How to get the most out of it (and why it keeps getting better) – Computerworld

I began by sliding the cabinet lock open, releasing the lid.

Next, I slid the NVMe module into the connector and secured it in place with the soft silicone plug; allows the use of three cards of different sizes.

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I ended up applying the included heating pad and replacing the cap.

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I closed the case and was done.

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It was worth the effort, because after connecting it to the Plugable dock, it was able to move almost 30 Gbps. Not bad for a few minutes of work.

Be a powerful traveler

I travel a lot for work and pleasure, and it always seems like my phone’s battery is at 20%. My last trick to not be isolated from the world is 30 dollars. Anker nano power bank. It’s small, only adding 3.5 ounces to the phone’s weight, and has a unique rotating USB-C connector that has worked with every phone I’ve tested. There is also a port on the side for charging and as an alternative way to charge a device.

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Available in five colors, the Nano Power Bank’s 5,000 milliamp-hour battery can output 18 watts, about what the typical AC adapter delivers. Capable of providing hours of extra power, the five-point LED charge indicator shows how much power is left.

There’s one more USB-C power trick I use every day with my work Android tablet that makes plugging and unplugging a lot easier. He iSkey Magnetic USB C Adapter It’s a knockoff of Apple’s MagSafe design, where one part connects to the tablet and the other to a USB cable. Inside, these two parts have powerful magnets that come together to establish a physical and electrical connection when they are a few centimeters apart. Later, when it’s time to move around the office, I separate them. The best part is that it costs about $20.

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USB-C Troubleshooting

The fact that there isn’t much to adjust or configure with USB (C or not) is a testament to its technological success. New or old, in almost all cases, it just works. That is, until it stops being that way. At that point, there are several angles of attack for problem solving.

My first step is look what the cable does, or not. For example, I was having problems with my MacBook Air not charging reliably. To see what was happening with USB-C charging, I inserted Plugable USBC-METER3-1MF Diagnostic Cable ($20) between the AC adapter and the laptop.

The cable meets the USB 3.1 Gen 2 10Gbps specification and can handle up to 240 watts of power; Its built-in OLED display shows how much electricity is flowing. In my case it was 1 or 2 watts, not the 20 watts it should be. After moving the cable to see the power flow jump to a more normal level, I concluded that the charging cable had an intermittent short. Replacing it worked and I haven’t had any problems since.

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My second step is use Windows’ built-in USB tools. In addition to notifying me of a problem, the Settings screen in Windows 10 and 11 has a way of bringing unresponsive USB devices back to life. If you are having USB issues on a Windows 10 or 11 device, try these tips:

1. Go to Device Manager by right clicking on This computerin File Explorer and then clicking Properties. Under “Related Settings”, click Device administratornear the bottom to display a list of devices. In Device Manager, double-click Universal Serial Bus Controllers in the list to reveal the actual driver. It should read something like “USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.” Right click and then choose Properties. On the Power Management tab, uncheck the box next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power to keep the port on. But be careful: your battery could drain faster because of this change.

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2. While you’re there, updating USB drivers won’t hurt. You can do this by choosing the USB device that is not working, right clicking and choosing Update driverfrom the drop-down list.
3. Finally, check the specifications of the computer, device, and cable to make sure they match.

With Thunderbolt the underlying transfer technology for USB4, the Thunderbolt Control Center can provide information. The application, which usually appears in the Windows Start menu applications list (and can also be downloaded from the Microsoft store), interrogates the system’s Thunderbolt controller chip to maximize performance and shows which Thunderbolt devices are online. At the bottom there are details about whether it is connected and how it is powered. Click on the About section on the left to see a deeper level of detail. This includes the Thunderbolt version that the controller supports.

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Finally, when all else fails, try cleaning the physical USB-C port, because dust, dirt and debris may be preventing the electrical connection. Try using compressed air to blow away loose stuff and then gently clean the port with a soft plastic toothpick. I use the Oral-B Expert Interdental Brushes, which are the perfect size for removing everything from pet hair to pocket lint. At $3 for 20, you can’t go wrong.

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You’d be surprised what comes out. Hopefully you now have a clean machine ready to go.

This article was originally published in August 2014 and was last updated in April 2024.