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USB and 1394 Interfaces
USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE 1394 or "Firewire" interfaces allow for quick and easy connection of a wide variety of external devices to your computer. Here you'll find questions and answers relating to the USB and 1394 interfaces as well as the devices that implement and use them.
Can I connect a pcmcia device to my USB port?
Connecting a PCMCIA device to a USB port certainly might be possible given what's available on the market today.
Can I use a USB 1.1 cable with a USB 2.0 device?
USB 1.1 and 2.0 cables aren't all that different, and can often be interchangeable. Here's what to look for.
How do I fix my USB port crashing my machine?
I'll run through options to fix your USB port if your computer crashes on inserting any USB device. It can be software, but it's probably hardware.
How do I force Windows to reinstall a driver?
Sometimes fixing a pesky problem with a hardware device is as simple as forcing Windows to re-install its driver. I'll show you how.
How do I install my new USB device?
Some USB devices simply require you simply plug it in to use them, but reviewing documentation that came with the device before you do is important.
I found a USB thumbdrive, plugged it in and now my system won't work. What happened?
USB Thumbdrives or flash drives are a non-obvious but easy way to spread malware. You should be quite careful when dealing with an unknown device.
Is it safe to just turn off an external USB drive without "safely removing" first?
"Device cannot be stopped" can be a frustrating error if there's no obvious cause. Turning off device power or unplugging anyway isn't really safe.
Is there a way to "Safely Remove Hardware" from a batch file?
Automating the steps required to "safely remove hardware" isn't at all obvious, but it is possible.
What does "the USB device can perform faster" mean?
USB comes in two versions that run at two different speeds. A faster device plugged into a slower interface works, but works more slowly than it could.
What's this 1394 network adapter on my machine?
If your computer has Firewire, you'll see a 1394 network adapter in your configuration. It can be used for networking, but I don't recommend it.
Why do I get "device ... cannot be stopped right now" trying to safely remove my USB drive?
Windows tries to prevent corruption by disallowing removal of USB devices that are "in use". Unfortunately it's not always obvious what "in use" means.
Will my Windows XP computer work with a USB keyboard?
Windows XP supports USB keyboards, but before it boots there's a period where your USB keyboard may, or may not, work.
Will write-protecting my USB device keep me safe at public computers?
Write protected USB and other devices will prevent certain types of malicious behaviour, but they will not keep you safe at a public computer.