New USB Port, or New Laptop?

[adamthole]

My soon-to-be-step-mother-in-law has a cheaper, older notebook. It has one USB port, but I don't think that it works. She keeps trying to hook her digital camera to it and download pictures but it isn't working. I think it is a hardware problem. When I goto the hardware profiler (something like that) it has all the things listed (Floppy, SCSI, etc.) but USB is not listed. My guess is it is not recognizing it.

Anyway, my question is can she get a replacement USB port somehow? Or does she need a new labtop? KNow of any cheaper, decent labtops? Thanks.

[Ripper2860]

This really belongs in the Computer forum ...



Need more specifics though -- make/model of Laptop, OS and version, etc.

[snafu099]

There may be a setting in bios to enable usb

May need specific usb driver for that laptop

Operating system needs to be win98se or above, I think

Once the laptop is properly reconizing the usb port then there are proper settings and/or drivers needed depending on camera

Typical camer settins:
camera mode = twain device in pc, accessed via software similar to useing a scanner

data mode = camera shows as removeable storage device, acts & looks like a hard drive

There are many variables depending on each componate

Can be time consuming but in general most major companies maintain information and downloadable files even for older products. Often there is a pdf file with step by step insruction of how to's

[adamthole]

The laptop currently is running XP (very slowly), and when the camera is plugged into the USB port, the camera recognizes that it has been plugged in, but the computer does nothing. All the software/drivers/etc. is on the computer. She aslo has a printer that she cannot get to work with the computer (or anything in the USB port, for that matter).

How would I go about enabling the USB port in BIOS?

[redwudz]

You didn't mention if the laptop has a PCMCIA card slot. If so, you can pick up a USB 2.0 card for a reasonable price. With XP, I believe you need at least the SP1 upgrade for it to work properly.

Of course if the laptop is really slow, a newer one might be the best choice. If you really need it and can afford it.

I would try the card route first, though, if the rest of the computer is up to your needs.

[adamthole]

How hard is it to tell if she has a PCMIA slot?