USB ports stopped working correctly. Windows doesn’t get recognize anything plugged into USB ports but sees the device.
I have a Dell Inspiron 5160. I’ve had it for about 18 months now. Just after the year mark, my USB ports stopped working correctly. Devices I plug into is recognize that they’re plugged in, such as my PSP, and others, such as my cell phone with cable, get charge from the port, but Windows doesn’t get recognize anything is plugged in to install. I’ve tried installing all the different software that Dell recommends/suggests, such as Dell Support, chipset drivers, updated BIOS, Dell Notebook System Software, and Windows XP SP2, but nothing works. In device manager, I see that the USB host controllers and Root hubs are all there, but nothing will be acknowledged through them. Dell is of no help now, as I’m out of warranty. They direct me to their people in India. When they can understand what I’m saying, they claim outrageous prices just for troubleshooting. Most laptop repair places I’ve looked into don’t actually repair anything; they just help with wireless network setup, which I know how to do. I don’t want to ditch this laptop, but since I use it constantly for traveling, it’s not providing the productivity I need. Is there anything you can think of to help?
I think that you might have a problem with the system board. Here is what I would do in your case to troubleshoot the problem. I would boot from a Knoppix CD – live Linux CD. It will boot the laptop to a Windows like environment but it would be Linux. It’s pretty easy to navigate and you don’t need to know a lot about Linux for this test. You can download it here. Download an .iso file and burn it on a CD. Booting from a Linux CD will help to eliminate any Windows related problems, if you have any. After I boot to Linux, I would plug a USB flash memory drive into the laptop USB port. Usually Knoppix recognizes these types of USB devices without any problem and an icon that represents the USB drive will appear on the desktop. If Knoppix cannot see the USB device, then it’s likely that the USB controller on the motherboard is bad and Knoppix cannot see it. It’s not a perfect test, but at least something that you can try.
Just recently I had to fix a similar problem on Toshiba Satellite M45 laptop. It had 4 USB ports. When a USB device was plugged in, Windows saw the device but wasn’t able to recognize it. I had to replace the motherboard and it fixed the problem.
December 13th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
My USB ports don’t work at all.
I plugged in my ipod charger into it and nothing happens,
my ipod charger cord works,its just this laptop!
November 18th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Remove your battery… It’s like magic
November 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
greg,
Does it happen with all USB ports? Have you tried different USB devices?
Back up all personal files from the laptop and try reinstalling the operating system from scratch. It’s possible you have software related problem.
If reinstalling software doesn’t help, I think there could be a problem with the motherboard.
By the way, does it work fine if you don’t use USB ports?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am
my problem is any thing i plug into my usb drives my computer freezes up nothing works. the cursor will not move at all and seems like the hard drive stops. can any one help?
October 7th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
hello, i use ubuntu since it came out. sometimes i used windows vista for gaming so i have both installed on my acer aspire 5100.
some time ago i installed winxp and then all problems begun.
the usb ports dont work on any windows i install, i installed all the drivers given by acer.com on winxp, vista and now windows 7. on none of those systems usb doesnt seems to work, it doesnt recognize any usb device that i plug in.
on linux everything is working so the motherboard or any of its components are all working.
i tried on xp, vista, 7. usb ports dont work but on linux it does.
please help!
August 4th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Hi Guys. I’ve had much the same problem with my USBs, except that one single device (my USB wireless mouse) works in any of the USB sockets. I tried all the usual things, uninstalling drivers, plugging one device in at a time, etc., but to no avail. I’ve just come across this post at Microsoft – http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817900 – which I think could answer the problem, which might be to do with power consumption or how it is manipulated by the PC. Anyway, it’s worth reading by anyone who has a multi-USB device failure without warning. I haven’t tried the workaround remedy yet, but seems I’m gonna have to.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:05 am
ended up getting a new laptop for $450.. btw thr gateway like a lot of new systems does NOT have a PCMCIA slot just an express card slot, SD, and the usb.
the new system came with a faster processor, more mem and a 250gb drive . every tech i talked to estimated about $350.. so it will be a net reader. still has a cdrw (dvd is only a rom (the new one has all ))
but thanks oh the usb did provide power.. just wouldnt recognise anything. all tests pointed to hardware. cie la vie
January 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Alt.- if you have a working internal wireless modem, try a pcmcia usb2 card. Over my head,,, Good luck!
January 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am
JUST A GUESS—If you had to run sys recover it’s possible you got a hidden nasty virus or you a conflict in your xp drive software updates,
You might reformat/reinstall, check usb 1st, and/or update/flash bios from GWay site.,
Alt.- if you have a internal wireless modem try a pcmcia usb2 card. Over my head,,, Good luck!
January 18th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I see I’m not alone. have a Gateway ML3109 I bought in Oct 07. yesterday I checked it and it would not boot.. ran System Repair.. which it did and restored it to a previous date. and everything came up…
EXCEPT the 3 USB ports on the side, my SD card slot (and I’m not sure if the express slot would come up) not sure how to take the entire thing apart to see if it is on a separate USB/media reader sub board or all on the same mobo. I did add ram after i got it.. and I figure since I did pay $350 for the system.. it would not pay to fix it.. Everything else seems to work EXCEPT those I mentioned. I gather it wouldnt pay to fix it so guess gonna have to buy another system. Before this one.. most of my systems were mucho older/used etc… usually partialy rebuilt by me.. (if i had access to the proper manual)
anu suggestions?
January 14th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Hey there…looking for a little help. Looks like alot of people have the same problem! Any chance the manuf’s. are “pre-wiring” these things to break after a while so we have to go spend some more money? But what do I know- I’m not very tech-saavy, so I’ll need a slightly dumbed-down answer too.
I have a Dell Inspiron 1150 Laptop, about 5 years old, and my 2 USB’s on the back aren’t being recognized or detected at all. I took it to a PC repair desk at Staples and they couldn’t fix it. They said they re-installed the Drivers to no avail and suggested it may be the “internal wiring” which they are not permitted to access. They offered to ship it off somewhere else for me…for about $350. I can’t afford that any more than I can afford to buy a brand new one.
I tried right-clicking on “My Computer” and “Properties” to see which Service Pack I am running- as you instructed Amanda to do above- but there was no reference to this in the window that opened. Where else can I look?
There has to be a way to fix this inexpensively. I have been without the ability to print, upload pictures from my digital camera, sync my Palm Pilot, access my Itunes Library, or access my external Hard Drive for about a year now. I will try anything- and am not too proud to ask stupid questions if it will help me get up and running again
Thanks in advance-
December 30th, 2008 at 4:48 am
I just bought a Lexmark 4-in-1 printer 5600-5700 series and I am trying to hook it up to my HP laptop. (Windows XP Media Center (SP3). Basically, I progress through the installation cd and I get to the step where I am required to connect the printer using a USB cable. Well, I do that and I hear the “ding, ding” sound that occurs when a USB device has been connected, but nothing happens. I have installed and connected the printer on my PC (XP-professional(SP3)) and it works perfectly.
I spent about 10 hours yesterday with techsupport from Microsoft, who indicated it was a problem with my USB drivers, so the agent updated them for me using TeamViewer, where I shared my laptop with him. After that, we went through the installation for the printer numerous times and apparently XP is detecting the printer, but it isn’t recognizing the software. This makes little sense to me because it recognized it on a different PC just fine.
This is very frustrating….any suggestions?
December 18th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
if i plug anything into my usb port it doesnt work and it doesnt come up under my computer how can i fix this problem i dont have alot of money to spend on taking it in to be fixes. i have a toshiba lab top with 2 usb ports on the right and one on the left and none of them work. i also have windows vista on the computer if that matters. thank you for your time.