Repairing and Upgrading USB Adaptors

Do you need to upgrade or repair an USB adapter (WLAN, storage stick, hard drive, ...)? Here is a collection of free do-it-yourself instructions.

If you have written a repair guide yourself (or if you know of a report not linked here), please submit a new entry.

USB Adaptor Repairing and Do-it-Yourself Custom Builds

ASUS WL-167G	How to add an external antenna port to the USB WLAN adapter.
Buffalo Air Station g54 (WLI-U2-KG54-AI)	Antenna modification: how to fit a RT-SMA socket pigtail to the WLAN USB stick.
Linksys USB BT100 Class 1 Bluetooth Adapter	Bluetooth a Mile Away: With a simple antenna modification to a USB Bluetooth adapter, you can extend your wireless range to record-setting distances.
NetGear WG111v2 54 Mpbs Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter (Dongle)	Disassembly picture gallery.
4km WiFi Range w/ $5 DIY Antenna	Make 2.4GHz parabolic mesh dishes from cheap but sturdy Chinese cookware scoops & a USB WiFi adaptor.
USB BendLight	Attaching a LED to one end of an USB cable.
Scientific Atlanta/WebStar DPW939 (rebadged WL-167g)	Ralink USB wifi adapter external antenna modification.
Siemens Gigaset USB Adapter 54 (WLAN Accesspoint)	Disassembly instructions with pictures.
Homer Simpson Stick	How to make a Homer USB stick.
Sandisk 256 MB Cruzer Micro	An illustrated Lego(tm) Jumpdrive conversion guide.
Sandisk 512 MB Cruzer Micro	The Lego(tm) USB flash drive.
SanDisk Cruzer 512 MB	How to cast the USB stick in clear casting resin used to make paperweights out of scorpions or flowers.
LegoStick I	How to build an USB stick into a Lego(tm) brick.
LegoStick II	How to fit an USB memory drive into a Lego(tm) brick.
Dick Smith Electronics USB Flash Drive 128MB	Here is an illustrated step-by-step HOWTO to fit a USB stick into a Lego(tm) brick.
w00tstick	Mod your own USB WoodStick, all you need is a USB stick and some epoxy glue.
CUSBPDC	Pimp that freebie USB stick, turn it into a CUSBPDC (that's Custom USB Pen Drive Case for those of you not in the know). Soldering a LED to the top of the stick.

How to Handle external USB Hard Drive Cases

N.N.	Recycle a laptop hard drive using it in an external USB enclosure.
N.N.	How to assemble a USB portable hard drive?

Adding a USB Port to a Laptop or Notebook

Apple iBook G4 14.1'' 1GHz	How to add an internal USB BlueTooth dongle.
ASUS Eee PC 701	How to add an internal USB Bluetooth port to the sub-notebook without affecting the built-in wireless or using the empty mini PCIe card slot.
ASUS Eee PC 701 4G	Some internal upgrades: to install devices internally, more USB-connections are needed this can be achieved by routing the D+/D- signals from the southbridge/controller to a 4 port USB-hub. Now you can add a GPS with antenna, a BlueTooth connector, a SD/HC CardReader and some FlashDrive storage. A separate power switch can switch off all additional USB devices.
Averatec AV1050	Adding an internal USB BlueTooth module.
DELL Inspiron 8500/8600	Adding an extra USB port.
DELL Latitude CPx	Adding internal USB BlueTooth.
IBM ThinkPad i1400	HOW-TO: Laptop resurrection and upgrade, battery revival, membrane keyboard repairs, trackpoint transplant, adding USB ports and wireless LAN.
Sony VAIO PCG-505EX	Adding an USB port (in Japanese).

Repairing and Modding USB-Cables

Selfmade USB-Cable - 2in1	Make one from two: how to build one reliable USB cable from two cheap cables (in German).
Selfmade USB-Cable - Cheap and Short	How to make a short USB cable.