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    Help! How to check USB ports?Might have fried devices!

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by caribbean_spur, Oct 5, 2011.

  1. caribbean_spur

    caribbean_spur Notebook Consultant

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    Ok, I hope you guys can help me because this is getting scary. A few months ago, I had my mp3 player plugged in to charge, after a few hours when I came back, it was not working anymore and when I was plugging it, I would get an error that windows could not recognize the usb device pluugged in.

    A few weeks ago I bought a new mp3 player and tried to charge it, plugged it, it turned on and seemed to be charging. But all of a sudden it seems like it stopped charging so I unplugged it (it was not showing up on the usb device so I just unplgged it) It worked fine. Then I plugged it again and nothing. the thing just died! And once again I got the error message from windows.

    So here is my question, could a defective usb port kill these mp3 players (by the way they are not the same brand or anything). Is there a way to test them so that I can know for sure if I should use them? and how to fix it if there is a problem.

    FYI: I have a Dell XPS 1530 on win7.

    Please I need help, I do not want to fry another player!
     
    caribbean_spur, Oct 5, 2011
    #1
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Try running an Ubuntu live CD.
     
    Nick, Oct 5, 2011
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  3. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Did you properly eject it? You will get that issue if you forcibly unplug USB devices. As j0ker stated, have you tried that on a Linux live disc?
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Oct 5, 2011
    #3
  4. caribbean_spur

    caribbean_spur Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the replies.

    As I stated in my first post, the player said "connected" and was charging, but it does not show as a usb device. On the PC it was recognized, since it was shown with its name and icon, but I did not get any option to eject.

    I am not sure I understand the linux CD solution. I am running Windows 7, why do I need a linux CD and what should I do with it?
     
    caribbean_spur, Oct 6, 2011
    #4
  5. ALLurGroceries

    ALLurGroceries  Vegan Vermin Super Moderator

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    Running a Linux live CD or USB (look up ubuntu with unetbootin) will help you figure out if you have a hardware problem, by ruling out driver and software issues. It's not airtight but a good troubleshooting step...
     
    ALLurGroceries, Oct 6, 2011
    #5
  6. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Plug in your device(s), and go to device manager and delete all the USB ports. Unplug your device(s).

    Reboot.

    Plug in your devices now and they should be recognized properly now.

    Good luck.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Oct 7, 2011
    #6
  7. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    Sony has a testing utility that has the option to test the USB ports. I guess you could use something like it.
     
    Gracy123, Oct 8, 2011
    #7
  8. crashnburn

    crashnburn Notebook Consultant

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    crashnburn, Oct 8, 2011
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  9. caribbean_spur

    caribbean_spur Notebook Consultant

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    Thnaks. I will try the USB Deview and report.
     
    caribbean_spur, Oct 8, 2011
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  10. caribbean_spur

    caribbean_spur Notebook Consultant

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    Do have the name of this utility? I dwonloaded USB deview and it it a nice app, but I want to make sure it is safe to plug anything on the port.
     
    caribbean_spur, Oct 8, 2011
    #10