by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

I learned something recently and want to share it. This is a quote from a Facebook group I'm in. I ordered myself two of these, for about $9:

" The USB port on your machine is USUALLY soldered right to the motherboard. With use/abuse, that connection can/ will get loose and/or broken. It is NOT a "home fix" for most people because it requires soldering to the motherboard. One wrong move and you burn/ruin the motherboard and THAT is an expensive fix.

How this helps: The extender will get the "high traffic" as you are plugging in to the other end of it rather than wiggling around on your machine's port. IF you ever damage the extender, pull it out and put in another $7 part."

I had no idea such a thing even existed, but it made such perfect sense to potentially save a lot of money on a fix.

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by airyfairy 27 Jun 2019

Going to see if I can find something like this.

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by killiecrankie 27 Jun 2019

Good idea.Does anyone know where to fine this short one in Australia? I could only fine a 1.8m in a shop near me.I could find 20cm ones on ebay but they came from China & it is extremely hard dealing with them if the wrong thing is sent.

3 comments
crafter2243 by crafter2243 edited 27 Jun 2019

Probably a stupid question, but do you have Amazon?

sandralane by sandralane 27 Jun 2019

I could only buy the 1.8mtr from Officeworks,could not find shorter ones anywhere.

killiecrankie by killiecrankie 27 Jun 2019

There is a version of Amazon here but there was some kind of trouble with our government & not everything is available here.I did look at it when it did open but it I wasn't interested in their products.

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by rachap 26 Jun 2019

Thanks!! I have always used one for the dongle that my software requires as the dealer warned us about plugging that in and out might someday cause problems but somehow never thought about doing the same thing on the machine!

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 26 Jun 2019

I didn't either until I saw the Facebook group post. That Facebook group uses language I'm not wild about and don't use, but I have learned a little and some of the pictures they post are so funny.

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by lildoll2 26 Jun 2019

went on line found 5 extenders for 9.99 + .79 cents for tax NO SHIPPING !!! walmart has them . cant wait to get them... i read what others had to say about this , some have been using these since 2016 or longer, don't bother looking in the store for them , sale clerk said the best sales are on line. let you know how they work ladies.. doris

2 comments
parkermom by parkermom 26 Jun 2019

thanks for sharing that info! One of my machines wants me to wiggle my jump drive before it will read it. Since I put the extender in, I've had no more problems. Maybe I just saved myself a big $ repair.

lildoll2 by lildoll2 29 Jun 2019

cuties i just got my extenders in the mail !!! they work and look just like the ones in the picture that parkermom above . posted. they look good , for the money i would tell anyone to order them.. 5 for 10.78, can't beat that, doris

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by tonilee 26 Jun 2019

is there a special type or any that are made for laptops. it appears short three inches or so? and what brand would you think is high quality? so many questions, thank you in advance

2 comments
zoefzoef by zoefzoef 26 Jun 2019

Dear All, this is a common extender cable, you have it in all different sizes. As far as I know there are no real "bad quality" cables.
Rgds
Linda

parkermom by parkermom 26 Jun 2019

As far as I know, they aren't like phone charger cables, where the brand matters. Since these won't be getting twisted or pulled in and out, I wouldn't think that the brand matters at all. Go for cheap! They're probably like generics in that they are made with the same components.

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by marianb 25 Jun 2019

I have one that I use on my laptop, but will get more for my machines..
Thank you

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 25 Jun 2019

I had a small usb hub that I plugged my card reader and my external drive and any jump drives, and the silly thing fell apart. And I still didn't think about using one on my precious machines.

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by shirley124 24 Jun 2019

These are great I have been using them for a while.

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 25 Jun 2019

I had no clue about the potential problems or about the extender itself.

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by lildoll2 24 Jun 2019

am i dumb or what ? how do you plug a thumbdrive in this or my card reader ? it has the same end as them... help explain before my brain freezes, thank s doris

2 comments
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

sharp eyes! the photo is incorrect. It doesn't show the correct "end" on it. If you get an extender, make sure that one end is female and one is male. (I copied the photo from the Facebook group where I learned this and I didn't check the accuracy of the photo) Thank you for noticing.

lildoll2 by lildoll2 24 Jun 2019

your welcome, my eyes are getting bad but thought i was seeing things wrong !!! doris

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by sbott54 24 Jun 2019

I’m so happy you suggested this fix. I’ve worried about the USB port and never thought of an extension. Silly me. Thanks bunches.

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

I didn't have sense enough to be worried about it! But I just learned from lildoll2 that the photo (which I copied from the Facebook group where I learned about this) is WRONG! It shows the wrong end. The extender should have one female and one male end.

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by babash 24 Jun 2019

I have been using one of these since a friend told me about the possible damage I could do just putting USB in and out of machine. I put it on and never take it off.

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

Me too! Although I haven't been using it very long.

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by 02kar Moderator 24 Jun 2019

I (and my machines) thank you for sharing this.

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

So welcome. I learned from lildoll2 that the photo I had posted shows a wrong extender. If you purchase one, make sure it says that one end is female and the other end is male. I think the photo shows shows two male ends.

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by markus 24 Jun 2019

Thanks for sharing

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

You're welcome. If you purchase one, make sure to buy one that has a male end and a female end. The photo above shows the wrong "end" and a jump drive won't fit in there.

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by dragonflyer 24 Jun 2019

Have one for each machine and have been using them for 10 years!

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

I realized this morning that I should also be using one on my computer! Sometimes my brain kicks in a little slower than it should.

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by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

I quickly learned to search for a 6" extender because i was flooded with long ones that I don't need.

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by sewtired 24 Jun 2019

Thanks for sharing!

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

If you purchase one, make sure to buy one that has a male end and a female end. The photo above shows the wrong "end" and a jump drive won't fit in there

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by crafter2243 Moderator 24 Jun 2019

Great idea. Makes a lot of sense

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

If you purchase one, make sure to buy one that has a male end and a female end. The photo above shows the wrong "end" and a jump drive won't fit in there

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by chris 24 Jun 2019

Great idea, would never of thought of this will purchase one next time I'm out. My machine even thanks you.

1 comment
parkermom by parkermom 24 Jun 2019

If you purchase one, make sure to buy one that has a male end and a female end. The photo above shows the wrong "end" and a jump drive won't fit in there

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by sebsews 24 Jun 2019

I am sure this will work. I have one of these...somewhere! Great information

1 comment
shirley124 by shirley124 24 Jun 2019

Yes they do work.

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