Can I run a USB drive on my old laptop?

Factual Questions
1

I have an old Compaq M2310 laptop that I want to use an external portable 2.5" USB drive with. I’ve narrowed my choices down to a 250gb Western Digital My Paasport or a LaCie 320gb Portable Hard Drive. Both say they are USB 2 and their power is supplied through the USB ports.

I’m not sure, but given its age, I think the Compaq may be USB 1.0. I’ve looked in device manager (I’m not sure what I should be looking for), and under Universal Serial Bus Controllers, it lists Intel 820801DB/DBM. Under Power it shows 500mA per port, and there are two ports. Does that indicate which USB it is?

Can I run either of those drives on the Compaq?

2

I would guess the Presario M2310 will have USB1.0 due to its age but you can test it easily.

Any USB 2.0 device will be backwards compatible with USB 1.0

Transfers will be much slower. You can use it for transferring single files but if you are thinking of doing backups or transfering large amounts of data it will get old very fast.

3

You may be able to buy a PC-Card for your laptop which would give you USB2 (of the OS can support that).

4

Your definitely can get one of those. I did for my old laptop. Try Belkin.

5

Thanks for the suggestion, but the slot is already occupied with a wireless card.

6

Manual for your unit

See page 1-3 Ports are USB 2.0

7

Many thanks. Where else but the SD? I mean - you’ve even told me the page number.

8

Well you can still do this just get a USB wireless device also.