What to look for when installing a USB device

If the USB device uses a power cord, the device should be connected to the power supply. When you insert a device into your computer's USB slot, note that if the system can automatically install the driver for the device, the system will be available through the device after the installation is complete, or you will be prompted to insert the disc containing the driver for the device.

After the installation is complete, you should check the device's information to see if the other software that came with the device should be installed.

Devices that transmit large amounts of information, such as external hard disks, scanners, and camcorders, are best when connected to a high-speed USB 2.0 port. Some older computers may have the power to include USB 1.X ports or mixed ports for usb1.x and USB 2.0 ports. If the device needs to be plugged into a high-speed port to function correctly, consult the computer manufacturer for information about whether the port you are using supports USB 2.0. If your computer contains only a USB 1.X port, you can add a USB 2.0 port by installing a USB 2.0 card on your computer.

When you unplug a USB storage device from your computer, make sure that the computer has saved all the information to the device and then unplugged it. If the device's lamp is still highlighted, you should wait until the light is no longer blinking.

If you see the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the notification area of the taskbar, you can use this icon to make sure that the device has completed all of its operations. Click the icon, and then select the "safe delete" option to remove it.