One USB 3.0 port suddenly stopped working for 2.0 devices (all other ports still fine)?

I have an ASUS N56VZ with 4 USB 3.0 ports, which I purchased 10 months ago. The USB 3.0 port next to the microphone and headphone ports suddenly stopped working for all USB 2.0 devices one night while I still had a USB 2.0 mouse plugged into the port. My mouse was working perfectly fine when I stepped away from the computer for a bit, then was no longer responsive or drawing power from the port when I returned. The mouse still worked with the other 3 ports. I also tested other 2.0 devices (flash drives, etc.) and all of them did not work in that specific port, nor were they able to draw power from the port. I then plugged a USB 3.0 device into the port, and was able to power and read the 3.0 device.

I've already updated all the relevant drivers, and the other 3 ports still read and provide power to both USB 2.0 and 3.0 devices. I believe that the fact that the faulty port still works for 3.0 devices but not 2.0 ones suggests a hardware problem rather than a software one. I'd prefer to solve this problem without having to send the laptop in to ASUS for repairs for now, since I haven't heard very encouraging stories about their support. Does anyone have suggestions for what might have caused the USB port to stop working for USB 2.0 devices, but still works for USB 3.0 devices? Are there any fixes I can try to get the port to read 2.0 devices again, or will I probably need to get it replaced?

I'd like to add that the faulty port is the port I always connect my mouse to. The ASUS N56 laptop has very tight USB ports, so I always have to wiggle the USB devices a little to get them back out of the port. Could that damage or loosen the USB connection over time?

 

Is there a USB 3.0 cable or adapter attempting to connect the USB 2.0 device?

 

Try going into device manager and deleting uninstalling that port...

Reboot and see if the corruption was only in software.

Good luck.

 

I am plugging the 2.0 device directly into the USB 3.0 port, which has worked for 2.0 devices without any problem for the last 10 months until now. I also already tried deleting and uninstalling the USB hub (which controls all 4 ports) and reinstalling the driver after a computer restart. The port still works perfectly fine with USB 3.0 devices, and the other 3 ports work for both my 2.0 and 3.0 devices, so I don't think it's a software problem. Do the 2.0 and 3.0 part of the port share the same connection to the motherboard? If they do, and the 3.0 part is still working, I guess I might have a loose or dirty 2.0 connection? Any suggestions on possible fixes before I have to turn to ASUS support (which I'm hesitant to try after hearing horror stories about their service)?

 

I mention a USB 3.0 cable as supposedly there is 2 extra pins over USB 2.0. It is mentioned that a USB 3.0 cable will not work for a USB 2.0 device. If for some reason the system thought one, or both, of those pins were connected it would go to USB 3.0 mode and not work.

 

I see. The strange thing is that my mouse (USB 2.0) was working while connected to the port, then suddenly stopped being powered or recognized by the port after just sitting there. I did not accidentally bump the connection or do anything that might have caused any leads to connect/disconnect. The mouse still works fine in all the other USB 3.0 ports. The same thing happens with all my other USB 2.0 devices. Is it possible to "trick" the USB port into thinking that a 3.0 device is connected regardless of whether it's actually 2.0 or 3.0, so that it no longer reads 2.0 devices even though all software and hardware are (mostly) fine?

 

Does your 'faulty' USB 2.0 mouse work on other computers' USB 2.0 ports? That would help determine if it was the port or the mouse...

But yeah; you can damage ports and 'wiggling' connectors in and out each time will do something to the physical port on the notebook or to the peripheral (or both...).


...

 

Yup, my USB 2.0 mouse works in the other 3 ports. Same goes for all my USB 2.0 devices -- doesn't work in the faulty port, but works fine in the other 3 ports. Based on the circumstances, I do think that this is unfortunately a direct result of my frequent use of the 2.0 mouse in that port and the tightness of the USB ports on this particular laptop model.

 

I have had what I suspect will require an identical fix ( please let me know if you found a fix)...

Surface Pro, Windows 8.1 (USB 3.0 port)

All was fine with USB 3 and USB 2 devices. In retrospect, I inserted a USB 2 multi-port adapter which did not work, I didn't think anything of it and removed it (unsafe removal). Fortunately, my external HDD is USB 3.0 and it continued to work fine - that was largely all I needed as I was travelling. However, all USB 2.0 devices (several flash drives, iPhone, Android phone, HDDs, Sony camera, etc) that previously worked are now "unrecognised". I have tried over a few months off and on through several google first page fixes (deleting devices, deleting hidden devices, changing power bit in registry, etc, etc) without success.

On returning home I connected to my USB 3.0 Toshiba Dynadock (previosuly worked fine with all attachments USB 2 & 3), now it "half works" in that the computer recognises USB 3.0 HDDs attached through USB 3.0 ports (they're encrypted and I get a "format drive prompt", which is normal behaviour on connection). However, it does not recognise any USB 2.0 device attached to the Dynadock (keyboard, camera, and one HDD) nor does it connect to external monitor (all previously worked seemlesly). The USB connection oscillates on/off at about a 2Hz rate (1 sec on, 1 sec off).

Unfortunately, the top help pages all seem to recommend the same fix or are device specific. I am certain this has nothing to do with device manufacturer drivers, or basic Windows 8.0 device management fixes.

Can somebody assist? please