[2005] Accessing Device on USB Port

[mulhearn22]

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:

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"

TIA,
Matt

[dbasnett]

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.

[mulhearn22]

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.

[dbasnett]

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.

[mulhearn22]

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?

[Jenner]

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?

[Jenner]

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.

[dbasnett]

        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

[janneman]

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

[dbasnett]

yes.

[janneman]

Cool. Thanks!

[C0c1]

What if its a camera?

[janneman]

yes.

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

[mulhearn22]

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!!