Hi Andy, Best way is to find out the make and model of the drive, and we'll look up the technical specs for it. Take a look at FAQ 8 at http://www.everythingusb.com/usb2/faq.htm which explains that, "You may have heard that USB 2.0 is "backward-compatible" with USB 1.0/1.1 (Full-Speed USB). While that's true, USB 1.1 is also forward-compatible with USB 2.0." I suspect that he may perhaps need to go into Control Panel, Administration, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management, and partition and format the drive. The other thing to check is the XP Service release installed. Right click on My Computer and select Properties. It should tell you in that dialog. He should ideally be on at least XP SP3 which should provide more up to date USB drivers. George. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ANDY COLLINS Sent: 26 July 2010 23:50 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: USB connectivity Hi George - have to say, this is what I thought to be the case. I'm trying to help a friend, who is running an oldish XP machine, probably with 1.1 USB ports, but not sure yet, cos don't know where to look in control panel for confirmation? He's bought an external HD, plugged it in, but it won't play. Firstly he got an error warning saying that the software was untested and to continue with the installation might cause damage; assuming this was the usual Microsoft scare mongering, he continued anyway, but apparently, the drive isn't showing up in My Computer. Any observations? Thanks - Andy ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 11:39 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: USB connectivity >I hate to disagree, Chris, but you can usually connect USB 2 devices > to a type 1 port, but will only get USB 1 speed. > > George. > > -----Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > Behalf Of chris hallsworth > Sent: 26 July 2010 23:04 > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: USB connectivity > > No. However a USB 1.1 device will work on a USB 2.0 port. They are > backwards compatible. But not the other way round. > > > Signed by Chris Hallsworth > E-mail and Facebook: christopherh40@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > MSN: ch9675@xxxxxxxxxxx > Skype: chrishallsworth7266 > Twitter: http://twitter.com/christopherh40 > > On 26/07/2010 22:58, ANDY COLLINS wrote: >> Hi all - >> >> Will a high-speed 2.1 USB external hard drive run on an XP computer > whose ports are the old 1.1 speed? - >> >> Andy > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq