Telling USB cables apart...

My new VISTA machine has many more USB-2 ports than my previous
computer. I seem to have quite a collection of USB cables. Is there any
physical way to tell USB-1 from USB-2 cables? Dang things all look the
same to me.

 

There's not way to tell by looking. Cables sold as rated for USB-2 may have
better shielding and better quality conductors, but many cables that may not
have been marketed as USB-2 will work fine at the higher speed (especially
in the shorter lengths). There's no harm in trying them.

 

There are NO differences. Any USB cable that will not meed USB 2 standards
is defective.

 

THat's because they are. Some are labelled USB 2 to con the clueless.

 

The USB cables are interchageable. It's the ports that are different. And
they look the same as well. But, as it's a new machine, they should all be
USB 2.0. If not, when you plug it in, Vista will tell you it can perform
faster if it's plugged into a different port.