USB 1 or 2?

How can I tell if my external hard drive is running at USB 1.1 or 2.0? I have it plugged into my USB 2.0 ports but it doesn't look like it's running at that speed. It's running extremely slow. It takes about an hour just to transfer 1gb.

 

When making a quick count that should be USB1.1 using 11Mbit/s (around 1300kb/s). You should be able to check if you at least have USB2.0 installed on any of the ports in the device manager under USB at the very bottom of the list. It should say USB2.0 somewhere there, if it does not chances are it's not installed. For WinXP you'll need SP1 and USB2.0 drivers (usually comes with the mobo cd) if the ports are compatible. Any USB port that hasn't got USB2.0 drivers and SP1 will revert to USB1.1

 

I looked on the CD that came with my motherboard and there is a folder labeled 'USB20' that contains 1 .inf file and 3 .sys files. There is no setup execute file or anything so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with them.

I've attached a screenshot of my Device Manger under USB. Hopefully this can help.

 

It doesn't seem like the USB2.0 are installed. Try starting up the cd (either autostart or open it and run the executable) there you might get a menu for installing, among other things, USB2.0. Try that. Make sure you have the SP1 if you're running XP.

 

his usb is at 2.0
whenever anything says "enhanced" under controllers, its 2.0

 

I disagree, enhanced means USB1.1, as in instead of USB1.0.

I might be wrong though so I'll lay low.
But it would explain why his drive is slow.

 

I tried changing the USB settings in my BIOS from 'All USB Ports' to just USB2 but then nothing that was plugged into my USB ports worked.

I attached an image from the hard drives manual about USB2.0.

 

Well at least now I'd say that shows you don't have USB2.0 active, zulu u disagree?

Have you got the drivers and sp1 installed?

Eeh what the hell... I don't know. If the 'enhanced' thing is true then I have USB2.0 installed as well even though my board doesn't support it.

 

Yeah the drivers were installed when I first loaded up WinXP SP1.

 

in that case - yes you do have usb2.0 installed. if you still feel the communication's too slow I'd check the drive first off and see if it really supports usb2.0
if it does then there's some setting/s somewhere that's screwed. beats me.

 

Here is a screenshot from SiSoft Sandra. It says that the USB version is 2.0 and that the speed is at full. I don't get it though since it's not acting that way. Does anyone see anything odd in this screenshot? Any comments?

 

Okay I just noticed it says that USB Speed is at "Full (12mbps)" but isn't USB2 supposed to be 480mbps?

 

That is correct. Are you sure your ports (hardware) on your computer are USB2.0 compatible? Look it up.

 

Yep. It's a bracket thats connected to my mainboard that was designed especially for USB 2.0. It has the 2.0 logo on the bracket itself.

Here is the description of it from my mainboard:

USB 2.0 HC On Board
Support 4 USB 2.0 ports via external bracket.

 

well then I'm fresh out of ideas if you find the solution it'd be nice if you'd post it here so I know if ever there's a next time