Dominic Payer

But laptops provide one 500mA supply for all USB ports, not the 500mA to
each port that a desktop will provide.
This is enough for most USB powered peripherals, but laptop USB ports are
not intended to provide significant power drain. If too much power is drawn
some or all of the connected devices will either not work or malfunction.

If you need a serious power supply for laptop USB devices, e.g. to charge a
phone or run a bus powered scanner, you should use an external powered hub.


"Administrator" <mzw@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:eDUR5QgxHHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Dominic Payer" <dcp@fsv.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:5053AEF5-0769-4E50-81DB-83A5E01980B0@microsoft.com...
>> If your new Toshiba is a laptop it will not provide power through the USB
>> ports. Laptops will not supply power to external devices - it would drain
>> their batteries.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
>>> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
>>> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba
>>> with
>>> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met
>>> with
>>> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to
>>> find
>>> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>>>
>>> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
>>> driver
>>> online.
>>>
>>> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
>>> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to
>>> use
>>> the computer as a power source.
>>>
>>> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
>>> simply
>>> to charge a cell phone?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>
>
> Not true. My Toshiba laptop will supply power to USB devices. I use a
> Belkin keyboard light that clips to the top of the display and is powered
> by the USB port, no drivers required.
> Also, I can charge my cell phone by plugging the charging cable into a USB
> port. Note that I'm using a charging cable and not a data cable.
>