[SOLVED] How to find out, if USB-pin did not properly connect?

[Oblivion77]

Dear forum

I have covered my USB-port on my stationary PC with duct tape, to protect it from damage, dust, dirt etc. (The port is horisontal)

When I removed the duct tape last time, I saw that some of the glue has gotten stuck around the USB port. Now I fear, that some of the glue has gotten into port and onto the of the 4 pins. I have used a flashlight to see down into the port and into the USB pin aswell, and I cannot see any glue, dirt etc.

My system registers instantly when I plugin the USB pin, it appears both in Explorer, detected by my AVG etc.

1)
If one of the 4 pins did not connect properly, how would I know?

2)
How much dirt etc. can one of the 4 pins be covered with, before the USB pin cannot function correctly?

3)
Photo from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#/media/File:USB-A_3.1_Gen_1_ports_on_OWC_Thunderbolt_3_Dock.jpg
On the USB port to the left, you can see the 4 pins. But just above, there are 5 metal-pins, what are those?

Thank you in advance for reading and replying!

Best regards

 

[Furzumz]

I'd recommend some caps to cover them when not in use if dirt and all that is an issue

If one of the 4 pins did not connect properly, how would I know?

You'd be experiencing device disconnections or it wouldn't register anything outright

2)
How much dirt etc. can one of the 4 pins be covered with, before the USB pin cannot function correctly?

When it cant make enough proper contact with what it needs to. A little bit of dust shouldn't hurt anything but if its getting significantly caked with dirt or large amounts of dust I could see it causing possible connection issues

In which case blowing out the USB cable and the USB port with something like a can of compressed air would likely fix it

3)
Photo from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#/media/File:USB-A_3.1_Gen_1_ports_on_OWC_Thunderbolt_3_Dock.jpg
On the USB port to the left, you can see the 4 pins. But just above, there are 5 metal-pins, what are those?

That one I'm not sure about myself, sorry. Someone else here might know