How long can you go?

[Ivor]

My netbook has been struggling to cope of late so I'm considering using my desktop instead, I've measured the distance and it is about 8m however I see the recommend USB cable length is 5m. I've bought a powered USB hub so I could buy 3 x 3m and have them trailing through the garden however I think this is asking for trouble in the middle of the night as I try and walk to the mount.

Questions:

Has anyone managed to get USB cable longer than 5m to work?
Any other cunning suggestions?

[The Thing]

Lindy.com do a 10m 4 port USB cable/hub. I have used one for years. excellent piece of kit, needs powering though.

[Carole]

I guess you don't want to buy yourself a new laptop then, more expensive but should solve the problem. 

Carole

[RobertM]

I've done 8m with a powered hub at the other end reliably.  A combination of a 5m and 3m extension both good quality with gold plated fittings.

A lot depends on how good the USB is on your laptop is.

Robert

[mickw]

.......middle of the night as I try and walk to the mount

If you tie a piece of hazard tape to it every meter or so you should be able to see it OK

[Ivor]

I guess you don't want to buy yourself a new laptop then, more expensive but should solve the problem.  

Yes I would like to choose that option but recent expenses (massive car service, family holiday, broken drains, failed sewage pump and subsequent clean up) means I need to choose the more economic solution at the moment.

I'll have a play first, Duncan which cable did you choose on LINDY.com? I can't find the one your suggesting.

It might be the hazzard tape option yet.

[The Thing]

http://www.lindy.co.uk/10m-usb-2-extension-4-port-hub/42630.html
£24.99 and never let me down until my laptop USB Ports threw a wobbly and zapped it. Two laptop Ports died permanently. Got another immediately.

[Mac]

My netbook has been struggling to cope of late

Have you tried to disable all the start up junk that gets installed every time you install a piece of software,
as all it does is just sit there in the background slowing everything down?

depending on which version of windows you are using.
run msconfig either from the run or the search and find panel
goto start up and untick everything that is not either your firewall or an antivirus.
NONE of it is realy needed.




check that you dont have the performance setting set up for very pretty. By default this is on.
this is under control panel, system settings, advanced performance, visual effects.
Just turn everything off, there are a couple of things you can leave on, such as show thumbnails instead of icons,
but for the most, everything off.

also check the advanced setting for your paging file and set it at a fixed size, if it is variable, then windows need to
recalculate it every time it needs to be made bigger or smaller, Mine is Fixed at 8Gig,

Use a good defrager to defrag your hard disk, but get rid of all those junk files first.

Mac.

ps.

If you are using the netbook whilst imaging, and you are not connected to the internet, then disable your antivirus you dont need it.

[JonH]

I set up a second profile on my laptop for just that. None of the junk I don't need for imaging including the antivirus etc.
Now I have a choice Of pretty or functional

[The Thing]

If your netbook is disappearing under a morass of Microsoft updates try this Tech Republic article. I recovered 9GB on my laptop and 12.5GB on my desktop! And everything ran faster (both Vista Home Premium SP2).

Also download CCleaner. Guess what the first C stands for... Bill Gates is due for an enema

[Ivor]

Most of problems have started when I moved to AstroArt5 so I'm not sure whether it is my familiarisation with the software or the netbook however with an Intel atom CPU Z520 @1.33Ghz it's always going to struggle.

I've already done the performance changes before, I'll check if anything has sneaked back; I might setup a an extra lean profile to see if it gives me any more.

Thanks for the advise.

[The Thing]

Just found this on Amazon, it was on the EQMOD group.

  TRIPP LITE U026-20M 20M USB 2.0 A/A Hi-Speed Active Extension/Repeater Cable 65' by Tripp Lite  $34.71

Can't see one this long on UK Amazon   

[Rocket Pooch]

3 minutes sometimes longer...