VIA USB 2.0 in XP w/o SP1

[Siliconjunkie]

So I go to Fry’s today and get my shiny (literally) new Soyo motherboard. Install it and everything is great. Except that I can't find any drivers for the USB 2.0. Apparently MS and VIA are having some sort of legal battle and the only way to get the is SP1 and I really don’t want to install it if I don’t have to because of the performance issues.

A friend said that he has heard of a workaround, but couldn’t recall where. Anyone here know of one?

From viaarea.com

Due to licensing agreements, USB 2.0 drivers are not available for download. USB 2.0 drivers are supplied on CD with new mainboards or new cards. If you have misplaced the driver CD or have questions about the USB 2.0 driver, please contact your motherboard manufacturer, the manufacturer of the USB 2.0 PCI card, or Microsoft.

From soyousa.com

For Windows XP support, please install the latest service pack

[Steve R Jones]

SP1 is pretty stable. Heck SP2 is almost out...

[Kc2iLq]

On the cd that came with my Albatron KX400-8XV (KT-400 chipset), there are drivers that make the usb2 work in XP. They're in a folder labled X:\VIA\8235usb20\usb251\winXP_SP1 and the files are "viaehcx1.cat" and "VIAEHCX1.INF". If you want the files, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send them to you. I looked in the .INF file and there doesn't seem to be any proprietary information.

; ******************************************************
; *  Copyright (C) 2002, VIA Technologies, Inc.        *
; *                                                    *
; *  VIAEHCX1.INF                                      *      
; *                                                    *
; *  USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Driver support   *
; *  For Windows XP Service Pack 1                     *
; ******************************************************

[Version]
signature="$Windows NT$"
Class=USB
ClassGUID={36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}
Provider=%VIA%
DriverVer=09/09/2002,5.1.2600.1106
CatalogFile=VIAEHCX1.CAT


[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect = *

[SourceDisksNames]

[SourceDisksFiles]

; =================== Table of content =========================
; note that these are in alphabetical order
;

[Manufacturer]
%VIA%=VIA, NTx86.5.1


; =================== VIA ==================================

[VIA.NTx86.5.1]
; for Windows XP 
%PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3104.DeviceDesc%=EHCI.Dev.NT,PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3104&CC_0C0320

; Install EHCI driver for Windows XP
[EHCI.Dev.NT]
Include = usbport.inf

[EHCI.Dev.NT.Services]
Include = usbport.inf

;------------------------------------------ cut here -------------------------

[Strings] 
VIA="VIA Technologies, Inc."

PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3104.DeviceDesc="VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller"

Attached is a screenie of my Device Manager with the USB tree open.

-Kc2iLq