Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
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.
I think I saw this once but maybe I was dreaming. I got a system message about my USB connection to the effect that I would get faster results if I moved to the faster USB port. On my machine there are two near the top and two more nearer to the bottom. Are they all equal or are some faster than others because of their location?
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You weren't dreaming. 
Windows does occasionally notify you that "The USB device can perform faster if you connect it to a High Speed USB 2.0 port."
When, why, and what to do about it vary depending on your system and the USB device you have in hand.
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USB (Universal Serial Buss) currently has two versions: the older 1.1, 12 megabit per second standard (mbs), and the newer 2.0 capable of 480mbs, or 40 times faster than 1.1. Both USB devices, and the interfaces you might plug them into, are either version 1.1 or 2.0.
One interesting aspect of USB is that it's totally valid to mix and match 1.1 and 2.0. The very common scenario is that a computer will have a USB 2.0 interface, capable of the higher speeds of 2.0, but will still support and work properly with 1.1 devices plugged in.
The reverse is also true, and I think that's the scenario you're seeing. It works like this:
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Your computer has a USB 1.1 interface. That means it's limited to the slower 12mbs speed.
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You purchase a newer USB 2.0 device and plug it in. It works, which is nice, but even though the device is capable of 480mbs your computer's USB interface will limit it to the slower 12mbs.
And that's exactly what Windows is telling you: you have a 2.0 device plugged into a 1.1 interface. As a result it'll perform slower than it could. If you were able to plug it into a 2.0 interface then the device would be able to operate at full speed.
The difference between 1.1 and 2.0 is a difference in hardware, so it's not something you can just install new software for. In addition, most machines are manufactured with all 1.1 or all 2.0 interfaces. Typically older machines have 1.1, and newer machines have 2.0. So it's also not just a matter of plugging into a different port on your machine, chances are they're all the same.
If you have a machine with USB 1.1 interfaces the only real alternative, short of upgrading to a newer machine, is to purchase a USB 2.0 add-in card. The USB ports provided by that card will be the higher speed 2.0, while your older USB interfaces on your machine will remain 1.1.
Article C3268 - January 14, 2008
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
Thanks Leo! That error message has plagued me for a couple of years and no one could tell me why. My trusty but old Dell XPS M1330 is USB 2.0, my Belkin 7 port is USB 2.0, my keyboard is USB 2.0 but the stupid Microsoft wheel mouse optical is 1.1!!! Yes, I'm buying you a coffee, you've earned it.
Posted by: Grateful! at December 13, 2010 2:49 PMi have an intel sch famaliy usb2 enhanced controlller on my controller list but still get can perform faster message for my new sierra 250u 4g broadband card. should i uninstall this driver and reinstall. i dont want to uninstall unless i have to as dont want to screw anything up. my computer is a 1 year old sony vpcs115kx.
Posted by: michael at January 25, 2011 9:28 AMActually, when I plug in my portable hard drive, I get the following message: "The USB device can perform faster if you connect it to a High Speed USB 2.0 port."
Below that, it says: "For a list of available ports, cick here".
When I click there, it brings up a long list of ports, same as that displayed in the Device Manager. It says, "USB Root Hub" 7 ports. Below that are listed seven "unused ports". Then there is another entry, "USB Root Hub" 2 ports. Below that are shown one "USB port" and one "USB composite device".
Below that is a "Recommendation" which says: "Disconnect the USB mass storage device from its current port and then connect it to one of the ports on a hub shown in bold type".
The question is, HOW can I do this? Where is this hub on my computer? Of course it shows an image on the screen, but I can't shove the USB connector into my computer screen, can I?
31-Jan-2011
Posted by: Shravan at January 30, 2011 9:05 PM
Hi Leo, thanks for the article.
I have a twist on this problem. I have a slightly aged Maxtor oneTouch usb2 external HD which SOMETIMES connects to a logical hub on an enhanced usb2 controller, but usually connects on a slow one, even though I'm plugging it in to the same physical port on my dell vostro 1700 laptop. It's a hardware problem, but the fact that it sometimes works - as verified by a drive speed test (usb_hd_speed.exe in this case) - encourages me. The bad news is, once I get it working high-speed, it reverts to 4ish mbps when the laptop goes to sleep :(
Posted by: 8riaN at February 8, 2011 6:51 AMI have been experimenting with disabling/uninstalling usb hubs/controllers. I think the most likely thing to work was uninstalling all the hubs/controllers and connecting right after auto-discovery put them back, but the testing is tedious and time consuming when you don't know how any of it really works. In addition, it's starting to look like the enhanced usb2 controller is built on top of the regular one, 'cause I've had zero success with disabling all but the usb2 ones. Is this true?
More importantly, can you think of any repeatable sequence of steps I could use to coax this device onto the right hub every time?
Thanks in advance,
8riaN
i have a problem with showing 16 different usb ports....i only have 7 and those 7 are all usb 2.0 defined by the manufacturer. i cannot use the 2.0 capabilities of these ports. i have tried disabling the ones that they connect to in the device manager. only to have my mouse not work and have to operate with my keyboard for a while. this became a problem when i inadvertently uninstalled one of my usb drivers....now every time i plug in a high speed device it gives my the "it can be faster if you plug it into a high speed port" i have tried every port and 2 different devices. i click on the pop up and it shows i have 7 different unused 2.0 ports. i cannot get those ports to work. these are all internal motherboard usb ports . any ideas? i have also tried to get new drivers which installed fine but did nothing. i have also tried to uninstall all of the usb port hubs and the controller....had to keyboard to a restart and also did not do anything.
Posted by: harold sargeant at January 11, 2012 2:56 PMif you can please help me that would be great!
thanks
H.james