# USB 2.0 Vs 1 – Compatibility

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 28, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508 "2004-04-28T16:46:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508/1 "2004-04-28T16:46:19Z")

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Pretty simple question;  
Will a USB 2.0 device work with a USB 1 port?  
Can a USB 1 device be used by a USB 2.0 port?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508/2 "2004-04-28T17:40:30Z")

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Yes and yes, although you will often get a warning in XP letting you know you’re attaching a 1.1 device to 2.0 port (if that’s what you;re doing) and not all 2.0 speed functionality will be present.

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508/3 "2004-04-28T17:52:21Z")

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Thank you!

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-2-0-vs-1-compatibility/242508/4 "2004-04-28T20:01:15Z")

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> [@astro](#):
>
> Yes and yes, although you will often get a warning in XP letting you know you’re attaching a 1.1 device to 2.0 port (if that’s what you;re doing) and not all 2.0 speed functionality will be present.

I recently bought a USB 2.0 reader. lent it to my step dad. he plugged it into his laptop with my 512MB CF card attached. Nothing

Then he plugged it in with one of the 128MB Smartmedia cards, he got the message you describe.

So I guess the CF card is not fast enough for windows to bother with the message ☹ . Holy sh\*t, I just noticed the smileys are back :eek:

🙂