• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Something strange I found on my laptop... my eSata port works with USB o.O

IOWA

IOWA

Mr. Logic Pants
SOO... long story short, I'm fumbling around with my external backup drive and I plug it in and go. A few seconds later I notice the USB port is already taken, but it seems to be working.

So I'm like... wtf...

I plugged my USB Backup drive into the eSata port... and it's WORKING. :eek:

I then figured out I have something called eSatap which combines a USB and eSata port into one port.... I didn't even know that existed until tonight. :eek:
 
haha cool! I didn't know anything like that existed either.

So, it's an estat port that also can do usb right? :D
Coming soon: OmniPort!
 
haha, my laptop has the same and I found some online articles on how to speed it up. For some reason I'm not realizing the data speeds that they claim. I was considering replacing my current USB ports for some USB 3.0 ports (although I bet on this laptop they may be built into the mobo). Esata Google search
 
TxGoat said:
haha, my laptop has the same and I found some online articles on how to speed it up. For some reason I'm not realizing the data speeds that they claim. I was considering replacing my current USB ports for some USB 3.0 ports (although I bet on this laptop they may be built into the mobo). Esata Google search
Click to expand...

That is funny, because today I ordered an USB 3.0 expresscard for my laptop.
 
IOWA said:
That is funny, because today I ordered an USB 3.0 expresscard for my laptop.
Click to expand...

I have a 16 GB flash drive with USB 3.0 (picked it up on Newegg for $15.00). I was hoping to make the most of the data transfer rates but will need a USB 3.0 port. I should probably try to get an esata cable to see if that helps with transfer rates.
 
TxGoat said:
I have a 16 GB flash drive with USB 3.0 (picked it up on Newegg for $15.00). I was hoping to make the most of the data transfer rates but will need a USB 3.0 port. I should probably try to get an esata cable to see if that helps with transfer rates.
Click to expand...
That's a pretty good deal, I think I might have seen a 16gb usb2.0 flash drive a while back... nice find.

The harddrive I picked up a while back was usb 3.0 ... I don't have a port for it ...yet:cool:
 
Yeah I can confirm this on Dell Latitude E series laptops. I accidentally did it the other week.
 
I guess you did not read the users manual? LOL.

Not sure for other brands, but HP has been doing this on their laptops since 2009. at least 2 USB ports on the right side and at least one eSATA/USB combo on the left.
 
Yup, the E6400 work issued me in 2009 had it, the E6410 they issued me in 2010 (needed one with a Win 7 license for Win 7 testing) has it also. It's not really that the "esata port allows USB", it's more that it was built intentionally as a combo port.

SUroot said:
Yeah I can confirm this on Dell Latitude E series laptops. I accidentally did it the other week.
Click to expand...
 
I use a Thermaltake external HD dock on my E6410 for data recovery. Depending on how bad the drive is, sometimes I use the esata cable and sometimes USB.
 
IOWA said:
Na, doesn't work. (at least with mine)

I just ordered this expansion card

Amazon.com: Silverstone Tek Slim ExpressCard/34 USB 3.0 ExpressCard Adapter (EC02): Electronics
Click to expand...


I have yet to crack open this laptop to see if the USB ports are directly soldered to the mobo or if they're replaceable. I figure with 2 USB adapters on each side, one set is bound to be replaceable.


Newegg.com - ADATA Value-Driven S102 Pro Effortless Upgrade 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive (Gray) Model AS102P-16G-RGY That's what I picked up, but they had em on sale for around $15 when I bought mine.
 
Typically things like USB ports are not user-replaceable on a laptop. They'll be soldered on the board or on a daughter board connected through a connector (not plug and wires but an actual direct-mate connector) on the MB, but the daughter board needs to be designed to fit the system and mate with that connector. Even if you COULD find a different daughter board to fit in that space, chances that the USB controller is on the daughter board and not the MB are slim, much less having a compatible connector to mate with the MB.

I work on Dell Latitude laptops all day, some of the ones I deal with have such a setup (2 USB ports on a daughter board), I highly doubt that board is compatible with any laptop but one of the same line. Laptops aren't like desktops where you can just crack it open and pop in a PCI card to add functionality. You might find an ExpressCard module (or PCMCIA if that's what your laptop has) to add USB 3, though you'll be limited by the interface speed.

In fact, Newegg.com - usb 3.0 expresscard
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom