How a USB Port Works in a Dell
By Lindsay Howell
Many models of Dell computers have at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) port that you can use to connect portable storage devices, mobile devices and music players to your Dell laptop or desktop. The USB port on your Dell will allow you to transfer data between the computer and the connected device.
Step 1
Locate the USB port or ports on your Dell computer. The ports will have a USB symbol above them.
Step 2
Connect the end of the USB cable to the device you want to connect to your computer. If you're using a USB flash drive, plug it directly into the USB port.
Step 3
Look for the message in the taskbar at the bottom of your desktop screen that indicates that new hardware has been detected and a USB connection has been successfully established. The USB device will automatically install the drivers that allow the device to work with your Dell.
Step 4
Navigate to your computer's "Start" menu and select "Computer." You will see the USB device connected to your Dell in the "Devices with Removable Storage" menu, which appears directly below the "Hard Disk Drives" menu in the screen. Double-click on the device to view the files stored on it.
Step 5
Look for the message in your taskbar indicating that it's safe to remove the hardware; in this case, the hardware is your USB device. Disconnect the USB device from your Dell.
Writer Bio
Lindsay Howell has been writing since 2003. Her works have been featured in "Bittersweet," her campus literary magazine. Howell has a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Frostburg State University.