"Lock on" USB cables?

Hello. I'm looking for a USB cable that can lock on to my laptop and my external hard drive. By "locking on" I mean by when connecting the USB cable, the cable, can't be pulled off by force. The reason I'm looking for this kind of USB cable is because the new laptop I ordered has a 256GB SSD so I'm planning to use my 1TB external hard-drive to save files like music, movies, an etc. I know I'll be using my hard-drive a lot so I don't want my cable to accidentally pull off whenever I'm using it. So if anyone knows what I'm talking about please recommend me some cables! Thank you!

This is the type of "Lock ON" USB Cable I want:

 

USB cables have enough friction for that to be a non-issue.

 

His concern is not without merit, though. Ports and cable ends are built to certain tolerances; not every single one is perfect. On my desktop's case, one of the front USB ports is extremely loose. If it weren't angled slightly upwards, anything I plug into it would just fall right out.

 

out of curiosity...what happens when you're transferring a large multi-GB file and the cable comes out?

 

The file will be incomplete and you'll have to transfer it all over again. That's pretty much it.

 

Sounds like a good idea, kinda like for SATA cables. I end up getting all locking SATA cables for my desktops because any jostling can easily end up with a loose cable.

Something like this would be nice, surprised we don't see them more.

 

if you can't find a solution, then using tape might help (or velcro + tape)

http://www.gearz.com/board/5144152-post5.html

 

LOL! Tape wasn't the answer I was looking for.

 

If you pull hard enough, you can break the locking clip off of the SATA cable... It's nowhere near as secure as screw-in connectors like DVI.

While I doubt anything inside a PC could possibly put that much force on the connector (aside from serious human error, which I've seen before...), in the outside world something like tripping over a wire would be enough.

 

Superglue.

 

I've thought of it ... but NOOO.

 

I HAVE used lock on usb cables before.

However they wont work on your laptop, I have used them as part of my custom arcade stick projects.

Neutrik - Data Connectors - USB

Moral of the story for a locking cable both sides of the connection must support it. So even if there are locking usb cables, unless your laptop had a locking supported usb connection (it doesnt) your going to have to rig something or just be careful.

If I was in your shoes and really seriously had to make sure that no matter what my usb cable could not be snagged out I would fit the cable with a stress relief anchor about 5" away from the jack this will keep the cable from getting snagged and it wont let the port get damaged if it does happen.

 

That is so true. Thank you for enlightening me. But my gut tells me that there is something that I'm looking for.

 

Sounds like your looking for a way to break your laptop

Force a usb cable that cant be removed into a standard usb jack and then snag it, its likely to rip the connector right off your motherboard, have fun fixing that.

 

Hey ViciousXUSMC! Check what I found.
Lock On USB Cable

And btw is these a specific name for the USB cable that I use for my external harddrive? I know one side is USB but the other smaller part... I don't know what to call it.

 

Thats great, take a close look at 0:29 see the 4 small pins that hold that usb jack to the motherboard. Now imagine those pins taking the force of a fall or snag that can easily exceed 150lbs.

Lets now evaluate what is worse, having the connection get pulled out and you have to plug it back in, or ripping the usb header off the motherboard of your computer or the external drive rending it completely useless.

When building devices, especially for the military they are required to have a fail safe. What is a fail safe? It is exactly what it says it is, if something was to fail for some reason there must be a way for the product to fail safely. In this case a usb connection pulling out of the port is a failsafe, having the usb cable rip the usb header out of the device would be a total failure and not safe.

I'll be honest with you, that product is a horrible idea, and probably why you do not see it in any kind of mainstream use. If it was a good idea hdd companies would have started to use it a long time ago.

If you want a failsafe that will prevent snags go with the anchor idea I already told you about. You can go to any hardware store and walk out with everything you need for less than a couple of dollars.

 

Maybe the best solution is to tuck the usb cables away so they are out of harms way. I know in my case, I have a 4 yr old and he gets into everything, so the cables have to be hidden

 

That is why I have wireless everything. Wireless mouse, keyboard, headphones. My desktop sits up high and run all cables down to my monitor. Just push the keyboard, mouse and headphones out of the way when needed.

 

Hmm that works? I was thinking of using one of those "invisible fences" with a shocking collar to keep the kids away from the computer.

I guess you way is a bit more socially acceptable.


P.S. - I am just joking for those who don't know sarcasm. I really was just going to use barbed wire.

 

Shock collars work too, unfortunately they go through batteries like crazy!

 

I haven't thought of this but are there any wireless external hard drives?

 

There's wireless NAS boxes. Or ethernet NAS that you can hook up to your wireless router. Lots of options. I run a Windows Home Server box hooked up to my network I can access locally wired or wireless or even remotely from anywhere with an internet connection. Most network aware NAS boxes can do the same thing.

 

If you're worried about the plugs coming out too easily, you could take a pair of pliers and bend the metal shielding on the plugs to make it bulge out a little bit so that it would fit more snugly into the jack. Yes it's ghetto, but free is free and it would still allow for it to come out in a disaster scenario.

 

There is an official Wireless USB standard. However, I have yet to see any external hard drives or drive enclosures based on that standard.

 

Probably wireless NAS is best to go wireless but you pay for it both literally in $$$ and sometimes depending on the setup and situation in speed.

At that rate why not just put everything on a cloud service then or have a WHS.

 

Hmmm... Cloud. I've seen it in commercials and advertisements. What is it exactly? I haven't cared to look information about it until right now.

 

Its a service that automatically backs up all the data on your computer for a monthly fee, or gives you online storage space that is all protected from loss via redundancy.

Also have you simply thought about installing larger internal hdds?

2.5" laptop drives are up to 1TB in space now, and Desktop 3.5" drives are up to 3TB

Depending on your situation you may just need a upgrade and not have to use an external drive at all.

 

Well, since my laptop has an 256GB SSD I wouldn't want to swap it for an HDD. So that's why I have an external HDD that I carry everywhere when I need it. I was just hoping to find what i was looking for. But you just shot me down and embarrassed me in front of the public. LOL just JK . But anyways, in my situation, it would come in very handy to have one.

 

Shot you down? Nope I educated you.

And possibly prevented a ton of grief for you later on.