USB ports on Keyboard

surej,

Thank you for using the DellTalk Forum.

A USB Mouse and Keyboard will need to be plugged into the primary USB ports on the back of the system. You should be able to plug any other USB device into the keyboard ports.

That is not entirely true. If you try to plug a USB device that uses a lot of power into your keyboard, you'll get an error saying that there isn't enough power available to operate that device on that specific USB port. It will then run a diagnostic program and show you which USB port to use. Another Dell technician has told me that a powered USB hub would solve any USB issue. I think its funny though, that even though the 8100 has 4 USB ports on it, its not practical to use (4) USB devices.

Actually, I just meant that my system wouldn't work with the 4 USB ports on the backplane of my 8100 without a powered USB hub. I don't understand why Dell would build a system with 4 USB ports that can't handle 4 USB devices. (And on top of that offer USB keyboard that has an additional two USB ports--all nonpowered.) Anyway....

I have a Dimension 8100 P4, with the Logitech Mouseman Wheel mouse. The Dell tech said to plug it into the USB connection on the keyboard. Who is right? Should the mouse be plugged into the keyboard or the back of the tower? The only other USB connection I use is for the scanner.

AHS1949

Will I be able to connect a printer to the USB ports on the keyboard?