Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 10

I don't currently have a USB port on my pre: win 98 computer. I've been told that I can use USB devices if I get a port... but somone told me that its not compatible with Win NT 4... is this true? if so... what are my options?

thank you,

Andrew

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 15

Andrewlpc,
You're correct. NT4 does not and never will support USB, even on new hardware. MS has this as stated fact that they plan no updates to support it. Your only options if you're not using Win98 is a serial cradle which costs $20 from Handspring (I believe). W2K should support USB, at least the betas are reported to support it but we'll have to get the gold version to be sure!

There have been discussions on this board regarding hacking together a combined USB/Serial cradle but it requires some electrical knowledge and soldering skills. Not for the faint of heart! Here's the link:
http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...TML/000090.html

Mark

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 4

I can't verify this claim, but here's some info to refute all that's been said on NT never, ever, being able to work with USB. Just remember, it's all a matter of mere programming. Don't let the idiots at Microsoft tell you that you HAVE to upgrade to WIN$2000 to use USB and have NT reliability. I've said my peace. Here's the info:There are companies who make USB adapters and drivers for Win NT 4.0. Inside Out Netowrks makes one they call the "Edgeport." Drivers for it are available for download from their website: www.ionetworks.com/support/epdrivers.html. I tried installing the driver in my Compaq Presario 1690 running NT 4.0 and they installed without any problem. "Devices" in Control Panel shows the USB device to be installed and the service is started. I haven't been able to test it yet, however, because the USB camera I have detects NT and won't install its software. I also uninstalled the driver without any problems and it did not appear to cause any problems in NT or leave anything behind after uninstalling it. You might check this driver out. I'll test if I can come up with another USB peripheral to try it with. If anyone has any success with this or any other driver, please post results here. BTW, there is a list of a number of companies that make USB drivers for various OS's here: www.allusb.com/products/P10276.html

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 434

While it is not impossible to make NT 4 work with USB, so far nobody has reported it working in the context of a Visor. If you do manage to do it, then please repost here.

However, there is no USB support in NT 4 from either Microsoft or Handspring, so even if you could get the USB cradle to work you may be in for a lot of potential headache if something doesn't work 100%. It would probably be simpler to use a serial cradle, especially when the it is all of $20 when purchased up front. In fact, that's what I do. I use USB at home with Windows 98 and NT 5 (Windows 2000), and I use a serial cradle at work with NT 4.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Provo, UT
Posts: 3

USB on NT

I recently bought a USB Zip drive, which works perfectly on a machine with Windows NT. I think the problem is that Handspring does not support USB on NT (will it ever?) I have often wondered if Handspring did this on purpose so more people would have to buy serial cradles. (Otherwise, why not let people choose which cradle they want?)

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Kent