Have a mess? Need some help on that clean up job? If so, check out this DIY video on how to home brew a USB vacuum.

Can’t see the video - here’s the YouTube link.

Have you seen this error message before from your Windows machine when a USB device is connected: “This USB Device can Perform Faster if Connected to Hi Speed USB 2.0 Port?” Well, I’ve seen it recently and went through a fairly long process to figure out how to correct it. Surprisingly it’s not difficult.

First, let me say I’ve found little information on WHY this error occurs and how to avoid getting this error message when a USB device is connected to your computer. From the research I’ve done, this USB error message of “device can perform faster when connected to hi-speed USB” stems from a corrupt setting for a device on your computer in relation to how it communicates with the hi-speed USB host controller.

So here is the quick and easy fix: Reinstall the drivers for your Enhanced USB controller. Sounds complicated, but it isn’t. In fact, it’s a simple right click and a reboot. That’s it. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Unplug any USB devices from your computer with the exception of your keyboard and mouse [if they are connected].

Step 2: Navigate to your Device Manager page by doing:
Start > Control Panel > System > go to Hardware tab > Device Manager

From this window scroll down until you see the + sign for “Universal Serial Bus controllers.” Click the PLUS sign and another list will expand out. Simply identify the item which references a “USB Enhanced” controller and right click. From the options provided from your right click select “uninstall.”

You will get a warning sign, but don’t worry. Click OK.

Your computer will go through the process of uninstalling the USB Enhanced USB controller. Your computer will then immediately go through the installation process as well. After the re-installation you computer might seem all-is-well; however, your error message will not go away until you reboot your machine. Do that now.

If you have any questions or comments hit the forum post for follow up.

BootIt is a Lexar based utility to flip the Removable Media Bit setting of a USB drive.  What this means, is you can take a Lexar drive (and many other brands) and make it appear as a Local Drive on your PC rather than Removable Storage.

This is absolutely necessary if you are looking to partition your USB drive or try some trick hack like run your iTunes from a USB stick.

The RMB or Removable Media Bit is present on all flash drives, but whether the Lexar utility can flip it is something of trial and error.  Although it goes without saying…and I’ll say it anyway…the utility works with Lexar drives, everything else, use at your own risk.

Flip your bit BootIt is a freeware program.  Download it here. (more…)

Back in July 2007 I made a USB tutorial post about putting WordPress on a stick.  Shortly there after, several visitors emailed me indicating I had too much time on my hands and it really wasn’t worth the effort.  But how do I disagree!

Even in the past year, WordPress has gain momentum in the blogisphere and becoming the #1 blogging platform.  Even Alexa, a fairly decent gauge on web traffic ranks WP as #26 in most popular sites.

Given this information, I’ve seen more and more website - not blogs - use the WP platform to create their static website and webpages.  So for those SEO and web designers out there, putting WordPress on a stick allows them to demo the site to clients, run SQL runtimes for testing and troubleshooting and isolating their web environment during development.

A good example is my RSS Filter website: FilterMyRSS.  Take a look at the source code, you’ll see the script which runs the utility along with supporting pages and blog entries…all based off WordPress.

I do agree the masses wouldn’t care about putting WordPress on a stick, but if the web is your bread-n-butter it would probably be smarter for you to know how - than to not.

Install WordPress on a stick tutorial.

Today LifeHacker syndicated a short description on how to place a Wiki on a USB stick…and I thought…hmm interesting idea. So digging into things a little deeper it seems no more complicated than putting WordPress on a stick. But I think most of you would ask, why? The reason would be for off-line edits, organizing or remote access where there is no internet connectivity or you are in a facility which limits your access (schools & gov’t agencies).

Here is the web page from the MediaWiki website which gives you all the juicy details on placing a wiki on a stick.

One of the most common problems with USB drives is the plastic casing getting cracked and breaking apart.  It’s a shame that such a cheap piece of plastic might encourage some to drop another $20 or $30 on a new device.  Of course fixing the plastic is never going to work as a long term solution - just a stop-gap.

Instructables has a nice USB tutorial on taking a UFD and turning it’s case into a nice, customized wood piece.  Sure you could buy a fancy wood drive made from material carbon dated back 600 years or more, but sometimes making your own stuff is much more satisfying.

The USB tutorial displays 12 steps from start to finish with a list of equipment you’ll need, but after reading through the tutorial, I think a dremel would replace most of the tools required.  And we all have one of those.

So get going and as Eric would say “go build something…”

Link to USB tutorial lesson.

With “going green” such a big trend right now you might find yourself wanting to put a little green in your workspace - and no, I don’t mean that green. The following is a video USB tutorial on taking some supplies from around your office or home, LED lights and some USB power to create your very own USB LED Greenhouse.

Video is 3 minutes.