Add USB 3.0 ports to your laptop ~ DepoTech

If the hard drives and USB keys 3.0 are compatible with the USB 2.0 format, you can not fully exploit their speed as plugging them into the USB 3.0 ports. Learn how to add USB 3.0 ports to your laptop.

To add USB 3.0 ports to your computer desktop, you must add a controller card in the ExpressCard format. This is simpler than on a desktop computer because at no time, you'll have to open your laptop.

You must check at first if you have such a free slot in your mobile which can be in person. You must then install your new card, which is very easy and accessible to everyone. Finally, you will need to install the appropriate drivers for the card is recognized by Windows and you can then use the new USB 3.0 ports to your USB devices.

Check for an empty spot

To take advantage of USB 3.0 on your computer, you must add a controller card. For a laptop computer, a free slot ExpressCard is required.
1-For a laptop, the ExpressCard slot is easy to find. It consists of a large rectangle on one side of your computer.

2-A small lever will allow you to remove the slot cover.

3-If a card is already present in this location, it is not free. Otherwise, it is ready to receive a card with USB 3.0 ports.

Add USB 3.0 controller card to the laptop

ExpressCard format, USB 3.0 controller card must be plugged into an ExpressCard slot of your notebook.

1-Stop your laptop.

2-Press the button next to the ExpressCard slot to pop out.

3-Press a second time on the button to pop up the cache that is in the location.

4-Remove this protection.

5-Insert in slot USB 3.0 card ExpressCard format and press it firmly.

6-Restart your computer.

Install the card drivers

For Windows to recognize the new USB 3.0 ports, install the drivers for your new hardware.

On the next start, Windows automatically detects the card. If this is not the case, insert the CD that came with the card into your computer open it in the explorer.

Open the present folder.

Then open the folder for your hardware. There are different types of USB 3.0 chipset. The chipset of your card is usually indicated on the packaging or on the CD. Here it is a NEC chip.

We are opening the NEC Driver folder.

Run the Setup.exe program present in this folder.

Follow the various wizard steps to install the drivers for your card.

Windows detects your USB 3.0 card. Click Close.

Finally, click Finish.

Check and use the new USB 3.0 ports

Now that the USB 3.0 card is installed and recognized by Windows, you can use it to exploit your USB 3.0 devices.

First, make sure the card is installed in Windows. To do this click with the right mouse button on the Computer icon and click Properties.

Click Device Manager.

Simply unroll the Serial Bus controllers item.

The USB 3.0 bus controller is present and properly installed (no yellow symbol next). Close the window.

Then simply plug your USB 3.0 device into a USB 3.0 ports on the card that you just installed.

It is detected and you can use it at full speed.

Note that you can totally connect USB 2.0 devices to a USB 3.0 port: it will work perfectly. His speed will be just limited to USB 2.0 as if you had plugged into a USB 2.0 port.