# Change from USB 1.1 to 2.0?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-from-usb-1-1-to-2-0/190921>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 25, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-from-usb-1-1-to-2-0/190921 "2003-07-25T17:12:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-from-usb-1-1-to-2-0/190921/21 "2003-07-26T18:46:31Z")

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USB 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 are revisions of a specification-- nothing more than a document that describes signalling, shielding, mechanical connections, and all the other specifications that make it work.

USB 1.0 was the original specification, released in 1995, supporting “low speed” (1.5 Mbps) and “full speed” (12 Mbps) connections.

USB 1.1 was a revision, essentially a “bug-fix” that worked all the kinks out of 1.0. This was released in 1998.

USB 2.0 added a specification for “hi-speed” (480 Mbps) connections in 2000. It also retained the revisions to low- and full- speed introduced in version 1.1.

Nothing was retroactively redefined. USB 2.0 has _always_ contained specifications for all three signalling modes. In fact, the USB Forum has actively [differentiated between high-speed and lower speed devices, and disallows using “USB 1.1” or “USB 2.0” to market devices](http://www.usb.org/developers/packaging) :

> [@](#):
>
> Products that operate at only low or full-speed can qualify to use only the Basic Version of the logo (i.e. without the special Hi-Speed identifier). The old USB logo is obsolete and should not be used. The USB-IF recommends vendors simply use “USB” as has always been done, on packaging and in marketing materials for low or full-speed USB products. Avoid using terminology such as USB 2.0 Full Speed, Full Speed USB or USB 2.0 which can be confusing for consumers whose expectation is that a USB 2.0 product is by definition high-speed.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-from-usb-1-1-to-2-0/190921/22 "2003-07-26T21:26:14Z")

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I put a ubs 2.0 card in one computer, but the bios wouldn’t accept it. Via bioses are like that. Nuts.

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