USB ports not working

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wizdumb

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none of my usb ports (2 front and 4 back) on my one pc is working anymore. when you plug in any flash drive, camera or external hdd - it either says it doesn't recognise it, does nothing and doesn't pick it up

any suggestions how to fix this, or what i can try
 
1) Does all three of the mentioned symptoms happen? i.e. does it say it say it doesn't recognise it AND THEN does nothing AND doesn't pick it up?
2) Did they used to work and then suddenly not work?
3) Have you tried a mouse or keyboard in those ports? Was the result the same?
4) What operating system are you using?
 
I've only ever experienced the "USB Device not recognized" problem once and that was because of outdated USB drivers. Are you using Windows XP? If so, do you have Service Pack 2 or 3 installed?
 
it has winxp on it with service pack 2. it did work, and then the front 2 stopped working and now all of them are faulty.

it only sometimes says device is not recognised (think i was when i tried a new flash drive), but the rest of the time (99%) nothing at all happens
 
I have a similar problem with my desktop PC.
When I plug an external HDD into any of the 5 ports it fails to be recognised, although it wiill read my sticks camera etc.
The external HDD works on other peoples machines, also my laptop.
Because of this problem I have not been able to back up my system.
I re installed XP home (SP3) and it worked once or twice and then nothing.
If any body can shed any light on this I would be most grateful.
:confused:
 
wizdumb said:
it has winxp on it with service pack 2. it did work, and then the front 2 stopped working and now all of them are faulty.

it only sometimes says device is not recognised (think i was when i tried a new flash drive), but the rest of the time (99%) nothing at all happens
Click to expand...

it is probably a problem with the mapping of the drive to a drive letter ...

try this :

1. right click "my computer" and select manage
2. Click disk management
You should see you flash drive as one of the disks/volumes in the window on the right
It generally does not have a drive letter set
3. right-click on the disk/volume and select "change drive letter.."
4. click change/add and select an unused drive letter.

BECAREFUL not to change the mapping of your C drive as that will cause problems with your windows install
 
lucifir said:
it is probably a problem with the mapping of the drive to a drive letter ...

try this :

1. right click "my computer" and select manage
2. Click disk management
You should see you flash drive as one of the disks/volumes in the window on the right
It generally does not have a drive letter set
3. right-click on the disk/volume and select "change drive letter.."
4. click change/add and select an unused drive letter.

BECAREFUL not to change the mapping of your C drive as that will cause problems with your windows install
Click to expand...

i tried the above, and it doesn't work.
it doesn't show any device in disk management.

i tried the flash drive and camera on all the usb ports, and the pc is not picking them up
 
Had the same problem... Ended up spending R100 on a 4 port usb controller card. It's a bit of a pain, you know, having all my usb ports at the back of my box though.
 
this is not even an option, as i would probably have to plug the usb controller, into a usb port - and none are working

on a different note, post 666 *uh-oh*,
 
R47-Error: you have rats in your system, and your usb connections have been chewd off. Please put some ratex pelets in the CD-Rom Drive.
 
wizdumb said:
this is not even an option, as i would probably have to plug the usb controller, into a usb port - and none are working

on a different note, post 666 *uh-oh*,
Click to expand...


Huh? Dude, a usb controller, like the chip on your motherboard that controls the usb ports. You must be thinking of a usb hub or something. :)

You just buy one that is integrated on a PCI expansion card... Push in the PCI card, and you're go! :D

Like these:

http://www.jump.co.za/product/via-vt6212l-4-1-port-usb-2-0-pci-controller-8988194.htm
(Don't be startled by the price, it's wantitall, imported stuff, just for illustration :D )


http://www.jump.co.za/product/d-link-du-520-5-port-usb-2-0-pci-11525248.htm


http://www.mecerdirect.co.za/mecer-product-specification.php?product=Mecer_NDkyMQ==
(I've got one similar to this one, just branded sunix or something, it works...)
 
Take a look here for advice on most USB problems.
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm#Stops Working

If nothing helps and you need to purchase a USB card, Sybaritic and Frontier Electronics do sell NEC UPD720101 based models which is considered to be the best choice.
http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=9858
http://www.frontier-electronics.co.za/usb024_cards.htm

This hub is designed to fit into a 3.5" drive bay ...
http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=1034
 
wizdumb said:
i tried the above, and it doesn't work.
it doesn't show any device in disk management.

i tried the flash drive and camera on all the usb ports, and the pc is not picking them up
Click to expand...

hmmm .... then the only problem I can think of is with your actual usb ports/motherboard ... consider buying an extension card as per the other forumite .... only other option would be to replace the motherboard or/and case.
 
is there a way to test if its the mobo or if its the case

but i'll give the websites a look

....otherwise i'll go for the cheapest usb/pci card :)
 
most likely the mobo as all the ports are not working ... but I can't think of a way to test which it is.
 
It may be motherboard or drivers. I recently had the same experience for a client, Something blew the USB's aka South Bridge chip. The USB's stopped working and then the MBoard popped.

One way of testing, depending on bios, is to set the bios to boot on USB. See if the USB can be selected for boot, Then get a CD or USB Mini PE boot Disk or ISO from the Internet, write to USB stick and see if you can iether boot from USB stick or Boot CD Disk in DOS with Legacy USB support. If you can see /use the USB in DOS then its a windows driver problem. If you cannot see and/or use the USB in DOS then its a Motherboard problem

PS, Check if USB is enabled in BIOS, Maybe setting lost due to corruption.

download Boot CD ISO:

MiniPE 2k7-12-18-XT
http://rapidshare.com/files/92285035/MiniPE2k.www.cw-network.info.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/92297397/MiniPE2k.www.cw-network.info.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/92513082/MiniPE2k.www.cw-network.info.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/92274303/MiniPE2k.www.cw-network.info.part4.rar

f/p:


http://rapidshare.com/files/91245271/pass.txt
 
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