Hooking up one Hard Drive to 2 machines - usb splitter?

[Escape-To-88]

Hi all,
put this in the P.C section which seems appropriate, although not directly P.C related.
I have a FAT32 HDD with I use externally with my Wii and 360. The drive works fine on both, but don't want to plug and unplug between machines due to where the machines will be situated in the near future. Is it just a simple case of buying a USB splitter with a selection switch so I can have the USB external drive hooked up to both and switch between when I need it for a particular machine?
Cheers

[kernow]

If you just buy a y cable, splitter without a switch, it'll work fine as long as you don't have both consoles on at once, not sure what would happen in that case, hmm.

[briareos_kerensky]

If data from both consoles already coexists, you will most probably have two consoles accessing the same HDD, thus slowing data transfer down.

[Brad]

If data from both consoles already coexists, you will most probably have two consoles accessing the same HDD, thus slowing data transfer down.

Lol, USB protocol won't allow that.

Safest bet is a switchable USB hub (if such a thing exists).

[kernow]

O_o a y splitter cable will work fine as long as both machines aren't on.

[Escape-To-88]

Yeah, don;t plan to put both on, I'll take a look at a Y-Cable splitter, I think I've seen them before, cheers

EDIT: Hmmm, seems I can only get 2 male USB ends to a mini female, my external HDD has the larger female USB slot, any idea where to locate one?

[Brad]

O_o a y splitter cable will work fine as long as both machines aren't on.

I never said that wouldn't be fine. I was responding to the suggestion that 2 machines could both be on and connected to it via USB at the same time and that the only problem would be reduced transfer speed

[kernow]

I'll clip your ear young buck! Thats enough of your backchat sonny jim! I've had it with your lip and I'll tan your hide if you're not careful.

I'd be so great with kids.

[Brad]

Sorry dad.

[randombs]

You could probably persuade someone to make one for you if you can't do it yourself. I'd envisage a hack job involving a couple of DPDT switches.

You'd be wanting to switch all four USB wires and not just the two data ones(which is what people do with joystick dual mods) otherwise you'll have two consoles sending 5V to one hard drive if you accidentally turn both on at the same time(it could happen, never assume it won't).

Failing that, I imagine something like this will work for you.

seems I can only get 2 male USB ends to a mini female

That sounds to me like those USB cables that come with external laptop-size hard drives. They're not what you'll be looking for as one USB connector has data+power and the other just has power. They're for running drives that need more power than a single USB socket can provide.