Adding USB port for Precision workstation 210

Go to the following link for one company selling PCI to USB cards

Hope this helps

Back up a sec! Your system has 2 USB ports on the rear panel. Do you need more than those 2 or have they stopped working, or...?

Rather than installing an internal PCI card, you could just buy a USB hub which connects to one of your existing ports and has multiple USB ports allowing you to connect several devices at the same time. 

Note: If you're going to be using devices that draw a lot of power (eg printer, scanner, camera), you probably want to buy an externally powered USB hub with its own power brick so you don't overload the USB circuits in the PC.

Ron 

Thank you for your warning.  The existing USB port points are damaged by someone working

on the computer.  So, decided to install another USB port.  Would did cause any "overload"?

I appreciate any advice you can provide for me.

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@dorkuser wrote:

Thank you for your warning.  The existing USB port points are damaged by someone working

on the computer.  So, decided to install another USB port.  Would did cause any "overload"?

I appreciate any advice you can provide for me.

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Can you be more specific about the 'damage'? The more info you provide, the more likely someone may able to help you troubleshoot the problem.

Ron 

Thanks Ron.  At the site of the port, the plastic pieces fell out and

exposed are the gold-colored metals (I suppose they are the

connections to the port).  When attempting to plug in the printer,

there is no connection detected nor will the plug-in stay in place.

There were originally 2 ports, but the second port, which was not

previously used, also could not accommodate the plug-in (could not

fit).  Viosually it looks like it is crushed together.  I don't know if my

description is visual enough for anyone to understand, but I feel
that these ports are no longer useful and the PCI will just replaced 

their function.

Any advise is appreciated.  Thanks very much for your reponse. 

Advice: Strangle the user that damaged the USB ports! ;)

Guess your option is to purchase a PCI add-in card with USB2 ports. Assumes you have an empty slot.  You might call Dell Tech Support and see if the internal USB ports are on a riser that you can easily replace without costing too much.

Ron 

 Hi Ron:  There are 3 PCI slots that are empty and I thik I can just add the

PCI card in one of those slots.  With Win XP I believe the driver will be

automatically installed.  Thanks for your concern again. 

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@dorkuser wrote:
<>With Win XP I believe the driver will be automatically installed. 

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Not necessarily. The card may come with a driver CD.  Install the card and if the hardware wizard comes up, insert the driver CD and direct the wizard to that disk.

Ron 

Hi Ron:  I am thinking you thought you were done with advising me.

I finally found time tonight to install the PCI card I purchased from a neighborhood

mall's computer store.  He sold me an unboxed card he had; says he misplaced

the box and he tested it and found it to be working.  I explained to him that I had

an old Dell Pent III.  He said this card should work.

Well, to my disappointment, the card would not seed correctly, the PCI slot has

"only 1 indentation" (I hope this is meaningful to you.  The PCI has 2 indentations

and does not fit. Talk about ignorance, I am feeling very ignorant at this point.

I am going back to the store, if it is open tomorrow a.m. and talk to the store

owner who sold me this PCI card.  I am hoping he would owe up to the fact that 

this is not correct card.  I don't have a brand name or anything that is readable

to read.

It may be just "another experience" for me.  Do you know whether I have to

purchase directly from Dell or not?   Thanks Ron

Older PCI cards work on 5V, newer ones work on 5V or 3.3V, and the newest only on 3.3V. Each type is "keyed" differently so they can only fit in a slot where they'll work.

Your system has 3 PCI slots for 32-bit PCI cards, one -even older- ISA slot, and one AGP (graphics) slot, so start out making sure you're trying to put the card in a PCI slot.

I don't see anywhere in the manual that specifies whether you need a 5 or 3.3V card, but here's a picture of the keys the card needs so you can print it and take into the shop.

Oh, and don't let him sell you another card that's out of its box. Some of these cards need driver software and if you don't get the disk and installation instructions, it's just a piece of junk. ;)

Ron

Here's some info on PIC slot specs..

http://www.digi.com/pdf/prd_msc_pcitech.pdf

Dave,

Thanks for posting that link. Didn't have time to look for something like that yesterday. From the chart and the picture in the manual it looks like the Precision can take a universal (3.3 and 5V) PCI card. So assuming the OP actually purchased a PCI card, I'm wondering if an attempt was made to install the PCI card in either an ISA or AGP slot by mistake.

Ron 

Your welcome Ron

This is about the fifth or sixth posting about adding older cards in new system so i though the pix of the different slots would be helpful

 Hi.  I forgot to add that the card seems to be the universal kind; so, it really

should fit.  I will take another try at it.  Thanks. 

Hi!

Thanks for providing help and information.  I will probably have to go in

to see the computer store owner.  I am now sure I have a 32 bit PCI card

and do know where to insert the card.  But I am still stump with why it does

not fit.  Perhaps I am afraid to put too much pressure into inserting the card

because the slot (is it call the riser?) is the 3.3 V kind but the card seems to

not fit easily--maybe I need to apply more force. Thanks.  

PS:  I know this task is really a very simple task but I it seems more difficult

for me.