Computer USB port question

[woodworkingboy]

I purchased a scanner, and when I went to plug it into my old mac last night, the little white thingy in the USB port that supports the pins, fell out, but I didn't see it happen, so consequently the pins got bent up, and even after straightening them, the port doesn't work. I think it must have been shorted out. Now I only have the one port working, that the keyboard plugs into.

I see on the web that they sell port adapters, giving multiple ports. Anyone happen to know if purchasing one of those will solve my problem of now having only one working port? Can a scanner or printer get plugged into one?

Thanks for the help.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Good question. I'm curious as to the answer. My guess is no.

 

[Bodean]

just get a port splitter like stealing cable.

 

[woodworkingboy]

A port splitter, that's what I need! Thanks very much

Do you know if it's possible to overload a port with those?

 

[Mr. Sir]

Not likely.

Do you have a fire extinguisher within reach?

 

[MasterBlaster]

So is it a good or bad thing???

 

[rumination]

Jay, it's probably better to get a small usb hub with power adapter. Some devices rely on a certain amount of power from the usb port and if you just use a splitter like that then the computer won't be able to supply enough power to each port. Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817180008

 

[rumination]

Sure, but he might want to plug something else in, in the future.

 

[wiley_p]

That happened on my old laptop. I got a usb hub, 4 ports. Problem solved.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Thanks for the help. That's something I came across after researching it upon Bodean's suggestion, a USB splitter that supplies power from the computer, and types that don't. I believe that devices like a printer and scanner, have their own power, so power from the computer is not necessary. I'm wondering what devices need power from the computer, perhaps a card reader, or something like that, that don't have an ac plug-in?

 

[rumination]

Devices that require power from the computer: card reader, mouse, keyboard, ipod/mp3 players, external harddrives, flash drives etc...

Some only require a little bit of power, some a lot more.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Great, Leon, I think that you've nailed it for me. Not so bummed about the damage now.

 

[rumination]

Glad to be of help.

I had the same problem before, that's how I know...

 

[Bodean]

Great, Leon, I think that you've nailed it for me. Not so bummed about the damage now.

Only in the darkness can the light shine.

 

[Paul B]

dunno if you can overload them. I have an internal USB hub with 4 ports, then I have an external USB hub with 4 ports plugged ni to the other USB hub. seems to work fine,

 

[woodworkingboy]

I bought a port splitter, and it has solved the problem. I'm still a little confused, looking at the products available, most just plugged into the computer port and split off into multiples, which is what I purchased. There were some that had an ac adapter on the other end from the plug that goes into the computer and connected ports, which plugs into a wall socket. What are those for, when the computer doesn't supply enough power through the USB, for a connected device?

 

[lumberjack]

I think the limit of ports is 127, fwiw.

 

[Paul B]

external drives and other USB devices may require more power than the USB hookup can provide, hence the extra power cord.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Gotcha, thanks

 

[C. Kirk]

You should buy a power usb hub. even if you don"t need the power now you may need it it the later on. I have 2 run then on all my Mac's.