Well I'm afraid I don't really know, so I'll hope those comments will follow, but a quick google search confirmed what my first reaction was: its pretty unusual, and can be a hardware rather than a software problem. They proposed a neat way to test: plug in something like an iPod, that draws power from the USB slot as well as data. If the iPod can't even charge up from the slot, then chances are, the USB has actually blown and the motherboard is basically toast and needs replacement. If the iPod battery charges, then the problem is probably in the software and procedures such as reinstalling drivers etc. should work.
It could be a power issue. Maybe there is not enough power getting fed to the USB ports for them to function. What's your computer type, brand, etc? I'm assuming you are running Windows and don't have a Mac (although now, you can run windows on a mac - but that's another story). It may be a motherboard issue, it could be a drivers issue.
Feel free to email me specifics on stan@christchurch.asn.au.
1. Were you playing around with the BIOS before this problem? There's a default setting you can probably use and the m/b may begin to recognise the USB ports again.
2. Where are the USB ports located? If you have four then I'm assuming you have two at the back of your PC and two probably connected to the front of your PC. The front ones are connected to the m/b via some wires from the box. Were you playing around with the m/b at any point? These connections may have come out. If these pins got connected back into the wrong place then it may have fouled up the whole USB system. If you pull out these pins from the their connectors you may still be able to use the USB connectors at the back while you find out the right place to connect the front ones.
3. If your USB connectors are from a separate board inside the box that is plugged into the motherboard, you may like to pull this board out and plug it back in again.
4. Have you updated your virus software?
5. If it's software related then maybe you need check to whether your o/s (I assume it is windows) recognises their existence. I'm not certain what bit of windows that is these days but back when I was using Windows 98 I think it was under "control panel" or "my computer". If Windows is not recognising these USB ports then it may be a hardware/bios problem.
More info would be helpful. Please indicate processor, RAM, hard drive capacity, operating system, etc.
If the computer works fine without, I'm pretty sure I've got a card that adds USB ports lying around somewhere in Oxford. They're fairly easy to get hold of anyway from dabs or somewhere.
BIOS is what you might call the meta-operating system - it's the most basic hardware settings that the computer uses to talk to all its various parts, even before you get into an operating system.
Often as you start up your computer you'll get a message to 'press [some key or other] to enter setup' - this is how you access the bios settings. And yes, there is usually some setting to enable/disable pretty much any piece of hardware in there, including usb ports.
However, it seems unlikely you've turned it off there if you've never been into the bios!
The other thing you might try is looking at the device manager. The easiest way to find this is through control panel, system icon, hardware tab. USB ports usually come down near the bottom of the list; if you find an icon there with a ! on a yellow circle, then that is where the trouble lies, and it's probably software rather than hardware.
Most of the advice above seems to assume you have a desktop rather than laptop system, by the way. Best not to attempt any repairs to a laptop hardware by yourself, unless you're the kind of person that can get anything perfectly back into its packaging after it's been removed, unfolded, inflated and put through the wash. ie Don't.
You might also mention which operating system you're using. But you really need a computer nerd onsite, I would guess.
Losing your motherboard would be a real pain, and expensive, but if this is your only symptom, my guess is that's not the case.
13 comments:
Well I'm afraid I don't really know, so I'll hope those comments will follow, but a quick google search confirmed what my first reaction was: its pretty unusual, and can be a hardware rather than a software problem. They proposed a neat way to test: plug in something like an iPod, that draws power from the USB slot as well as data. If the iPod can't even charge up from the slot, then chances are, the USB has actually blown and the motherboard is basically toast and needs replacement. If the iPod battery charges, then the problem is probably in the software and procedures such as reinstalling drivers etc. should work.
Um... get a Mac?
[Cue comment about wanting a computer not a toy etc... and one that is actually compatible with most of the stuff on the net...]
Motherboard becoming toast isn't good, right?
Hi Michael,
It could be a power issue. Maybe there is not enough power getting fed to the USB ports for them to function. What's your computer type, brand, etc? I'm assuming you are running Windows and don't have a Mac (although now, you can run windows on a mac - but that's another story). It may be a motherboard issue, it could be a drivers issue.
Feel free to email me specifics on stan@christchurch.asn.au.
S
Questions:
1. Were you playing around with the BIOS before this problem? There's a default setting you can probably use and the m/b may begin to recognise the USB ports again.
2. Where are the USB ports located? If you have four then I'm assuming you have two at the back of your PC and two probably connected to the front of your PC. The front ones are connected to the m/b via some wires from the box. Were you playing around with the m/b at any point? These connections may have come out. If these pins got connected back into the wrong place then it may have fouled up the whole USB system. If you pull out these pins from the their connectors you may still be able to use the USB connectors at the back while you find out the right place to connect the front ones.
3. If your USB connectors are from a separate board inside the box that is plugged into the motherboard, you may like to pull this board out and plug it back in again.
4. Have you updated your virus software?
5. If it's software related then maybe you need check to whether your o/s (I assume it is windows) recognises their existence. I'm not certain what bit of windows that is these days but back when I was using Windows 98 I think it was under "control panel" or "my computer". If Windows is not recognising these USB ports then it may be a hardware/bios problem.
More info would be helpful. Please indicate processor, RAM, hard drive capacity, operating system, etc.
If the computer works fine without, I'm pretty sure I've got a card that adds USB ports lying around somewhere in Oxford. They're fairly easy to get hold of anyway from dabs or somewhere.
pray.
Just remember to back everything up!!!!
PP recommends you ring Michael Chappell from church.
What is the BIOS?
BIOS is what you might call the meta-operating system - it's the most basic hardware settings that the computer uses to talk to all its various parts, even before you get into an operating system.
Often as you start up your computer you'll get a message to 'press [some key or other] to enter setup' - this is how you access the bios settings. And yes, there is usually some setting to enable/disable pretty much any piece of hardware in there, including usb ports.
However, it seems unlikely you've turned it off there if you've never been into the bios!
The other thing you might try is looking at the device manager. The easiest way to find this is through control panel, system icon, hardware tab. USB ports usually come down near the bottom of the list; if you find an icon there with a ! on a yellow circle, then that is where the trouble lies, and it's probably software rather than hardware.
Most of the advice above seems to assume you have a desktop rather than laptop system, by the way. Best not to attempt any repairs to a laptop hardware by yourself, unless you're the kind of person that can get anything perfectly back into its packaging after it's been removed, unfolded, inflated and put through the wash. ie Don't.
You might also mention which operating system you're using. But you really need a computer nerd onsite, I would guess.
Losing your motherboard would be a real pain, and expensive, but if this is your only symptom, my guess is that's not the case.
Um... get a Mac?
I was going to ask if it was a Mac. The USB ports on my sister-in-laws Mac have been playing up. Looks like they are mortal like the rest of us.
Get a mac. I've never had compatibility problems with stuff on the net. And what's wrong with toys?
When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be grown up. - C. S. Lewis
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