[2005] Accessing Device on USB Port

Hi,

OK, I have been doing some research into accessing devices on a USB port and it's kind of helped, but not really. From what I understand, I can use the IO.Port namespace to access a device on a USB port (usually). Let me know if this is incorrect.

First, I made a simple program that looped through the ports available. I get COM1 and COM3, but I have 4 USB ports. Where are the others?

My Code:

Code:

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Dim comm As New List(Of IO.Ports.SerialPort) 'list of comm ports
        For Each PNstr As String In IO.Ports.SerialPort.GetPortNames() 'get a list of Com Port Names
            comm.Add(New IO.Ports.SerialPort) 'insert new port into list
            comm(comm.Count - 1).PortName = PNstr 'set the name
        Next

        ListBox1.DataSource = comm
        ListBox1.DisplayMember = "PortName"

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TIA,
Matt

usb ports do not show up as com ports unless you have a serial port adapter plugged into a usb port.

i did a lot of work for suburban cable / comcast in the philly area. i had an apartment in phoenixville.

So how would I get a list of USB ports and how do I access the devices plugged into them?

Really? My gf is from Collegeville and I'm from Lansdale. Small world.

i was there from 1996 - 2002. The Trappe!

i am not certain what you are trying to do. you will need to talk to the driver for the device attached to the USB port.

I've never been there but I have driven past the Trappe several times. Gadzooks!

Well, what I'm trying to do is take my music off of my iPod. I know there are programs out there but they all cost money (F that) and honestly I'd like to learn how to work with Serial Ports.

How do I find the driver for my iPod? Any clue?

It depends on the device you're plugging in. USB doesn't concern itself with "what" port a piece of hardware is on, just whether it's connected to the computer or not and that you can use it.

If it's a thumb-drive, it'll be in the list of drives.
If it's a printer, it'll be in the list of printers.
If it's a mouse or keyboard, it'll be in the mouse/HID list.
If it's something that emulates an old-fashioned COM port, it'll be in the Serial Port list as mentioned.

What are you trying to detect hooked up?

Sorry, just missed your post about it being an iPod. iPods are a little flaky and love to exist in their own little worlds compared to all the other MP3 players out there, but it should attach and be detected as a drive.

Connect it and see. Reading other posts, I see people have figured out "which drive is the iPod" by checking all their drives for the specific directory structure of the iPod. When a drive matches up, they got it.

You can then transfer things on and off it with simple IO.FileSystem commands.

Code:

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        Dim sDrv() As System.IO.DriveInfo = IO.DriveInfo.GetDrives
        For sX As Integer = 0 To sDrv.Length - 1
            If sDrv(sX).IsReady Then
                Debug.Write("drive ")
                Debug.WriteLine(sDrv(sX).RootDirectory)
                Debug.WriteLine(sDrv(sX).Name)
                Debug.WriteLine(sDrv(sX).VolumeLabel)
                Debug.WriteLine(sDrv(sX).DriveFormat)
            End If
        Next

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Hi Dewayne,

I have a similar question. The device plugged into my USB port emulates a serial port and shows up in the Windows XP Hardware Manager list as 'COMX'. Can I just treat it as a serial port and use your excellent serial port examples to work with it?

Thanks,

Jan Didden

yes.

Cool. Thanks!

What if its a camera?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dbasnett

yes.

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Hi Dewayne,

After I have found the serial ports on my system, I have to check which is the one for the external USB device I want to talk to. I would gess that I would check a driver property like manufacturer name or driver name (I have that information). The VB .NET Help info hints that such a function is available for a SerialPort but I can't find it anywhere. Do you (or anybody else) know where I can find that kind of stuff?

Thanks,

Jan Didden

OK so I was a little dormant, but now I'm back. I've been all over the web and I still can't find a way to access the files on my iTouch. One would think this would be a highly published topic.

I tried looking for it in my drives but all I get back are C: and D: (OS backup). I tried looking at serial ports and get back COMM1 and COMM3, but neither are it. Where the hell is this device? Do I have to use its driver to access the files? If so, does anyone have a good tutorial to using a devices driver?

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated!!