You're not losing power from the USB ports are you?

If you (and I'm making a big assumption that you're using Windows and I haven't read back through the thread yet. :C ) go to device manager, open up the USB controllers, right click and go to properties on the hubs/root hubs and go to the power management tab and deselect the 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' option.

It's made a difference with some of the dictation machines we use at work.

I am indeed using Windows (7).

I had thought about USB power settings but didn't change any. I'll give that a go.

If I can get the adapter to work properly my plan is to buy another, and a USB 3 hub so I only have to plug in power and one USB lead to my laptop when I work from home, so essentially making my own cheapo USB 3 dock. Rather than the current...

Power
USB for key+mouse
HDMI
VGA (or USB HDMI adapter)
Sound

Yeah I've had some issues with usb ports conking out and plugging the device into a different one worked fine. It was a lot worse before I got the new psu (last year?). Actually I don't think the problem has resurfaced since.

Well it woke up fine from the laptop being suspended overnight and lasted 4 hours yesterday afternoon.
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Lasted 4 hours and crapped out, or lasted 4 hours until you turned your machine off?

Lasted 4 hours until I put the machine to sleep.

 :-O~~~

Boooooooooooo. It's died again :C

Switching ports revived it.

Harumph.

I know it's not something you're gonna want to be part of your final setup, but can you use a powered hub instead for testing?

I would probably have a powered USB 3.0 hub if it all works so I only have one thing to plug in. I think it's time to buy one.

It gets more and more confusing this attempted setup.

Powered USB 3.0 hub arrived. Plugged everything in:
HDMI-USB adapter
Wireless Key+Mouse adapter
USB sound adapter

Everything works, oh, except the WiFi/Internet. WiFi is connected but I can't ping anything at all, not even local addresses. I happen to plug in a normal USB 2.0 hub into the laptop with nothing attached, and the pings come back to life! Bonkers.

I also bought a 2nd HDMI-USB adapter to see if I can get everything on one hub/cable. Two at once didn't seem to want to work properly so I'll have a better play later.

Have you tried turning the bathroom light off and on again?

There must some other wiring fault at work here. Bathroom lights are only connected to broadband outages, IIRC.

USB hub/wireless problems are generally related to lamps, doorbells or poltergeists. Either way, I'd recommend getting a priest in.

Tried it, just killed the broadband to the whole network, not just the computer.



4 years ago.

It seems to be working quite well now (ignoring the WiFi issue).

Powered USB 3.0 hub is running
USB to HDMI adapter
Ethernet adapter
Sound adapter
Keyboard/mouse

Not yet tried two USB-HDMI adapters again.

For less than £20 I've managed to put together (with a lots of wires hidden away) something like the £100+ docks.

Whadja have to do?

I think the powered hub is what has got rid of the disconnects. I would have expected the laptop USB 3.0 ports to be up to the job but I guess not. But having the hub means only one cable to connect for 4 devices so it's what I wanted anyway.

Was the laptop was doing power-saving stuffs or do you keep it plugged in?

I turned off the power saving stuff as Graphitone suggested, possibly improved things. Laptop is always plugged in whilst using the adapter.