Dangerous USB hubs

[michaelsonglim]

It's only happened twice, but that's two times too many - a USB multi-hub with portable hard drives, two or more, plugged into a desktop PC. I turn on the PC, the USB hub prevents booting, and I notice the devices plugged into the hub are flashing (the mouse, the portable drives' data lights). I unplug the hub, the boot continues just fine.

I plug back in the hub, one device at a time. Two or three of the seven USB ports are broken, but. . . the data on the portable hard drives has been corrupted. So I'm asking. . .

1) are there USB multi-port hubs that are constructed better, electronically more sturdy than others. If so, what are they?
2) if the answer is, no, not really, then for those of us who seem to need 7 to 10 USB ports, do we need computer builds that have that many ports built in? Is that, of itself, asking for trouble - just needing so many ports?
3) and if needing so many ports is an issue, is there a better way to do business? I need 3 for hardware drum pads and keyboards, 2 for portable hard drives, 2 for the required software activation dongles (the inescapable ILOK and Steinberg license dongles), and the list goes on. . . . has anyone found a way to avoid depending on multiple USB ports and devices for their daily grind?

Thanks -- that's all quite mouthful, I know
winston

 

[CountMike]

A hub connects to only one USB port in the PC and all share same USB port and power from it. For hard drives I wouldn't consider more than two plugged in at a time and at that to be a powered hub. Other things that require more power are USB camera and WiFi adapters. Ordinary pen drives would only slow down if 2 or more are connected but higher powered devices do need powered hu but everything else can put a strain on computer and maybe even blow something inside.
Maximum power a USB2 can provide is 500mA and USB3 900mA.

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[USAFRet]

You're asking a single USB port to do too much.

Multiple hubs connected to individual USB ports on the PC. Spread the load out.