USB Scanner, multiple computers and USB hubs

axelfox

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
6,719
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I have a USB scanner (well, multifunction) that I would like to use on the desktop that it is attached to now and also my laptop. However, I don't want to disconnect the USB cable from the desktop everytime I want to use the scanner for the laptop. Will a USB hub allow me to connect the USB scanner to 2 computers?
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
239
106
No - you need a KV switch to share such perpiherals so that they can only be controlled by one machine at a time - otherwise you arealmost guaranteeing collisions of instruction sets and data.
 

zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,512
2
81
A regular hub only allows for 1 connection at a time but you can buy a special hub that's switchable between 2 computers. Just press a button and it will switch between one and the other.