T30 USB Ports Question - Not usb 2.0 related

[AlexDBall]

Hello to everyone!
I've got a rather simple/stupid question about the USB ports of the T30.
When i plug in a USB 2.0 device and get the message about HI-Speed device connected to non-Hi-Speed hub and click to view the availability of Hi-Speed hubs, i get 3 different hub in the list.

On the first hub listed, (Intel(R) 82801CA/CAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2482)
i've hot 2 ports that are unused

On the second hub, (Intel(R) 82801CA/CAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2484) i've got the USB ports at the back (2 flash disks are connected for testing)

And in the last one (Intel(R) 82801CA/CAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2487)i've got the bluetooth card listed and one available port.

Now my question is.. Is there anyway to use any of the unused ports?

I have a second t30 that i would like to mess around with it. A project i have in mind is to solder a flash disk onto an available port/connector inside the computer but leave the rest in working condition.

Thanks in advance!

[RealBlackStuff]

Questions are never stupid!
From your description it seems like you would have 6 USB ports.
Effectively you have only 2 (at speed 1.1), on the back of the T30.
You can add more by adding a PCMCIA card with 2 or 4 USB2.0 ports.
However, these ports don't provide enough power each to run full-bodied USB devices on, but they are fine for mice, flash cards and the like.
For one external Hard Disk e.g. you'd already need 2 USB ports, and maybe even an external power supply for it to run off such a card.
Unless you could find a diagram of the motherboard (as good as impossible) I don't think you can use any of the theoretical other internal USB ports, IF they exist at all.

[AlexDBall]

Thanks for you quick reply!

i've already got a PCMCIA USB card for my other T30 and use it whenever i need usb 2.0 speed.

So, I've took apart my other t30 and looking for a "diagram" which indeed is as good as impossible so i'll try to figure it out myself...

power requirements are not needed as the only devices i connect to the laptop are a mouse and a flash disk. my external hard drive has its own power supply.

Anyway i'll let you know if i manage to find what i'm looking for or if i'll fry it and have spare parts for a T30! lol

[spydergt]

YES there is! woo hoo , i found it and already ripped apart my t20 ,

aparently there are a few extra usb ports added by ibm to these things , one is known as an ultraport and theres a wide range of models i JUST posted it here : http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=69025

it should be stickied across the numerous models that its avalible on such model thinkpads with an ultraport :A20p, A21p, A22p, A30p, A31p T20, T21, T22, T23 X20, X21, X22, X23, X24

AND ALSO!

from what ive read there are port replicators or , docking stations that have two usb ports avalible , apparently you have to go to device manager and take the chip name , for me it was like , mmm 82713 AB/EB pci to usb and then you gotta find the pin out , i found a few pics off images.google.com of the thing ,

but taking my iron to it and trying to wire in a few extra ports seems redonkulouso ,

then i came across this , http://hackaday.com/2008/08/14/modding- ... bluetooth/

and if you google tnkgrl , you find her page and learn that
the pci to usb controller chip inside oviously more than just acer laptops have more than one usb port , sounds kosher ,

now you just need to find a way to find the ports to tap to make an extra usb port avalible right ? well some other guy here found that way with a 600e i believe , dosent help us with the upper models but its all relavant theory so worth a read here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=30957


all in all its a crazy idea and you better be comfy putting an iron to your craptop , but its all there in those links i just gave you !!


muhaha , ninja smoke *gone*

-----

jamiphar posted this also for the 770*

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=30957

pay attention to the pics those will help

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3963 ... modrp5.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6540 ... usbxp1.jpg
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/343/ ... hotgp8.jpg

Admin edit: Combined consecutive posts (you can use the EDIT button on your posts to add a comment like this).

[AlexDBall]

Wow! thanks for all the info!

i've let down the project for now due to illness, but as soon i recover i'll get the datasheets for my T30's chipset etc and find the pinout.

I'll let you guys know how it goes:)