NationStates Jolt Archive

Seems the Dell computer I use here at work is losing USB ports. Rapidly. Right now I only have one that works consistantly. My mouse just stopped, I know why it stopped because it's in a malfunctioning port. Bet you didn't know USB ports could go bad. Neither did I.

Stupid Dell P.O.S., I loathe the thing. It's got 8 USB ports, two of them at work, well one. The one my mouse is in tends to stop registering. I used to use it for my printer, but I print constantly so I can't very well have the printer going out constantly. So I swapped printer and mouse. Mouse isn't really required for a lot of things, it's just a lot easier.

Blasted Dell piece of crap, never ever buy a dell! By the way did you know holding Alt and hitting the left or right arrows acts like a forward/back button the browser? I didn't!

At least in IE, the Back function is also keyed to Backspace. Dunno what Forward might be, though...

how old is your computer?

I have 3 Dell computers I haven't had any more problems with them than I have with any other brand I have previously had.......a lot less than I used to have with the Gateway and the Compaq

It's roughly a year old, maybe two. Aside from USB ports randomly either working or not it works fairly well.

I haven't had good experience with Dell laptops - but then again, I haven't had a good experience with ANY brand of laptop.

I haven't had any problem with Dell desktops - but their customer service sucks.

Take the PC to the shooting range. Right before you start shooting, if it has any sense at all, it will come to life and work properly even if it's not plugged in.

It's roughly a year old, maybe two. Aside from USB ports randomly either working or not it works fairly well.

did the usb ports come with the computer or did you put them in after?

in any case when I hear people complain about something not working on their computer and then whining about the entire brand it sounds to me like


"my car ran out of gas and quit working! don't buy a Toyota!"

Blasted Dell piece of crap, never ever buy a dell! By the way did you know holding Alt and hitting the left or right arrows acts like a forward/back button the browser? I didn't!

i knew that it's that way with firefox, but I have ni idea ifthis works with other browsers.

I haven't had good experience with Dell laptops - but then again, I haven't had a good experience with ANY brand of laptop.

I haven't had any problem with Dell desktops - but their customer service sucks.

Take the PC to the shooting range. Right before you start shooting, if it has any sense at all, it will come to life and work properly even if it's not plugged in.

I have a Dell portable, and a Toshiba laptop, both seem to work fine, I think some of you are just mean you your computers. :p

did the usb ports come with the computer or did you put them in after?

in any case when I hear people complain about something not working on their computer and then whining about the entire brand it sounds to me like


"my car ran out of gas and quit working! don't buy a Toyota!"

No they're all standard. I figure it's the cheap-o parts Dell uses, they tend to have proprietary parts that you can't find anywhere. Not sure who makes their boards. Ever seen the power supply in a Dimension? I've never seen anything like it.

No they're all standard. I figure it's the cheap-o parts Dell uses, they tend to have proprietary parts that you can't find anywhere. Not sure who makes their boards. Ever seen the power supply in a Dimension? I've never seen anything like it.

yeah, I had to get another laptop.....sorry "portable" battery and it had to come from Dell. It wasn't too expensive though.

Did you call Dell and ask for a deal on the replacement parts?

yeah, I had to get another laptop.....sorry "portable" battery and it had to come from Dell. It wasn't too expensive though.

Did you call Dell and ask for a deal on the replacement parts?

Nope, I don't want to fuss with that til I absolutely have to. This thing won't recognize a flash drive at all. Have to plug it in somewhere else on the network and transfer files that way.

I'd probably have to replace the motherboard to fix the problem, and that's a project I don't want to get into, unless I have to.

Nope, I don't want to fuss with that til I absolutely have to. This thing won't recognize a flash drive at all. Have to plug it in somewhere else on the network and transfer files that way.

I'd probably have to replace the motherboard to fix the problem, and that's a project I don't want to get into, unless I have to.

you might wanna open it up and take a look inside just to see if anything looks terrible on first glance.

Seems the Dell computer I use here at work is losing USB ports. Rapidly. Right now I only have one that works consistantly. My mouse just stopped, I know why it stopped because it's in a malfunctioning port. Bet you didn't know USB ports could go bad. Neither did I.


It's actually much more common for your operating system to go bad than such a specific part of your motherboard to malfunction...

my computer did this recently, on a relatively new installation of windows too. what was happening was this:

everything was working fine but if I unplugged a working device the port appeared to stop working, that is even the same device plugged back in would no longer be detected. so logically I moved to the next functioning port and systematically all my USB ports stopped working. I thought my motherboard had given up (or at least the USB host contoller on it) but before consigning it to the spares bin I tried reinstalling the USB drivers that came with the board. It worked. It seems the USB driver can become corrupted for no apparent reason.

so, If you can find a USB driver to install for your machine, try it before giving up.

Not really related to anything...but have you ever noticed how hard it is to headbang to Tool while sitting at your computer?

Seems the Dell computer I use here at work is losing USB ports. Rapidly. Right now I only have one that works consistantly. My mouse just stopped, I know why it stopped because it's in a malfunctioning port. Bet you didn't know USB ports could go bad. Neither did I.

Stupid Dell P.O.S., I loathe the thing. It's got 8 USB ports, two of them at work, well one. The one my mouse is in tends to stop registering. I used to use it for my printer, but I print constantly so I can't very well have the printer going out constantly. So I swapped printer and mouse. Mouse isn't really required for a lot of things, it's just a lot easier.

Blasted Dell piece of crap, never ever buy a dell! By the way did you know holding Alt and hitting the left or right arrows acts like a forward/back button the browser? I didn't!


Try Mogtaria's suggestion about re-installing the USB drivers, but if that doesn't work, you might want to invest in a USB hub that can go on the 1 working USB port.