my mom is giving my daughter her dell computer, but it does not have a USB port and she wants to down load pictures into it to put on CD. Is there something I can buy to adapt to down load pictures? everything these days needs USB. thanks

If there's a PCI slot available you can install a USB2.0 adapter card. They're pretty cheap and easy to install. You just have to be comfortable opening up and working inside the computer. Or take it into BestBuy or CircuitCity and have them install it for you.

You can buy a USB adapter card (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10342483&SearchEngine=Froogle&SearchTerm=10342483&Type=PE&Category=Comp&Gad=0&dcaid=17379) for the computer. That said, how old is this machine? The computer I bought Jen four years ago had USB, and it wasn't unusual at the time.

You can buy a USB adapter card (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10342483&SearchEngine=Froogle&SearchTerm=10342483&Type=PE&Category=Comp&Gad=0&dcaid=17379) for the computer. That said, how old is this machine? The computer I bought Jen four years ago had USB, and it wasn't unusual at the time.
its 5 years old, it has a usb in the back but when I tried to add a game pad it would not work. ( it said it did not recognize the USB port) I tried both ports, no luck. I also tryed a printer with the USB, it did not work either. I had to buy a parellel port printer for it.

its a dell, I hate dells . I have never had luck with a dell, but now my gateway. awsome !

its 5 years old, it has a usb in the back but when I tried to add a game pad it would not work. ( it said it did not recognize the USB port) I tried both ports, no luck. I also tryed a printer with the USB, it did not work either. I had to buy a parellel port printer for it.


What version of Windows is it running? If it is running Windows 98 or older, you would need to install drivers in order to use USB. You have to have Windows XP/2000/2003 in order for it to automatically detect USB devices.

-Jeff

Also note that some camera manufacturers (Pentax, for one) do not offer USB drivers for Win98. My sister bought a Pentax digital camera and could not get it to work with her Win98 machine's USB port. An alternate way to download pictures is to buy a universal memory card (Memory Stick, Compact Flash, Secure Digital etc) reader w/USB. They're dirt cheap. Good luck!

Also a machine that old may just have USB 1.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0. Even if it was running upgraded software, it wouldn't recognize a USB 2.0 device if that was the case.

Also a machine that old may just have USB 1.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0. Even if it was running upgraded software, it wouldn't recognize a USB 2.0 device if that was the case.

That is true, but I have encountered very few, if any, devices that aren't backwards compatible with USB 1.0. They just run a lot slower than they would if connected via USB 2.0.

-Jeff

Sounds like a family that would be better off having bought a Mac. :D