HDMI port sticking

Topic

Is there a way to lubricate an HDMI port? Trying to pull out the HDMI plug on my laptop is getting more and more difficult. This is for my external monitor which gets plugged and unplugged frequently. Thanks.

Replies

Have you considered a port replicator?  That way the monitor stays plugged into the port replicator and then you just unplug the usb connection.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=port+replicator&adgrpid=1334807680275092&hvadid=83425694871198&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=44268&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83425824145121%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=18005_13443552&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_jkifniipd_e

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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J9438, PL1

Susan Bradley wrote:

Have you considered a port replicator?

Interesting that you mentioned that. I bought one of those about a year ago. It was a small rectangular box about one inch wide and 3 or so inches long. It had 3 usb ports on the side and the hdmi at the end. I plugged my monitor, keyboard, and mouse into it.

Several weeks later I was trying to figure out why my word processor would suddenly start writing hundreds of the same character over and over. The mouse would also sometimes act erratically

Finally I figured out the HDMI part of the unit was getting too hot and causing chaos. That is when I bought the single HDMI to monitor line and a replicator with just 3 usb ports for the mouse and keyboard. I don’t remember the brand. No more problems.

As for my current problem I just thought that I might try a simple HDMI extender as it might just be the particular plug on my hdmi converter to monitor wearing or maybe as you have suggested a single use hdmi to usb.

Many thanks.

J9438 wrote:

Is there a way to lubricate an HDMI port? Trying to pull out the HDMI plug on my laptop is getting more and more difficult.

There should never be any need to lubricate an HDMI port.

I can only think of three reasons why it should become progressively more difficult to remove an HDMI lead:

– Dirt in the port
– Heat distortion (affecting the port, the cable’s plug connector… or both)
– Pressure distortion (caused by an expanding laptop battery?)

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J9438

Rick Corbett wrote:

Dirt in the port

Fortunately this is a homebody laptop – never leaves the house so no airport grime.

Rick Corbett wrote:

Pressure distortion

I don’t see any swelling. Battery function seem fine. The HDMI is between the ethernet and usb ports and they are fine. Frame not hot, just comfortably warm.

Rick Corbett wrote:

Heat distortion

Plug is cool at connection. HOWEVER, that suggestion brought up an interesting thought. I ALSO use this HDMI plug to connect to a (HDMI to usb C) dongle for my Chrome laptop. That dongle gets really hot. So maybe that dongle is causing a micro distortion of the plug. I have only been using that dongle for a year and prior to that had no problems with the regular laptop connection. ( No usb C on regular laptop so that is why I have 2 different dongles for the external monitor.) Thanks for the idea.

 

Batteries can swell and still appear to function normally. Open the laptop back and visually inspect the battery for swelling. Swelling does not always manifest itself with easily detectable case distortion. Set the laptop on a flat even surface and see if it rocks at all.

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J9438

DrBonzo wrote:

visually inspect the battery for swelling.

Unfortunately, my laptop is one of those where the battery cannot be changed (or accessed??)

DrBonzo wrote:

see if it rocks at all.

Perfectly flat- whew, scary!!

 

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DrBonzo

Go online and try to find a service manual for your laptop. The manual should tell you how to access the battery. Every laptop I have has one of two types of battery: 1) external that you can easily remove by flipping one or two slideable tabs on the underside of the laptop and then sliding the battery out. These batteries are encase in hard plastic and likely won’t show any distortion; and 2) internal batteries that can usually be accessed by removing the underside cover on the laptop, usually by removing some philips head screws and gently prying/lifting the cover off. These batteries typically have something that looks like a foil pouch that will look puffy when they expand and these can exert enough pressure to warp the laptop case or leave a gap between the monitor and keyboard portions of the laptop when the laptop is closed.

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J9438

I dug into my (never-used-old-junk cables and misc electronics gizmos) and found a male HDMI to 2 HDMI females connector. That seems to work and plugs into the laptop much easier.

So I suppose the other HDMI plug was just wearing a bit. So I will try this work around of male to female one of two to male to converter to monitor xxx pin female. (Whatever works -LOL).

Solved. I found on Amazon a short 12 inch cable with male/female hdmi ends. It is even flexible.

Plugs smoothly into and out of my laptop. Also plugs smoothly into and out of my Chrome hdmi to usb c dongle.

Solved – see above reply.