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    My computer shut down and now the usb ports aren't working.

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by londez, Sep 29, 2009.

  1. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    I was on my laptop browsing ebay when my computer just shut off. When I turned it back on, the p4 splash screen flashed by alot quicker and when I got into windows, none of my usb devices are working. I tried reinstalling all of the drivers that came with my computer but nothing is working. Any ideas what is wrong?
     
    londez, Sep 29, 2009
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  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    how many usb devices did you have running? USP ports are limited to 500ma of current. Worst case, you had too many devices pulling power and you fried something.
     
    newsposter, Sep 29, 2009
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  3. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    Update: it was a power surge. I had my laptop plugged into a surge protector but it didn't protect the usbs
     
    londez, Sep 29, 2009
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  4. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    can you backup all your files and then do a clean install?
    Or use a recovery disk if you have one.

    Also you might want to try taking out the battery and AC power, then hold the power button for 30 sec.

    But I doubt any of that will help, it seems there was a hardware failure.
    I would check how much a replacement motherboard costs.
     
    moral hazard, Sep 29, 2009
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  5. Vinyard

    Vinyard Notebook Evangelist

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    A virus perhaps? I've heard from a friend that there's a virus that will block the usage of a USB port. Don't know for sure though. Can someone confirm this?
     
    Vinyard, Sep 30, 2009
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  6. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    Allright, I just got back from work and noticed something really wierd. My mini 3 port hub has 4 lights on it, 3 that light up when a device is plugged into a corresponding port, and another that lights while the hub is plugged into the computer. When I plug the hub into a port with devices plugged into the hub, none of lights for the hub ports lights up, but the one that lights when the hub itself is plugged in does. If I take the hub out and plug in my optical mouse, that doesn't even light-up.

    So the usb ports on my computer are supplying power, but I can't use any hardware.

    Does this sound like a hardware or software problem. I am scanning my computer now with the latest version of avg free

    Update: I just noticed that the light on my external hdd that indicates when the drive is plugged into a usb is also lighting up, even though I can't detect it in windows.
     
    londez, Sep 30, 2009
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  7. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    I also wanted to note that the only devices I had plugged into the usbs at the time of failure were an external hdd (with it's own powersupply plugged into the wall), and the three port hubb with a nintendo wifi connector and optical mouse plugged in.
     
    londez, Sep 30, 2009
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  8. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    unplug everything and verify that the laptop and the on-board USB ports work. Use something simple like a USB mouse.
     
    newsposter, Oct 1, 2009
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