Upside-Down USB Socket Humbug.

[Joe]

Early this year I acquired a lap-top which only has two USB sockets and one of those was physically broken.  It was only earlier today that I found out how to take it to bits so could finally get on and change it.

I pinched a right-angled socket out of an old USB 1.1 hub that I'm never likely to need — I certainly won't need all four sockets on it — and fitted that.

It was only when I'd put it all back together than I noticed it was up-side down.  Before plugging anything into it I tested the power polarity and lo and behold that was reversed so no doubt the data lines are as well.

I'd no idea that there were two type of right-angle sockets, ie one with the connecting legs pointing going up in relation to the body and another with them down.

I've found I can get five of the correct sort for a pound off e-Bay and waiting for them to arrive will let me recover from exhuming the motherboard before doing it again.  At least they aren't some weird Toshiba-specific things.

It's certainly something to watch out for.

— Joe

[ppppenguin]

I'd no idea that there were two type of right-angle sockets, ie one with the connecting legs pointing going up in relation to the body and another with them down.

The other type is a left angle socket  

They are installed using a left handed screwdriver.

Good luck with the repair.

[Joe]

Don't talk to me about screws, left- or right-handed.  I must have had to take two-dozen of the blighters out.   

— Joe

[ppppenguin]

How many did you have left over afterwards?

A corollary of Murphy's Law: When you have replaced the cover plate held down with 24 precisely torqued screws you will find you have omitted the gasket.

[Terry]

... and never try to fit one of those Duraplug rubber trailing sockets without a sharp craft knife handy.

Nobody ever notices that there is a hole in the rear of the top cover for the cable to pass through ...

... and the quick way round it is to use the aforementioned knife to slit the cable entry and force it over the cable.

[Refugee]

A pair of side cutters is much quicker and safer for that bodge and it also applied to the plugs of the same era.
I always used my side cutters

[peter scott]

Nobody ever notices that there is a hole in the rear of the top cover for the cable to pass through ...

Oh dear! That brings back memories.....lots of them.

Peter

[Joe]

I've lost count of the number of times I've wondered why a radio isn't working only to find I haven't put the valves back.

— Joe

[ppppenguin]

Do you remember the Radiospares diecast covers for D connectors? You couldn't use a knife or side cutters on them. I've forgotten to thread a 25 way cover on the cable and neatly soldered all the joints before realising.

[Joe]

I thought I may as well round this tale off.

After a closer look at the pictures of those "Sockets" on e-Bay I spotted that they were actually PCB-mounting plugs.

I tried modifying another of the ones out of the hub, which may well have worked had I not snapped snapped one of the legs off while fitting it.

Another look at e-Bay turned up the exact require socket for £1.75 so I ordered one of those.

I've just fitted it and all is well.  It's surprising what you can do with a 25W Antex with an ⅛" tip and a Poundland screwdriver. 

In answer to Jeffrey's question in post 4, one on the first occasion but not now.

— Joe