IOWA

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.

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.

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9to5cynic

haha cool! I didn't know anything like that existed either.

So, it's an estat port that also can do usb right?
Coming soon: OmniPort!

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TxGoat

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

IOWA

That is funny, because today I ordered an USB 3.0 expresscard for my laptop.

TxGoat

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.

IOWA

Na, doesn't work. (at least with mine)

I just ordered this expansion card

http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Slim-ExpressCard-Adapter-EC02/dp/B005A2RKBK

9to5cynic

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

SUroot

Yeah I can confirm this on Dell Latitude E series laptops. I accidentally did it the other week.

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chanchan05

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.

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mplevy

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.

MrDangerous

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.

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TxGoat

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.

mplevy

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