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#1
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USB connection
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA -- You know it's time to clean the refrigerator when something closes the door from the inside. |
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#2
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USB connection
[Default] On 22 Apr 2016 18:11:10 GMT, in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA I don't know, but I'm curious. Has one ever actually gone bad. I had a new flashdrive last week, plugged it into a PC, added a coouple directories, plugged it into a Mac, copied a bunch of files, then it wouldn't go back in the pc again. Maybe I pushed harder than I should have. Looked at the silver colored rectangle that surrounds the plug and it had a little bulge in a long side. I squeezed it until the bulge went away and stayed gone. Now it went into the port, and was noticed by the PC but not recognized. It made that noise iirc but didn't look for a driver and certainly didn't show up in the drive list. I thought the low-priced, store-brand flashdrive was no good anymore, but I unplugged something from another port and plugged the drive in and it worked fine and showed all the Mac files. |
#3
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USB connection
On 22 Apr 2016 18:11:10 GMT, KenK wrote:
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA I have a diamond graphic"Ports" hub with switches on each port. You could also use one of those short extenders you get with some dongles so you are wearing out the jack on the extender, not the board |
#4
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USB connection
KenK wrote:
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA Metal-barreled USB connectors are rated at 5000 connections. (*Don't* buy USB flash keys with plastic barrels, as they're rubbish. Buy only ones with metal. While the metal ones, the connector can snap at the joint to the PCB of the USB key, rendering the key dead, that's much better than the poor plastic barrel mis-aligning and the interior pins snapping off on the first usage of the thing. The plastic barrel bends too much.) If a metal USB connector failure is to occur, you can accelerate the process by applying force to the barrel, to split it open at the metal seam. The metal Firewire connectors were a bit worse for this problem. Some of my early USB 1.1 connectors have high friction, and probably won't be making it to 5000 cycles (sandpaper effect). Whereas your internal SATA hard drive connectors are rated at 50 connections. And actually manage to do more than that. ESATA (another external metal barrel type) have the high rating like the USB. I can't even buy an ESATA cable at my local computer store, to do any ESATA testing. ******* There are 1:2 or 1:4 USB switching boxes, where if you use just one USB port, you can "switch away" and "switch back" to the single port you wish to connect and disconnect. On a few of those products, it's the control switch on the top which is made of inferior material and dies before its time. There is at least one report of switch failure here. I don't think I ever saw any "quality" implementations. All sub-$20 rubbish. Nothing "MIL-spec" :-( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817659008 Paul |
#5
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USB connection
On 22/04/2016 19:11, KenK wrote:
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA Just keep it connected and make sure it is not shareable on the web. That way you want get any ransom demands!! The alternative is to get desktop external HDs that can mounted using network cable. Effectively, you create your own "cloud" to access your files. Are you the same KenK who has about 20TBs of useless data that needs to be backed up everyday three times a day? This must be keeping you very busy -- 1. /*This post contains rich text (HTML). if you don't like it then you can kill-filter the poster without crying like a small baby.*/ 2. /*This message is best read in Mozilla Thunderbird as it uses 21st century technology.*/ |
#6
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USB connection
Good Guy wrote:
On 22/04/2016 19:11, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA Just keep it connected and make sure it is not shareable on the web. That way you want get any ransom demands!! The alternative is to get desktop external HDs that can mounted using network cable. Effectively, you create your own "cloud" to access your files. Are you the same KenK who has about 20TBs of useless data that needs to be backed up everyday three times a day? This must be keeping you very busy In a recent warning, Cisco warns that the next wave of Ransomware (not here yet), will use worm technology. So be ready for just about anything. For criminal enterprise, this is the "start of a new era" for them. The sky is the limit. An exploit could end up coming in through Adobe Flash, and end up spreading to all the other running computers in the room via a worm. It hasn't happened yet, but Cisco was very helpful to the Black Hats, by mentioning it. Even if you disable all your shares, but leave a USB drive running on your other computer, a worm would give them the access they need. To encrypt the entire room. A USB switch is at least some minor sort of protection. Not worth a lot, if the ransomware bides its time (waits a couple days until the time is right). There have been malwares in the past, that waited 30 days before striking, so waiting is not abnormal in terms of design. They could then flash-encrypt all the NTFS $MFT in the room, in the same 30 second interval. I would class us right now, as pretty well defenseless... All it takes now, is staging a redirect on Yahoo News, using bogus advertising material, and they could have 100 million victims in the blink of an eye. And the incentive is financial, which is the best incentive of all. I'm sure they're all quite busy in the design phase right now, and don't have time to read this post. Paul |
#7
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USB connection
On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote:
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. |
#8
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USB connection
KenK wrote:
Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? Get a shorty aka pigtail (http://www.usbgear.com/images/AA-UF-05B.jpg). Leave it plugged into the jack. Plus the drive's cable, or any other USB device's cable, into the shorty. If you go with a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub; i.e., has its own power supply (walwart). Once you have 4, or more, extra ports then you'll probably end up using them and need each to provide sufficient power to the attached device. |
#9
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USB connection
[Default] On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:48:40 -0700, in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general Mike S wrote: On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. I think some (all?) powered hubs work without power if the power needs can be supplied by the PC. Based on its markings, I think that's what I have but I've never used it and it's in the other room. I can get details if you want. |
#10
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USB connection
Micky wrote:
[Default] On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:48:40 -0700, in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general Mike S wrote: On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. I think some (all?) powered hubs work without power if the power needs can be supplied by the PC. Based on its markings, I think that's what I have but I've never used it and it's in the other room. I can get details if you want. Be prepared for surprises with powered hubs. There are several connection possibilities inside them. The one you don't want, is the variant that "backfeeds" power from the hub wall adapter, back up the cable and into the +5VSB of your ATX power supply. The two power sources should really not be connected to one another. Always check the reviews on a powered hub purchase page, for any reports of "weirdness" when the powered hub is connected to the computer. The proper way to design a powered hub, is shown on PDF page 16 here. Relay K1 monitors whether the adapter is providing power, and if it is not powering the hub, the relay flips so that USB bus power from the host is used. A $10 hub design, would not bother with that sort of detail. http://logout.sh/computers/projects/...0R2-020108.pdf Paul |
#11
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USB connection
On 4/22/2016 10:08 PM, Micky wrote:
[Default] On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:48:40 -0700, in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general Mike S wrote: On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. I think some (all?) powered hubs work without power if the power needs can be supplied by the PC. Based on its markings, I think that's what I have but I've never used it and it's in the other room. I can get details if you want. He said "USB-connected" not USB-Powered. Makes a difference. I leave my USB-connected external drive plugged into USB all the time, but I switch off the power when not in use. I can't speak for all drives, but the interfaces I've tested on external drives that are powered by external 12V indicates that, at worst, the USB port powers only the interface, but not the hard drive. I submit that virtually ALL 3.5" external drives are not USB-powered. If the drive really is USB-Powered, then there are multiple sources for USB hubs with individual power switches. But that leaves you open to issues when the drive doesn't like the hub. My USB3 drive works fine plugged in directly, but has random errors when thru a hub. You can get short USB extension cables. Then you wear out the extension but not the drive or PC sockets. Depending on the size of your backup, a thumb drive on a short extension cable works great. |
#12
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USB connection
On 4/22/2016 10:25 PM, Paul wrote:
Micky wrote: [Default] On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:48:40 -0700, in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general Mike S wrote: On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. I think some (all?) powered hubs work without power if the power needs can be supplied by the PC. Based on its markings, I think that's what I have but I've never used it and it's in the other room. I can get details if you want. Be prepared for surprises with powered hubs. There are several connection possibilities inside them. The one you don't want, is the variant that "backfeeds" power from the hub wall adapter, back up the cable and into the +5VSB of your ATX power supply. The two power sources should really not be connected to one another. Always check the reviews on a powered hub purchase page, for any reports of "weirdness" when the powered hub is connected to the computer. The proper way to design a powered hub, is shown on PDF page 16 here. Relay K1 monitors whether the adapter is providing power, and if it is not powering the hub, the relay flips so that USB bus power from the host is used. A $10 hub design, would not bother with that sort of detail. http://logout.sh/computers/projects/...0R2-020108.pdf Paul Good point. Just on a gag I searched for USB switch and found this, "Giga Ware USB A/B Switch" |
#13
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USB connection
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#14
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USB connection
On Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:13:59 -0700, Mike S wrote:
Just on a gag I searched for USB switch and found this, "Giga Ware USB A/B Switch" http://www.amazon.com/Generic-7-Port.../dp/B007S642BW |
#15
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USB connection
On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 23:37:12 -0700, mike wrote:
On 4/22/2016 10:08 PM, Micky wrote: [Default] On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:48:40 -0700, in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general Mike S wrote: On 4/22/2016 11:11 AM, KenK wrote: Not strictly XP but... I like to keep my USB-connected external drive disconnected in case of ransomeware until I need it, every day for file backup. Problem is, the connectors go bad after so many uses too quickly. Is there some sort of switchable connector plug that I can use instead? TIA You might consider using a powered USB hub (one that works with your drive), allowing you to unplugged/turn off the hub when you want to break the connection. I think some (all?) powered hubs work without power if the power needs can be supplied by the PC. Based on its markings, I think that's what I have but I've never used it and it's in the other room. I can get details if you want. He said "USB-connected" not USB-Powered. Makes a difference. I leave my USB-connected external drive plugged into USB all the time, but I switch off the power when not in use. I can't speak for all drives, but the interfaces I've tested on external drives that are powered by external 12V indicates that, at worst, the USB port powers only the interface, but not the hard drive. I submit that virtually ALL 3.5" external drives are not USB-powered. If the drive really is USB-Powered, then there are multiple sources for USB hubs with individual power switches. But that leaves you open to issues when the drive doesn't like the hub. My USB3 drive works fine plugged in directly, but has random errors when thru a hub. You can get short USB extension cables. Then you wear out the extension but not the drive or PC sockets. Depending on the size of your backup, a thumb drive on a short extension cable works great. You will not see a 3.5" USB powered drive because they need 12vdc A lot of 2.5" USB powered drives will come with a cable that has 2 USB A plugs on it so you are getting power from 2 ports. Only one of them will have data wires in it. |
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