Re: flashing usb sticks?

bad sector wrote:

> I call it a scam because on both my laptop and my desktop of a total of
> maybe a dozen usb ports 8 are so loose that they cannot be used. 

How is a hardware spec responsible for user abuse, or poor/low quality
components?  Never had a loose USB port on my desktop PCs (many builds),
laptops, netbooks, or smartphones.  I've had to replace USB ports for
users that are very rough on their USB ports.  You can even damage wall
outlets when plugging in power cords.  With USB-C ports, you can insert
them either way, but USB-A ports require a specific orientation.  Don't
jam in the cable, but instead insert to see if there is resistance, and
if so then rotate the plug 180 degrees.  Pull straight out, not at an
angle.  There are military-grade USB port you could use to replace the
consumer-grade, or poor-grade, ones in the laptop, but they cost more.
There are military USB ports that remove the user from doing the
alignment, and instead have a lock-ring to pull down the connector into
the plug to protect the connection from the grunts.

The USB ports in the desktop can be replaced, even those in the case
(top, front, or backpanel), and USB ports in drive bays or back slots
can be easily replaced.  USB ports in laptops are harder to replace only
because dismantling a laptop is a more difficult than dismantling a
desktop case.  Thereafter be more gentle on your USB insertions, or use
shorty USB extenders where they stay plugged in to minimize wear on the
laptop's USB ports, and the vast majority of the wear is on the other
end of the shorty USB extender (the end that plugs into devices).
Shorty USB cables are cheap, and super easy to replace.  USB hubs would
also reduce wear on the USB case ports.