Please tell me how I can identify the USB version in use on a fairly
new Windows XP laptop. I am trying to add a USB device that requires
version 1.1, but I wonder whether the laptop might be running a more
recent version.

Many thanks

Michael

Hello.

From Iomega.com:

"How do I know if my computer has USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 support?"
...
For Windows 2000/XP: 
"1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Manage. 
Note: Windows XP users may need to click Start to access the My
Computer icon.
2. Click the Device Manager icon. 
3. Click the plus (+) sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controllers. 
...If Enhanced Host Controller and/or USB 2.0 Root Hub Device is
listed, then the computer has USB 2.0 ports."
 source: IOMEGA.com 
http://www.iomega.com/support/documents/11321.html


search strategy:
"have usb 2"

I hope this helps.

Very quick and clear.  Thanks.

Regardless of whether your laptop is running USB 1.1 or 2.0, all ports
are backwards compatible so if your device is a 1.1 device then it
will work with 1.1/2.0 ports but will only run at 1.1 speeds. Your
problems start when you have a 2.0 device and don't know whether your
laptop has a 2.0 or 1.1 port as 2.0 devices can't be used in 1.1
ports.

Although I would add that allegedly USB 2.0 devices can still be used
with 1.1 ports albeit at the lower bandwidth of 1.1.  USB 2.0 is
designed to be backwards-compatible in both ways, although this would
vary from device to device as some devices would require the full
bandwidth to function correctly.