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Why has my External Hard Drive wire got 2 USB plugs?

April 26, 2017add-ons Computers external hard drive GOT hardware internet plugs USB wire

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Why has my External Hard Drive wire got 2 USB plugs?

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One is for data and power, the other is just for extra power. It’s usually not needed with desktops or with USB hubs that have their own power supply. But some laptops don’t provide enough power on each USB port, and the drive will need them both connected. If the drive isn’t getting enough power from the USB port, it will not work at all. So if it’s working with just one connector, then everything is fine. The USB port can supply enough power. But if you connect just the single data & power connector on a laptop, you may find that the drive doesn’t work because the laptop can’t supply enough power. The same thing can happen if you use an unpowered USB hub (since all the devices on the unpowered hub have to share the power from the single USB port the hub is plugged into).