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tavilach · Oct 15, 2004, 12:53 AM

I'm sure that there's a way to disable a USB device without unplugging it, but I just can't figure it out!

I have a USB fan, and sometimes the breeze gets too chilly, but it's annoying to unplug (it ruins its position, and there's no where to put it).

Any suggestions?

Maflynn · Oct 15, 2004, 07:15 AM

Not that I know of, I never hooked up a usb fan though.
Since there's no way to regulate the electricty in a usb there's no way for you to turn on or off the ports AFAIK.

This may sound nit-picky but why not reposition it so its not blowing on you or just unplug it. Its not like a laser sight that you need to keep perfectly aligned its just a fan.

Mike

tavilach · Oct 15, 2004, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Maflynn:
Not that I know of, I never hooked up a usb fan though.
Since there's no way to regulate the electricty in a usb there's no way for you to turn on or off the ports AFAIK.

This may sound nit-picky but why not reposition it so its not blowing on you or just unplug it. Its not like a laser sight that you need to keep perfectly aligned its just a fan.

Mike

If there's a way to unmount USB drives, shouldn't there be a way to "unmount" a fan?

TETENAL · Oct 15, 2004, 02:40 PM

Get a proper fan with a switch.

Maflynn · Oct 15, 2004, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by tavilach:
If there's a way to unmount USB drives, shouldn't there be a way to "unmount" a fan?

Except the fan is only drawing power and the unmounting is not for power perspective but to ensure that any outstanding data is written to the device.

Do you see the fan on your desktop? no, its just drawing power. Like the other poster said just get a regular fan.

tavilach · Oct 15, 2004, 03:40 PM

I have a regular fan...this fan is for when I take my laptop to the common room, or to the library...

TETENAL · Oct 15, 2004, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by tavilach:
I have a regular fan...this fan is for when I take my laptop to the common room, or to the library...

So this the the fan you carry around? And you can't unplug it from the laptop "because that changes its position"?

Man, you have problems.

tavilach · Oct 15, 2004, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
So this the the fan you carry around? And you can't unplug it from the laptop "because that changes its position"?

Man, you have problems.

I can unplug it, but I don't want to be constantly unplugging it and replugging it, because it's not that easy to adjust.

Other people have requested switches on USB lights and fans...do they all have problems?

You people have nothing better to do than to insult a guy who is asking about USB ports? Are you that lame?

Maflynn · Oct 15, 2004, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by tavilach:
I can unplug it, but I don't want to be constantly unplugging it and replugging it, because it's not that easy to adjust.

Other people have requested switches on USB lights and fans...do they all have problems?

You people have nothing better to do than to insult a guy who is asking about USB ports? Are you that lame?

No offense but your question is a little over the top, plus I did a search on usb and fan and failed to get any hits in the OSX, Software and Periphial forums, so this question hasn't been asked (or asked much).

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Unplugging the fan is the easiest way to turn off the fan.

Your forgetting that apple (or any other mfg) put usb ports in the computer for i/o devices. They weren't designed for fans or lights, that's not to say you can't use it but looking for OS support to turn them off when they don't even support that type of application is asking too much and harping on it certainly does not help. I gave you the answer right off the bat but you kept prodding to get a different answer. Pushing as you do, will open yourself to flames.

Mike

AKcrab · Oct 15, 2004, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by Maflynn:
Pushing as you do, will open yourself to flames.

Mike

You flamed him in the first reply. Set the tone for the whole thread. Good work.

tavilach · Oct 15, 2004, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by Maflynn:
No offense but your question is a little over the top, plus I did a search on usb and fan and failed to get any hits in the OSX, Software and Periphial forums, so this question hasn't been asked (or asked much).

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Unplugging the fan is the easiest way to turn off the fan.

Your forgetting that apple (or any other mfg) put usb ports in the computer for i/o devices. They weren't designed for fans or lights, that's not to say you can't use it but looking for OS support to turn them off when they don't even support that type of application is asking too much and harping on it certainly does not help. I gave you the answer right off the bat but you kept prodding to get a different answer. Pushing as you do, will open yourself to flames.

Mike

I'm prodding on because you obviously have not looked into this, and it seems very reasonable that the OS would have a spot to disable the power in the USB port, or the port all together. Unplugging is not the easiest way to turn it off if there is an easier why (i.e. clicking on "Disable Device" or something of the sort).

As for searching...are you saying that I'm only supposed to ask things that have already been asked? That's pretty retarded if you ask me.

I'm not harping. I'm trying to find a damn answer to my question, other than "just unplug it" (it's very, very inconvenient to do this every five minutes...I want it blowing at me when I'm hot, but I want it stopped when I'm not). You say that they don't support devices like this...but this isn't a question about OS support. I'm asking if there is any way to disable a damn USB device. That's not specific to a fan...many USB devices use power.

Bring on the flames, but I never did anything to warrant them.

You may think of this as a meaningless question, but I may think of your entire life as meangingless. I am still entitled to an answer, as are you to your life. If you don't want to answer the question, fine, but don't derail my thread. It's very important that I get this question answered.

Maflynn · Oct 16, 2004, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by AKcrab:
You flamed him in the first reply. Set the tone for the whole thread. Good work.

Dude, that was no flame, I asked him why it was so important to keep it in.

Maflynn · Oct 16, 2004, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by tavilach:
I'm prodding on because you obviously have not looked into this, and it seems very reasonable that the OS would have a spot to disable the power in the USB port, or the port all together. Unplugging is not the easiest way to turn it off if there is an easier why (i.e. clicking on "Disable Device" or something of the sort).

Well good luck, I'm not looking into this because its not my problem, if you want to trudge on, go for it. Sometimes there isn't an answer at least the one you want.

Just using my logic, it seems clear to me why the OS doesn't support turning a usb fan on or off because it doesn't appear to the OS, i.e., gets mounted.

If you find a utiltiy that does this, more power to ya.

Mike

drive-thru · Oct 16, 2004, 12:30 PM

People actually use those fans!?

Anywho...
There is nothing I could find in OS X, Google or VersionTracker.
Your options are:
-Unplug it (I don't undersand the 'there's nowhere to put it')
-Point it away from you when it's too cold and then point it back when it's too hot
-Cut the cable and install a switch
-Buy a new fan with a switch
-Sit by a window/air con
-Wait for Winter

TETENAL · Oct 16, 2004, 07:46 PM

tavilach · Oct 18, 2004, 01:15 AM

I found out that in Windows, to turn off a USB port, one just needs to go into Device Manager and disable it.

It's possible, then, if Windows can do it!

sandsl · Oct 18, 2004, 05:53 AM

Just because its technically possible, doesn't mean you can do it on a Mac. The OS might not provide support for deactivating USB devices, or software might not exist to do it, or hardware/architectural differences may prevent it.

Sorry! I'd suggest you wear a jumper and take it on/off when appropriate - it is october after all.

Powaqqatsi · Oct 18, 2004, 06:01 AM

Those fans are soooo gay !

(disclaimer: not aimed at gay people)

PurpleGiant · Oct 18, 2004, 06:14 AM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
Those fans are soooo gay !

(disclaimer: not aimed at gay people)

Are you inferring that gay people don't get hot? You insensitive clod!

macmad · Oct 18, 2004, 06:30 AM

From Apple Dev Con: "The USB root hub in the computer is set to support remote wakeup whenever a device is attached to the bus. The device wakes the computer by sending a RESUME event to the USB root hub." - obviously the USB device will need to be powered up in order to do this, so the +5v (pin 1) supply is permanently applied. The problem is this fan is a 'hack', just using pins 1 & 4 for power. I think your chances of remote controlling it via software on a mac are close to zero.

drive-thru · Oct 18, 2004, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by tavilach:
I found out that in Windows, to turn off a USB port, one just needs to go into Device Manager and disable it.

It's possible, then, if Windows can do it!

Does that actually disable power to that port, or just disable it from sending/receiving data?

Edit: I agree with macmad's interpretation - the USB ports supply power even when the mac is in sleep mode (I just tried it). So, it doesn't look likely that you can turn off power to an individual port, apart from with a screwdriver...but that's more of a permanent solution.