Thinkpads Forum

T61/ X61T: Win7x64 - USB3 Drivers and Support?

I know both Thinkpads dont have USB3 chips.

A bunch of times I wasnt able to use a Powered USB Hub with 2 x USB3 External drives connected to it. ?

Lack of Power on USB ports of the laptop I can understand but why would a powered hub not be readable? At most it should down step to USB 2 compatibility and work.

Thoughts/ Experiences?

Or is this a Win 7 x 64 issue that needs some generic USB 3 Hub drivers?

I know this problem well. A USB 3.0 cable, although it is supposed to be backwards compatible, does not make proper mechanical contact with the USB 2.0 sockets in an X61/X61T. It is a mechanical, not an electrical, problem.

But a USB 3.0 cable does make proper contact with the sockets in the X61 and X61T Ultrabases. Those sockets were manufactured by a different supplier.

To get around this without an Ultrabase, I purchased several USB 2.0 extender cables, 12" in length. The female ends of the extenders make proper contact with the male ends of USB 3.0 cables, and the male ends of the extenders make proper contact with the USB ports in the Thinkpad.

This should do: http://www.ebay.com/itm/111634700400

Later Thinkpads do not have the problem.