Loose USB Connections

[hughvane]

2012 iMac 27", two extension USB hubs.

Any time the unit, or the hubs, are moved, even with a mere nudge, the USB plugs to the iMac wiggle, and there appears the warning on the iMac screen. The hubs themselves are near-new.

Is there a tweak or workaround to make the USB plugs sit more securely in the ports at the back of the iMac?

 

[badshoehabit]

Blutack to hold them in?

 

[krs]

2012 iMac 27", two extension USB hubs.

Any time the unit, or the hubs, are moved, even with a mere nudge, the USB plugs to the iMac wiggle, and there appears the warning on the iMac screen. The hubs themselves are near-new.

Is there a tweak or workaround to make the USB plugs sit more securely in the ports at the back of the iMac?

Do the hubs have integral or detachable USB cables going to the iMac?
If detachable, I would try a different, better quality USB cable.
I have had problems with cheap USB cables not seating well in the Mac USB port.

Or first try a few different USB cables you already have to determine if the issue is the USB cable or the USB port on the Mac

PS:
If the issue is the USB port on the Mac, you could try this - VERY carefully

 

[hughvane]

One hub has it own fixed (integral) cable, the other has a USB cable. The sloppy socket connections are at the iMac. I might be tempted to try that fixit as shown in the video - thank you for posting it.

 

[pigoo3]

2012 iMac 27", two extension USB hubs.

Since this is a 27" iMac...do the hubs have rather short cables (between the USB connector & the hub itself)...that are causing the hub to actually "dangle" in the air (fully or partially)...instead of laying flat on your desktop (like my hubs do when I connect them to my MacBook Pro)?

If this is the case:

* Possible Free solution: Maybe putting some sort of item under the hubs (that supports the hubs weight or allows the hubs to lay flat with no stress on the hub cable)...could be a solution.

* Possible Low cost solution: If the USB hubs are "dangling" (fully or partially)...maybe purchasing a couple USB extension cables could help (allowing the USB hubs to lay flat on your desktop...and take the "weight stress" off the cable.

HTH,

Nick

 

[pm-r]

Is there a tweak or workaround to make the USB plugs sit more securely in the ports at the back of the iMac?

A quick Google search provides you with many links for various solutions:

how to improve USB connections - Google Search

www.google.com

Even one to physically bend the outer securing pins:

how to improve USB connections - Google Search

www.google.com

- Patrick
=======

 

[hughvane]

Since this is a 27" iMac...do the hubs have rather short cables (between the USB connector & the hub itself)...that are causing the hub to actually "dangle" in the air (fully or partially)...instead of laying flat on your desktop (like my hubs do when I connect them to my MacBook Pro)?

Plenty of cable length, and negligible gravity pull on the plugs. Thanks for your input.

 

[hughvane]

A quick Google search provides you with many links for various solutions:

https://www.google.com/search?

Even one to physically bend the outer securing pins:
- Patrick

Thank you Patrick.

It may help contributors to know that the iMac 27 was an office machine in its previous life, therefore used a great deal, and probably none too gently, eg. yanking out a USB connector when work pressure was in full swing.

Reiterating - it is the plug connection into the iMac that is at issue, an irritation more than anything when the screen warning about disconnection appears.

 

[krs]

It my help contributors to know that the iMac 27 was an office machine in its previous life, therefore used a great deal, and probably none too gently, eg. yanking out a USB connector when work pressure was in full swing.

Have you tried bending up the USB retaining clips on the iMac USB connector?
Sure sounds like that is the problem (and solution), especially after 10 years of use.