usb 2 for 7 1/2year old amd athlon?

HELP!
Thought I had figured out how to get info. off old computer, 1.2G amd athlon with 256 ram, windows ME os. Got LaCie 500GB HD and Belkin usb 2.0 5 port PCI Card. Card requires Pentium processor! Any USB 2 for my system? I was happy to find the HD that suported ME, now:cry :confused
Lyn

 

IIRC USB 2.0 wasnt supported until windows 98 (or was it 2000?) I'm not sure...but have you tried to install the card?

 

Install the card. If it doesn't plug-n-play with, use the CD that came with it. It should work regardless of your CPU type. I have NEVER seen any type of expansion cards that work only with Pentium processors, and not with Athlons. Remember, most of the hardware is made in a country where English is not the primary language. Consider yourself lucky the box doesn't say "SBU .002 PIC apatdper work wtih Petmnumi pocressocer"....

 

Thanks,
I'm looking at the installation instructions, looks possible to do. It says "This procedure will install two USB 1.1 OHCI host controllers and one USB 2.0 EHCI host controller" I don't know what this means? If it does work will I be able to come off the one USB 2.0 with a connector for more USB 2.0"s? Do I risk screwing the whole computer up?
Lyn

 

You are taking stuff off an old pc and are obviously prepared to delve inside.

Surely your easiest route is to take the old Hard Drive out and connect it as a slave to your shiny new pc?

 

Thanks studiot,
I don't have the shinny new PC. I was hoping to increase proformance by reducing the percantage of HD used ( a little over half of the 60 GB)
I like that idea of swiching the HD over. Motherboard is up the side of the computer, my guess is that below the CD, DVD and Floppy drive the other thing that the wide wire attaches to is the HD, yes it says Maxtor, that sounds right.
I've been lucky so far this one has not died, after it was ashed on, removed, sat in a truck for days during the So. Ca. fires. The poor thing made grinding sounds, that has stoped.
I'm still hearing Windows Vista is not ready for prime time. Is there an area on the board with system suggestions? We have to play "call of duty" and flight simulators. I'm an artist and have thousands of photo references, hope to get a HP printer for printing archieval prints. Appreciate any suggestions!
Lyn

 

Difficult to know what to advise without knowing more.
Do you use this pc for work?
Do you have broadband or dialup?

I would think about the following.

There is nothing wrong with Millenium if it does the job you want.
Older versions of Photoshop don't work with Vista.

7.5 years. treat yourself to a new coin cell battery on the motherboard.

Get the manufacturers hard drive tester (powermax) and check out the drive.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Maxtor_Powermax_d1386.html

Install your USB 2 Card it will work with proper installation. Some cheaper cards have been known to upset systems, I have not heard of this happening with a Belkin - they are one of the better manufacturers. However you will need to use the CD to install it.
If you intend to make this a permanent addition to your system, you might like to think about freeing up some other resource (called interrupt) to give to the Belkin. Perhaps some unused parallel printer ports or serial ports?

Tell us more about your circumstances and requirements for better advice.

 

That's referring to the additional items you'll see in Device Manager once the USB PCI card is installed. It does not mean you will only have one USB 2.0 port. Most likely, all the ports on that card will be USB 2.0, assuming your motherboard and OS allow it to be properly installed.

 

Thanks again,
You too USA, I have adheard to "if it ain't broke fix it till it is" Major geeks have helped several times with this!
I see a dime sized battery looking thing, what happens if it fails?
I work only as an artist, (I take care of 16 retired horses and acerageat least half my time)
www.lynfeudner.com/ or lynfeudner2.blogspot.com to see my work
cox cable internet connection
I don't know if its signifcant, I have the All in Wonder and use this computer for my TV.
I don't have photoshop, I use a Ulead product, Photo impact, for its simplicity and picassa.
I'll do the HD test and check back here.
Lyn

 

Hi plodr,
It includes ME and windows 98se on the box system requirments, I also checked with Belkin on the MHz I was OK there, 32 MB ram OK there as well.
Lyn

 

Studiot,
The maxtor download required a floppy to install! I had to look in a very dusty place to find only my old Amiga floppies!! I was not able to download from "authors site" a texas one worked. I don't even know if this floppy works, I don't recall ever using it. Is this a dead end?
Lyn
Where do you get the motherboard battery?
Thanks for taking the time to try to help!

 

The battery shouldn't be more than $1 - $2. from a local camera shop, supermarket... they are very common. Don't pay watch repair shop prices.
Before you take the old one out make a note which way up it is. When you remove it, you will reset the bios, not really a problem but when you restart you will have to enter setup by pressing del or F2 (watch the screen) at powerup. You will need to reset the time and date. ESC to exit.

You have to run the disk checker from outside Windows, which means you need another system to control the pc. That is why you need a floppy. You can get CD versions to burn but I thought the floppy would be easier for you.

This is a good website for disk tools.

http://www.asci-red.net/tools.htm#hmt

As you work through things don't rush and make one change at a time. The Geeks will always help with step by step instructions.

Yes Windows Me is capable of recognising a 500GB hard drive although its a bit like towing a trailer with a childs trike.