no guarantee that the adapter will work correctly either (again software and some hardware issues)
You could to what the others suggest and purchase a USB card. Probably easier to find and very easy to install typically (again the software issue)
Otherwise, for data transfer with those older models, you probably could just use a CD burner. Also, if you know what you're doing, you could just transfer the hard drive to a newer computer as a slave or hook the two computers up together (networking) so that you can use the older one still and back up/ transfer data on the newer one.
2006-12-04 03:23:49 · answer #1 · answered by Gina S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can buy and install a usb onto your computer with little heart ache. They also have some adapters to run it into a serial port but depending on the age and the software of the computer it even being worth the trouble. I would get the install card with a usb port. You take off the top and put it into one of the empty ports in the back. Easy as pie. It should come with installation instructions and installation disk. If your running windows 95 or latter i would not bother trying to install a usb port.
2006-12-04 03:22:41 · answer #2 · answered by DR.PHIL-A-LIKE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, depending on the operating system (I think she'll need Windows 95 or newer) - you can purchase a PCI USB card and install it into one of the PCI slots on the system board. Install the drivers for the card first, then the computer should recognize the USB ports when it boots after the install.
Once this is done, your mother's ancient computer will have USB capability.
Good luck!
2006-12-04 03:20:21 · answer #3 · answered by gatesfam@swbell.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like an old system. Get a USB PCI card and install it in the computer, some of them cost as little as $12. However, the card would put the port to the back, so you might want to get a USB Male to USB female cable so that she does not have to reach behind.
2006-12-04 03:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by Dragonlord Warlock 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will give you another alternative... if you have brothers and sisters, you can all put some money together and buy a new computer for your mother... and the best thing is you don't have to buy the whole system, you can only buy the CPU and use the same monitor, keyboard and mouse... there are some new computers that are very cheap in the market. And by the way... they all come with USB ports...
2006-12-04 03:27:43 · answer #5 · answered by jaarceg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get an addin card for windows 98 and up, but if the computer is older then that i believe you will have to upgrade before you can get one installed. Another thing is if your using any operating system older then win 2000 you will need drivers for the usb flash drive...i would suggest getting a whole new system. because most likly your going to spend more money on this project then that computer maybe worth.
2006-12-04 03:21:25 · answer #6 · answered by peter s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK if the OS is not WIN98 Second Ed. you will not have any USB support! Minimally if you are running that, all you need to do is to add a USB pci card to the computer. If not ... advise ... get a new computer! They can be gotten w/ basic config rather cheaply. Especially used. Many people will dump a 4 yo puter cheap.
2006-12-04 03:36:30 · answer #7 · answered by wolfeex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can buy a PCI card for only $5.99 that gives you 4 external and 1 Internal USB ports Version 2.0 btw at the link below.......
2006-12-04 03:19:39 · answer #8 · answered by mrresearchman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm pretty sure COM to USB adapters exist. I think they're slower than a straight to USB port, but they still work. You can get them with COM to 4 USB ports, too.
2006-12-04 03:19:51 · answer #9 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can buy a USB card you just pop into an open PCI slot and install the drivers, and viola! all set or PS2 to USB, MAY work, no gaurantees (it does work for my mouse)
2006-12-04 03:18:54 · answer #10 · answered by watchher01 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋