Z2 USB 3.0 died - just FYI

Just an FYI, a couple weeks ago, the USB 3.0 port started acting strange. If I would plug any device (anything, keyboard, mouse, flash drive) into the USB 3.0 port, Windows would "unrecognized device" error. At that point, however, I could still plug in the PMD and it would work as well as its USB ports. Then a few days ago, even the PMD stopped working. Now, nothing at all happens when I plug in any device to the USB 3.0 port. Whether its a keyboard, mouse, or PMD, nothing happens and no longer does the notebook charge through the PMD's combo power/USB plug.

Naturally, I updated BIOS, reinstalled USB drivers - but clearly this is just a hardware failure, when it doesn't even charge at boot up or turned off.

Anyway, Sony issued a support ticket. At first they said they'd send someone out to "replace the part", yeah right. They called back an hour later and said they'd send a box to overnight it back to them.

 

I also get the unknown device error, meaning that the usb 3.0 port isnt working anymore but the PMD works fine (also its ubs ports).

I though this is a software error, but that really sucks.

 

well thsi is a bit worrisome. How much did you use the port?

 

I'm very worried now my usb 3 might die out on me.
To other users on this forum outside MoreGadgets and hallo123, has there been any other reports of this before?

 

I have the issue on my machine as well, but I figured it was a software problem.

On mine, the 3.0 port can read/write to USB 2.0, but won't recognize any 3.0 devices.

The 3.0 port on the PMD seems to work OK though. I don't recall if it has a hub or a full controller on board. Also, it might use the optical connector, but I dunno.

 

The PMD is connected to body only through LightPeak, no USB3 utilization whatsoever. So it has complete USB 3 controller.

 

Any news as to how Sony handled the issue? Do you know if the replaced any hardware?

 

Sony has received by notebook for repair yesterday. I await its repair and return. I am using my Sony P in the interim - what a difference. Haha. I'll respond once I get it back or hear from them.

 

10 days later, I still await repair. I TrueCrypt drive encrypt my drives, because, you know, Sony doesn't need to login to "my" operating system to see that the USB port does or doesn't work. Clearly, it doesn't work when USB keyboards at boot time no longer work, and the PMD attachment no longer charges. If they replace the port/motherboard, and you can type keys from the BIOS, "its fixed". But of course, they called me asking for my truecrypt password. lol. Yeah, no. I explained to their tech support guy "why" he wouldn't need to log into Windows to ensure the USB port works. He (barely speaking english) just repeatedly asked me for the password. Creepy. Finally, they asked if they could re-image the drive to ensure the port works. I agreed, though couldn't help but suggest they just pop out my drive temporarily and boot off one of the (assuredly) others they have available on their workbench. Tell me that elite Sony Z2 notebook tech support aren't this retarded?

Anyway, so that was last week. Still in "repair". I'm sure they're just all standing around staring at the TrueCrypt password prompt completely confounded. So used to everyone else sending in their entire personal and enterprise contents for plain browsing, just to "fix a USB port", I'm sure.

 

^It's good form to ghost a backup and reimage back to stock before sending a machine in for repair. Although with a dead usb 3.0 port the backup will take a bit