Hoster with USB hubs

[bryant]

I have been importing 5,220 files and am one half way complete. My laptop only has two USB 2.0 ports in the back. One is hooked up to a 250 gB hard drive, and the other hooked up to a brand new Plextor 716 UF that works great during the imports. However, I would like to add a mouse for doing the shows? Is it advisable (seems like I've seen somewhere it is not) to use a USB hub for all this equipment. Will it affect the function of either the hard drive or the Plextor writer? Will Hoster be affected in some way or any way? If not, what should I be cautioned about, or what chances am I taking while doing this? Exactly what type of hubs should I use and what would be the most advisable way to hook it all up? Can Beavis, INCmains, gduns, etc. advise me well on this like you have in the past? Thank you.
Bryant in Maine.

[George]

Sounds like you may currently have a USB version 1.1 PCI card and might want to consider upgrading to a version 2.0 card.

It is not only considerably faster but has five ports for installing perifials.

I haven't regretted the move.

George

[Beavis]

i wouldnt hesitate to hook up a usb 2.0 hub.

just make sure when you start the laptop up that the drive letter stays the same on the external hard drive.

get yourself a wireless mouse.

[nreel]

My laptop only has two USB 2.0 ports

From the above, you are using a LAPTOP. A Laptop can't use a PCI card.

From the above, you already have 2.0 Compliant USB Ports.

Now, doesn't your Laptop have a PS2 Port? If it does, why don't you connect an External Mouse to it?

And, if you insist on using a USB Mouse, why not buy a USB 2.0 PCMCIA Card and plug it into a CARD SLOT?
Let's get real!
You can buy a 4 Port USB 2.0 PCMCIA Adapter Card at CompUSA for $44.99
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...6540&pfp=srch1

And, if you insist on using a USB HUB, I would buy an EXTERNALLY POWERED USB HUB, if I was going to Hook several peripherals to it.

[George]

Thanks Norm, for recovering the fumble.

George

[Beavis]

brutal but honest

good job norm !

[bryant]

Thanx nReel, didn't know I could install a 4 port card in place of the existing. Is it a big job to replace or set up or anything?

i.e., just take out old and slip in new perhaps?

[lmcmains]

Originally Posted by bryant

Thanx nReel, didn't know I could install a 4 port card in place of the existing. Is it a big job to replace or set up or anything?

i.e., just take out old and slip in new perhaps?

It just plugs into the PCMCIA slot on the side of your laptop.

[MTUSUPPORT]

The PCMCIA is the slot on the side of the computer, normally about 2 inches that allows you to add certain types of periphials such as USB or Firewire, wireless networking, sound and so on.

This is the only type of expansion slot you have on a Laptop. You will still beable to use the other 2 usb ports that are currently built into the laptop.

I use multiple hubs with mine, and it works fine. Make sure as norm stated you use powered hubs for items that require more power than normal.

[admin]

Originally Posted by Beavis

just make sure when you start the laptop up that the drive letter stays the same on the external hard drive.

Follow this advice. The order you plug USB devices in determines what Drive letter the are assigned to.

If your hard drive is assigned wrong, your Songs Database will not find the KMA files on the DIFFERENT drive letter. It's a whole lot easier to unplug and replug things in a different order than do a Tools menu Build Songs Database (after adding the new drive letter in or course).

If your CD/DVD drive is assigned wrong, just click the Tools menu CD/DVD Default Drives... command and select it again with the new drive letter.

Again, its a whole lot easier to plug things into the USB ports in the IDENTICAL ORDER each and every time. Write the order down, then never change it again. Of course, if you don't unplug things the order should stay the same... only happens when you move and unplug drives.

[bryant]

Thats really weird, because it seems that with the two ports I have now, no matter what the order I plug the writer or drive in, the HD ALWAYS shows up as drive F: . Am I just lucky or is there a reason for that?