Connecting USB Peripherals

Your computer comes equipped with a port that connects Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices to the computer.

Your computer can support certain USB devices without any special drivers. These include hubs and keyboards. To connect USB devices for which the device manufacturer provided no special drivers, you will need an operating system that has USB support, such as Windows 95 or Windows 98 preinstalled by Compaq. Later versions of the Windows operating systems will add functionality that may allow you to attach any USB device to your computer (for example, a video camera) and allow many USB devices to be connected and working simultaneously.

A USB keyboard and mouse, optionally connected through a hub, offer the same functionality as a standard keyboard and mouse connected through the keyboard/mouse connector. Future operating systems will have extended USB capabilities which will replace the USB capabilities built into the computer.

Connecting to a Port Replicator

To connect the computer to a port replicator, refer to the instructions that came with the docking device.

8-6 Connecting External Devices