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

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You know it's time to clean the refrigerator
when something closes the door from the inside.

[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.

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

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

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





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century technology.*/

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

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.

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.

[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.

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

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.

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"

On Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:23:09 -0400, wrote:

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

^^^^ this.

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

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.