How to Tell If Your Windows XP Computer Has High-Speed USB

by Tina Gasperson

Microsoft reports that most computers sold after 2002 are USB 2.0 enabled. USB 2.0 is the latest version of USB, also called high-speed USB because it supports devices that use the high-speed specification. Most new USB devices are made using this specification. If you plug one of these into a computer that is not equipped with a high-speed USB port, or one that does have a USB 2.0 port but is missing the proper drivers, you will either get an error message, or the device will work, but at less than its full capability. That would be a waste of your money – so it’s better to make sure your device capability matches your computer capability.

To find out if your computer is equipped with a high-speed USB port, click Start, Run, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. This brings up the device manager interface. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers and click the + sign to expand the list. Look for an entry that has the word “enhanced” in it – something like “Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller,” or “USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller.” If you see the word enhanced, you know that you have USB 2.0 capabilities and you don’t need to do anything except plug in your USB 2.0 device. Other types of USB controllers will be listed as “Universal” or “Open.” These controllers will not run high-speed USB devices, only those classified as “full speed” or “low speed.”

If you don’t find the word “enhanced,” it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a USB 2.0 controller. The problem may just be that you have a USB 2.0 port that is missing its drivers. To find out, in the device manager list look for “Other Devices,” and if it is there, click the + sign to expand the list. If you find “Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller” in the list, that’s probably a 2.0 port that is missing drivers. Double-click on that listing, click on the “General” tab, and click “Reinstall Driver.” Follow the default instructions, and then check your device manager again. You will now see the listing for an enhanced USB controller in the list.

Tina Gasperson (tinahdee@gmail.com), affectionately known as Computer Lady by her family, has been writing about IT, home computing, and the Internet for more than a decade.