USB 2.0 in Windows XP, Early! :)

Thanks Gavin for this meaty newsbyte from Littlewhitedog.com. In the past it was reported that Microsoft would not support USB 2.0 in Windows XP.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software maker said it will not include support for USB 2.0, the latest iteration of the universal serial bus connection technology, in Windows XP, its next-generation operating system expected later this year. Microsoft will instead throw its support behind IEEE 1394, also known as FireWire, which was developed by Apple.

USB 2.0, which will succeed the current USB 1.1 standard, and FireWire are means of connecting PCs to peripherals, such as printers and digital camcorders, at high speed. USB 2.0 will deliver throughput of up to 480 megabits per second vs. FireWire's 400mbps or 12mbps for USB 1.1. That's up to 40 times faster than USB 1.1.

This either turned out to just be a false rumor, or Microsoft realized they were making a mistake by omitting USB 2.0 support from their "pride and joy" and changed their minds. Thus, the current reports state that Microsoft will be releasing a patch to provide USB 2.0 support in Windows XP sometime in 2002.

Over the past two years, Microsoft has been working with industry partners on the USB 2.0 project. We are pleased to announce that USB 2.0 drivers will be available for Microsoft® Windows® XP through Windows Update early in 2002. USB 2.0 driver support for Windows 2000 is still under development, and will be available later in the first quarter of 2002.

But we don't like to wait for stuff like this do we? Thanks to

Littlewhitedog.com we can get a copy of the XP USB 2.0 patch a 'little bit' early. You should know that by downloading and / or applying this patch to your machine you are accepting sole responsibility for whatever happens to your machine. Oh, and if you're looking for the KB article on this, it doesn't exist yet.

Download: Q312370_WXP_SP1_x86_ENU.exe