How can I find out whether my PC has USB 1.1 or 2.1 ports?

Question

I want to buy a USB camcorder to transfer video onto my PC, because my PC has no Firewire ports.

Ineed to find out whether my PC has USB 1.1 or 2.1 ports, because I've read that 1.1 ports are useless to transfer video (I mean real video, not image stills), but USB 2.1 may work out fine. I need to be able to transfer from camcorder to PC to further upload to Youtube, but I want to avoid having to spend money buying a new PC which includes Firewire ports.

BTW, I checked my PC's BIOS (system setup screen) and there's no info about what version my USB ports are. Same with control panel/system/device manager/Universal Serial Bus Controllers/properties. No info in there either. I use Windows 2000 professional.

And of course, I couldn't tell, by looking at either my PC's USB ports or the USB cables I use for my cable modem and my laser printer, which kind of USB interface my PC has, because I'm not very computer-savvy, hardware-wise.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

there is no usb 2.1 port only usb 2.0 and you can check by bringing in any hi tech device like a digicam or latest mobile and connect it to pc and observe how its working if datatransfer is slow then it is usb 1.1 if its fast then its usb 2.0 some devices will not work because they are exclusively for usb 2.0 if you purchased your pc in last 2 years you have usb 2.0 i can confidently say that

Answer 2

If you plug a USB 2.0 device into a pc that has 1.1,
a small applet will appear near the clock to inform you that you have plugged a 2.0 into a 1.1 connection.
Since you have not mentioned this alert, and you already have a lazer printer connected via USB,
I suppose that your PC already has USB 2.0.

Now, about the firewire; You don't have to buy a new PC to get firewire. You can buy a PCI firewire expansion card to have firewire on your PC.
They cost less than $20.
Below is the internet address to a place to see one.
Just type in firewire cards in the search box at the top of the page.

I hope this helps

Answer 3

In RUN, type: devmgmt.msc
then click Enter
This will open Device Manager
Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers
click the + sign to open it
Now look at each line listed for the word "Enhanced"
If you do see Enhanced then it means that you do have the faster USB 2.0.
If you do NOT see Enhanced at all on any of the lines, then it means you have the older and slower USB 1.1.
If you do not have USB 2.0, you can add a PCI USB 2.0 card if you have an empty PCI slot on your motherboard, they are cheap, around $14, see here:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=50311757

Answer 4

If you plug a USB 2 device in a USB 1 socket it will say it can run faster if you plug it into a USB 2 socket. Either way it will run but the speed is going to run at the socket speed.

If your using Win 2000 I doubt you have USB 2 anyway

No need to buy a new PC as a firewire card is cheap to buy
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/78455

You can also get PCI USB 2 cards to add USB 2 to your PC at about the same price

Answer 5

USB 1.0 probably would work, but is much, much slower. You'd be waiting ages for your files to transfer, having said that, they would transfer just fine.

To find out if you've got USB 2.0; Head to:

Control Panel > System > Hardware (tab) > Device Manager (button).
Expand the USB Controllers heading & you're looking for a USB port with the word "Enhanced".
If so, you've got one!

Which one it is, is another matter. Try them all until you find it!

Answer 6

Go into your device manager and click on your usb. It will show "enhanced" "high speed" or something along that line.
If your bios doesn't show anything about high speed USB you probably dont have it. A lot of times when you plug a USB2 device into a USB1 port there will be a pop-up telling you your device is capable of running faster.
USB 2 solutions are cheap---heres some of you need one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000073&Description=usb+2+cards&name=Add-On+Cards

Answer 7

www.gtopala.com and download and use SIW and if you go to the ports or usb section there it will inform you if you have usb 1.1 or 2.0

if you need more help drop me an email and I will do it myself and walk you through step by step how to do it.