USB extension cable: bad?

[IdOp]

I bought an el-cheapo USB extension cable at Dollarama. Type-A male to type-A female, 1 m (=3.3ft). I've tried it on all the ports on 2 computers, with my flash drive, and also mouse, and it doesn't work (they work fine without the cable). The cable seems too short to be over-long. So I took an ohm-meter to the cable to check the connectivity, and found:

* The outer casing at each end is connected. (For shielding?)

* 3 of the 4 inner leads pass straight through ok (0 resistance).

* One of the 4 inner leads doesn't connect through. (It's the 3rd one from the left, if you hold the two ends side-by-side, with the key-tabs both on the bottom.)

So does anyone know if this is how it's supposed to be electrically, or does USB use all four of the inner leads and thus the cable is bad?

Thanks for any input.

[Carpetsmoker]

All four pins are needed, USB isn't like a 25-pin RS232 connector

[BSDfan666]

Definitely sounds like an el-cheapo device, power/gnd pins wired.. data pins unconnected.

[IdOp]

Thanks both for the comments. I've mostly had good luck with cables from these kinds of stores, so maybe I was due. Being unable to refund or exchange, I decided to cut up one of the end plugs, and think I found the stray wire in that one. So 2/3 of a cable is looking for a new plug . Will have to write it off to learning (unless relief can be gotten from the TARP ... ).