1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Using USB 2 Flash Drive with USB 1 port and Windows 98SE

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by balticex, 2008/05/03.

  1. 2008/05/03
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    My daughter bought - in a rash moment some years ago - a Sony Vaio palm top PC PCG C1XD. It's really defunct now since it runs Windows 98SE but I thought I'd give it a go as a method of downloading images from a digital camera when traveling. It has a single USB 1 port so I tried to load the camera connection software by copying from a CD to a flash drive, which is of course USB 2.0. But I can't persuade the laptop to recognise the USB 2.0 flash drive.
    Is there any way around this please?
     
    balticex,
    #1
  2. 2008/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    The fact that it is USB 2 is not the problem I feel - a USB 2 device will run at USB 1 transfer speed when plugged into a USB 1 port.

    As the OS is Win 98 you need to load drivers for the flash drive which should be available on the manufacturer's web site. XP does not require additional drivers.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2008/05/03
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you PeteC.

    That's exactly what it is I'm sure - now you've told me!:)

    But now I'm feeling a bit dim since having downloaded the files from Buffalo I have .inf, .sys, .pdr files and I don't quite know what to do next. Sorry to trouble you again.
     
    balticex,
    #3
  5. 2008/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Right click on the .inf file > Install should do the trick.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2008/05/04
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    It looks as though I may not have got the correct drivers from the Buffalo website. I've emailed them to see if they can help so will report further.

    Meantime, many thanks.
     
    balticex,
    #5
  7. 2008/05/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    I guess you downloaded the driver from here .....

    http://www.buffalotech.com/support/downloads/

    Unzip the file to a folder on the hard drive

    Then Control Panel > Add Hardware Wizard > run through the Wizard and when asked for driver location point to the unzipped folder.
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2008/05/05
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for the further advice. Yes, that was the site but the specific flash drive wasn't mentioned but Buffalo came back today with a link which led to a direct download without any intervention from me. Clever. But they were the same drivers which I had loaded.

    Sadly, after going through all that and following your instructions and seeing that the drivers are indeed there in Device Manager, the Sony fails to recognise the Flash Drive. I wonder if this is because it's 4GB and somehow too big for the poor little palm top?

    I fancy it's JGU (just give up!) and offer it on ebay!:)
     
    balticex,
    #7
  9. 2008/05/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    I somehow doubt it - although the file size limit for the FAT32 file system, which Windows 98 uses - could even be FAT on that palm top - is 4Gb we are talking drives, not files.

    Before you give up check the file system on both the Vaio and the USB stick - will need to use another computer for this. In both cases right click on the drive in Windows Explorer > Properties.

    If you have a smaller USB flash drive - I swear that they breed on my desk :) - see if the Vaio sees it.

    Post your findings.
     
    PeteC,
    #8
  10. 2008/05/05
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Well, both the Sony notebook PC and the flash drive are Fat32. I have a smaller drive of 128 Mb which seems to be Fat (no 32) but the Sony doesn't recognise that either but perhaps it needs different drivers. In neither case do I hear the usual 'ping' when a flash drive is put into or pulled out of the USB slot. All very strange given that the notebook tells me that the drivers are there but it's not working because the flash drive is not inserted or for some other reason.
     
    balticex,
    #9
  11. 2008/05/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    The only other possible solution I have is to go into Device Manager and uninstall/remove the USB controllers and root hubs and reboot to allow Windows to detect and reload them.

    BTW have you tried any other USB device in the port and does it function?
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2008/05/05
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    This curious little notebook comes with a floppy drive connected by USB. I've just tested it and it functions fine when plugged into the single USB socket. So it looks as there isn't a physical fault.

    I've removed all the USB controllers and rebooted. The Notebook found all the drivers and then the flash drive as new hardware. There are 5 .inf files from Buffalo so I tried each one in turn and it seemed to reloaded the drivers. But the wretched notebook still doesn't recognise either the large or the small flash drive.

    Hey Ho!:confused:
     
    balticex,
    #11
  13. 2008/05/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Try another approach - boot with the USB drive plugged in and see if it is recognised.
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2008/05/06
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Sadly, no joy.

    Thanks for trying but don't give it any more thought please.

    I'll see if Sony have any bright ideas.
     
    balticex,
    #13
  15. 2008/05/06
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Detest unresolved problems :) - if you do find a solution please post back.
     
    PeteC,
    #14
  16. 2008/05/06
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Will do PeteC.

    Thanks for your patience as ever.

    JB
     
    balticex,
    #15
  17. 2008/05/09
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

    Joined:
    2006/11/12
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    5
    I am assuming the laptop is running win 98 se
    You will need the driver
    Some brands of the usb flash drives do have them , some don't and some will not readily admit that they are available
    First of all check to make sure that you windows 98 se
    If its the original version ( not marked se) you will be totally out of luck and will have to update
    Check the website of the driver manufacturer in their downloads area
    If not try the same line but older ( smaller ) drives
    Its usually just the case of the same product with more flash memory as its become cheaper
    If not - try other lines of flash drives from that company
    If not try www.driverguide.com or google the request
    Its all a matter of finding the driver
    Anything above windows 98 se works automatically , windows 98 se needs the driver
     
    visionof,
    #16
  18. 2008/05/10
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for that. Yes, I confirm it's 98SE. I was able to get the drivers from Buffalo with ease and installed them. However the flash drive is still not recognised. In Device Manager it seems to imply that the drivers are there but that the flash drive is not present, or the drivers are incorrect. There were four .inf files with the drivers' folder so I tried them all, still to no avail.

    I've tried to get help from Sony but for 'esupport' you have to register your product. Unfortunately the website refused to register this little beast. I'm promised Sony will get back to me - but not so far.
     
    balticex,
    #17
  19. 2008/05/10
    Triger

    Triger Inactive

    Joined:
    2004/04/21
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hoping...

    Following this one with great interest....have an old machine here that has the same the problem with Win98se.....got one of those USB flash drives that Microsoft was giving away awhile back (USB 2.0)....worked and worked till I got it far enough to give me a directory ...but any attempt to access files just hangs the system.....out of sheer frustration, grabbed a spare hard drive, put Windows ME on it...bingo...everything works.....would LOVE to get a solution....98se works like a dream on this thing otherwise...


    Cheers
    Jake
     
    Triger,
    #18
  20. 2008/05/21
    balticex

    balticex Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2007/07/20
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    After several exchanges with Buffalo and Sony it now seems that the flash drives work only with USB 1.1 and above. But the Sony notebook seems to be USB 1.0. So that resolves that since I don't imagine flash drives exist any more for USB 1.0.:(
     
    balticex,
    #19

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...