# Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/hacking-the-kinect/verify-the-vid-and-pid.md

# Hacking the Kinect

## Verify the VID & PID

The first place to start is to see what devices and "interfaces" or "configurations" are available for the USB device. The nicest way to do this is to use&nbsp; **lsusb** &nbsp;(Linux) or&nbsp; **system\_profiler** &nbsp;(Mac) which is a "list usb" program available for Linux and mac. Sadly, it does not exist for windows, so find a mac or linux computer or friend, you'll only need it for a minute! [[edit: a reader has notified us that [http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb\_devices\_view.html](http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html) may do the trick!]]

For linux, run&nbsp; **lsusb -vv** &nbsp;(ultra verbose) for Mac, run&nbsp; **system\_profiler SPUSBDataType**

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/000/259/medium800/gaming_system_profiler.jpg?1396761558)

There's a bunch more stuff like USB keys and such installed but this is a good starting point. Note that the Kinect is actually 4 USB devices - a hub, a camera, a microphone (audio) and a motor. The hub is just an easy way for the device to combine three separate chips into a single cable. We'll be investigating the&nbsp; **Xbox NUI Motor** &nbsp;since its the simplest. Note the&nbsp; **Vendor ID = 0x045e** &nbsp;and&nbsp; **Product ID = 0x2b0.&nbsp;** Every type USB device must have a unique VID and PID. The VID is the manufacturer. In this case,&nbsp; **0x045e** &nbsp;is the VID for Microsoft. All Microsoft products will have that VID. Each product has a different PID, so all Kinect Motors use PID&nbsp; **0x02b0** &nbsp;this doesn't differ between two Kinects, they'll both have the same PID. The VID/PID are used as a way to have the proper driver find the product. Its a lot better than serial COM ports because COM ports change names but VID/PID are burned into the device firmware.- [Previous Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/hacking-the-kinect/overview.md)
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/hacking-the-kinect/determine-the-descriptors.md)

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