Keeping Your External HD plugged in?

cgkrgreat
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 26, 2018 1:38:37 GMT

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Post by cgkrgreat on Aug 26, 2018 1:38:37 GMT

This is probably a dumb question . . . but we all know the saying here in the States, “The only dumb question, is the unasked one.” I always thought that was pretty silly . . .until . . . grin . . .

How can I get the female portion of the cord on my external hard drive to fit tighter into by PC? For example, plumbers and mechanics use a product called Teflon tape. It wraps around the threads of a bolt. Then when the bolt is screwed into the ‘whatever’, the ‘whatever’ fits much tighter. I have used it myself several times. It works great. And, might even work well for the problem that I bring up now.

Is a similar product made available for PC’s? At times, the end that plugs into my PC (I’m speaking about external hard drives here), slips a bit (or, in–some unfortunate occasions, slips a BUNCH)and photos that I value are rendered lost, and therefore worthless. Which leads me to another question for another day.

I used SuperGlue for the end that is connected to my external HD. It works GREAT!

However, I have been resistant to use the same technique to my PC because sooner or later the external HD is going to crash . . . .and I am going to be left with a dead ‘ball and chain’ of an external hard drive attached to my PC. I do not think that would be very cool at all.

Is such a product made and could you please tell me a little about it?

Thank you very much,

Dean

hmca
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 26, 2018 1:54:34 GMT

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Post by hmca on Aug 26, 2018 1:54:34 GMT

Hi Dean,

Welcome to PSE&G. You pose an interesting question. In doing a quick internet search I came across this article that cautions against leaving an EHD plugged in all the time.

It leaves me wondering if this is something you really want to do. That being said, there are members here who know a lot more about technical questions than I do. I don't imagine it will take too long before someone can give you
a better answer.

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alexr
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 26, 2018 11:40:40 GMT hmca likes this

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Post by alexr on Aug 26, 2018 11:40:40 GMT

I think I understand what you are asking. I would definitely never permanently glue anything into my PC. Not only might the HD fail and therefore its left hanging as you say, but if you need to replace your PC you won't be able to attach the HD to your new kit. And if it doesn't work you've lost one of the ports on your PC. If you really want to try something along the lines you are thinking, I would buy a standard USB cable and work on attaching it to that, and then plugging the other end of the new cable into the PC as normal. But before I did anything I'd make a copy of what's on the HD, even if it was to a number of DVDs. But fundamentally I don't know why you didn't just buy a replacement cable that fitted before you risked everything by glueing the old into the HD, creating the problem you now have.

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WayneS
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 26, 2018 20:38:07 GMT hmca and Sepiana like this

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Post by WayneS on Aug 26, 2018 20:38:07 GMT

I certainly agree with alexr's statement that a new cable would have been a much better decision!
At any rate, what I would suggest you try, is to take a pair of needle nose pliers, and just squeeze the end of the usb that fits into the computer, VERY VERY slightly, and that might prevent the plug from slipping! You might have to do it a couple of times to get it right! JUST DON"T OVERDUE IT THE FIRST TIME!

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kdcintx
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 26, 2018 22:45:10 GMT hmca and Sepiana like this

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Post by kdcintx on Aug 26, 2018 22:45:10 GMT

A google search on "how to tighten usb cable" yielded numerous results. The pins holding the usb connector in the port may need to be pulled out slightly with some needle nose pliers.

davescomputertips.com/how-to-fix-loose-usb-cable/

Bailey
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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 27, 2018 12:04:53 GMT hmca likes this

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Post by Bailey on Aug 27, 2018 12:04:53 GMT

Hi cgkrgreat,

Are you sure you're not having us on with this one? I have never heard of anything so bizarre before

(well, at least not related to computer hardware).

I'm with alexr here, a new cable is the way I would have gone.

And, oh btw, welcome to PSE&M

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Keeping Your External HD plugged in? Aug 27, 2018 12:22:40 GMT hmca likes this

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Post by Sepiana on Aug 27, 2018 12:22:40 GMT

Hi cgkrgreat, welcome to PSE&M!

I was on the Adobe Feedback forum and noticed you had a thread going there on the same topic. I am posting the link here. In this way, we can follow your progress over there. (You already got one reply.)

feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/making-sure-my-external-hard-drive-stays-connected

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Post by cgkrgreat on Aug 26, 2018 1:38:37 GMT

Post by hmca on Aug 26, 2018 1:54:34 GMT

Post by alexr on Aug 26, 2018 11:40:40 GMT

Post by WayneS on Aug 26, 2018 20:38:07 GMT

Post by kdcintx on Aug 26, 2018 22:45:10 GMT

Post by Bailey on Aug 27, 2018 12:04:53 GMT

Post by Sepiana on Aug 27, 2018 12:22:40 GMT