Simple usb port question...
 

Can USB port connections be unplugged and used for other devices on a regular basis or once used are they then dedicated to that device or is that only if software is installed for that specific product that specifies a location[specific port] for the device in question?

eh?

Can i use usb ports on my computer thingy for different devices on a regular basis unplugging one and plugging in something different when i need to or will this confuse the computers brain thinking thing bit :D

Anything in any port. The only issue is over version 2.0 devices and ports against version 1.1. Apart from that, plug what you want wherever.


M

Yes you can...USB was designed around plug and play.

Just make sure you "remove" device by clicking on the icon on the bottom right of teh screen and select "safetly remove this device" before unplugging (no need to bother if PC is turned off)

Not doing so will give you a "naughty boy" warning on certain devices. And can corrupt USB Flash drives or USB hard drives etc.

Cheers :D

you can get device manager to show all non-present devices, like all the usb devices youve plugged/unplugged which is quite handy

You confused my brain, never mind your computers. As the others have said, any device in any port. its only the old slow USB ports that you worry about.

Stefan

edit the registry line DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES = 1

this will show you all the devices youve had. Its handy if youve had weird confict problems with pcmia network cards on laptops & usb stuff, thats why you get the #1, #2's etc after the device name

OK,

Sort of related, on my laptop I have to use the same USB port for my memory stick.

Must be a bit of an issue with XP, but basically I've a mapped drive (Drive E)
and the memory stick appears to conflict with this, so I've have to change the drive letter associated with the memory stick, and therfore always have to use the same usb port for it.

Shaun

Like anything to do with IT there's always the occasional oddball situation, but generally you could happily mix 'n match ports and devices.

Windows... :Whatever_


M