# Help! I killed my USB ports! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770 "2006-01-26T22:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/1 "2006-01-26T22:26:53Z")
Once upon a time (like, last week) my PC ran Win98 and had functioning USB ports happily serving the needs of my Palm sync, printer, digital camera, and optical mouse. Santa had brought me [this little external hard drive](http://www.acomdata.com/hdp/fs.html) (note: USB2) and I installed it successfully and backed up all the data near and dear to my heart. Then I unplugged it. So this weekend, I drag it out for another round of backups and the computer refused to load Win98(it did heave itself into safe mode, where I was able to determine that the software for the external HD managed to disappear somehow). Ye Ole Tech Guy comes over and slaps W98 back into consciousness but determines that the USB drivers are dead and refuse to reinstall. He suggests a heavy application of rosary beads and an upgrade to Windows XP, which has drivers for everything including my old 1972 Toyota Corrola (so much for my intention to hold out until Vista became available…) He leaves with a cheque for the approximate value of said Toyota’s purchase price in 1988. A copy of WinXP (home upgrade) is legally acquired and a full install is :eek: :smack: inadvertently done. (On the upside, I have a nice clean C drive. Downside: contents of hard drive annihilated.) So I reinstall all the mice, printers, et al from the installation discs. USB ports: still dead. The external drive is suppose to be plug&play on XP but, no play. Tell me what to do, and how to do it, oh wise brain trust. I have 2 generations of photos, a hearty load of Buffy eps and a resume stuck on this external drive and the ole ball mouse is giving me cramps! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/2 "2006-01-26T23:09:42Z")
Sounds like the hardware may be dead. You might try purchasing a USB adapter on a PCI card to see if that works better. It can be obtained for under ten bucks if you’re careful and shop around. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/3 "2006-01-26T23:15:31Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Sounds like the hardware may be dead. You might try purchasing a USB adapter on a PCI card to see if that works better. It can be obtained for under ten bucks if you’re careful and shop around. Can you give me a link to something appropriate? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/4 "2006-01-26T23:17:19Z")
Also, does it plug into a (dead)USB port? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/5 "2006-01-26T23:21:14Z")
Now that it is so screwed up, it probably won’t hurt to go into the Device Manager through the Control Panel and simply delete the USB Root hubs and everything else that is obviously associated with them. Then scan for hardware changes and let Windows install them again. This isn’t very risky even on a fully working computer. It doesn’t really delete the drivers, just the associations and building them back sometimes helps. I have had the same problem and this solution worked. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/6 "2006-01-26T23:42:01Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > Once upon a time (like, last week) my PC ran Win98 and had functioning USB ports happily serving the needs of my Palm sync, printer, digital camera, and optical mouse. Santa had brought me [this little external hard drive](http://www.acomdata.com/hdp/fs.html) (note: USB2) and I installed it successfully and backed up all the data near and dear to my heart. Then I unplugged it. > > So this weekend, I drag it out for another round of backups and the computer refused to load Win98(it did heave itself into safe mode, where I was able to determine that the software for the external HD managed to disappear somehow). Ye Ole Tech Guy comes over and slaps W98 back into consciousness but determines that the USB drivers are dead and refuse to reinstall. He suggests a heavy application of rosary beads and an upgrade to Windows XP, which has drivers for everything including my old 1972 Toyota Corrola (so much for my intention to hold out until Vista became available…) He leaves with a cheque for the approximate value of said Toyota’s purchase price in 1988. > > A copy of WinXP (home upgrade) is legally acquired and a full install is :eek: :smack: inadvertently done. (On the upside, I have a nice clean C drive. Downside: contents of hard drive annihilated.) So I reinstall all the mice, printers, et al from the installation discs. USB ports: still dead. The external drive is suppose to be plug&play on XP but, no play. > > Tell me what to do, and how to do it, oh wise brain trust. I have 2 generations of photos, a hearty load of Buffy eps and a resume stuck on this external drive and the ole ball mouse is giving me cramps! At least you didn’t get… the dreaded blue screen of death!! ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/7 "2006-01-26T23:50:37Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Now that it is so screwed up, it probably won’t hurt to go into the Device Manager through the Control Panel and simply delete the USB Root hubs and everything else that is obviously associated with them. Then scan for hardware changes and let Windows install them again. > > This isn’t very risky even on a fully working computer. It doesn’t really delete the drivers, just the associations and building them back sometimes helps. I have had the same problem and this solution worked. Hmmm, I did as you suggested; then restarted the computer. It reinstalled them at startup, but the ports are still not working. On the upside, I found an adaptor jack for the optical mouse 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/8 "2006-01-26T23:58:17Z")
**Dewey Finn** is talking about [these things](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_slc.asp?Nav=%7Cc:5%7C%7Cc:109%7C%7Cc:511%7C). I’d give high odds on your current USB ports being dead… the only thing that _might_ help now is installing the chipset drivers from the maker of your motherboard/PC. They should be easy to find on the manufacturer’s website. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/9 "2006-01-27T00:26:16Z")
> [@Nanoda](#): > > **Dewey Finn** is talking about [these things](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_slc.asp?Nav=%7Cc:5%7C%7Cc:109%7C%7Cc:511%7C). > > So that will give me 4 new working ports,in addition to the dead ones? I can deal with that 😃 > > I’d give high odds on your current USB ports being dead… the only thing that _might_ help now is installing the chipset drivers from the maker of your motherboard/PC. They should be easy to find on the manufacturer’s website. Tried it, so did Ye Ole Techie- nada. I think it’s PCI card time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/10 "2006-01-27T00:33:32Z")
Since you’re running Windows XP now, it should be really easy to set up the new PCI card in Windows, once you’ve opened the computer and physically installed the card. If you’re not comfortable, ask the tech to do it for you, but the actual PCI card shouldn’t cost more than $50. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/11 "2006-01-27T00:45:23Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Since you’re running Windows XP now, it should be really easy to set up the new PCI card in Windows, once you’ve opened the computer and physically installed the card. If you’re not comfortable, ask the tech to do it for you, but the actual PCI card shouldn’t cost more than $50. Would this do the trick? ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/12 "2006-01-27T00:48:21Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > Would this do the trick? Duh…[http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1519284&CatId=511](http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1519284&CatId=511) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/13 "2006-01-27T00:55:56Z")
Assuming you have a free PCI slot, yes. But since we don’t know for sure, you might be better off taking the system to a computer store that will both sell the card and install it or hiring your existing tech to do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/14 "2006-01-27T02:15:40Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Assuming you have a free PCI slot, yes. But since we don’t know for sure, you might be better off taking the system to a computer store that will both sell the card and install it or hiring your existing tech to do it for you. I’ll crack the box open later and have a look; by the time all these repairs/upgrades are done I could have bought a whole new PC. Grrrr. Thanks for the advice, Dewey. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/15 "2006-01-27T04:18:59Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > Assuming you have a free PCI slot, yes. But since we don’t know for sure, you might be better off taking the system to a computer store that will both sell the card and install it or hiring your existing tech to do it for you. Sorry, but I just can’t agree with this advice. Paying a store tech to install a PCI card is the equivalent of burning money. The tools at Best Buy/Geek Squad would charge you $50 for the work, just obscene. Paying someone to install a PCI card is the equivalent of hiring a contractor to change a lightbulb. Just buy the card, open the cabinet, plug it in, pop in the CD and away you go. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/16 "2006-01-27T04:31:03Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Sorry, but I just can’t agree with this advice. Paying a store tech to install a PCI card is the equivalent of burning money. The tools at Best Buy/Geek Squad would charge you $50 for the work, just obscene. > > Paying someone to install a PCI card is the equivalent of hiring a contractor to change a lightbulb. Just buy the card, open the cabinet, plug it in, pop in the CD and away you go. I think I will try it, with the assistance of my sushi buddy who does this stuff on his PC; I do want to learn how to do these sorts of upgrades. OK, OK, I’m cheap! I admit it! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/17 "2006-01-27T04:33:00Z")
I swear to you across my heart that the most challenging part of it is going to be opening the computer cabinet. Fear not! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/18 "2006-01-27T04:35:12Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > I think I will try it, with the assistance of my sushi buddy who does this stuff on his PC; I do want to learn how to do these sorts of upgrades. > OK, OK, I’m cheap! I admit it! If someone is around to help, you should be OK. I was just worried that you were going to try this on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/19 "2006-01-27T15:11:41Z")
Since **Annie** seems to have things well in hand, I thought I’d ask a more general question about this issue. I’ve seen both on-board USB ports and external USB hubs die entirely too frequently. In the past 6 months I’ve had an on-board port die on my personal computer, one on my work computer, a USB hub crapped out on my father’s computer and one died on my brother’s computer. What’s going on here? Is there something inherently flaky with the technology? I can’t put it down to any specific environmental, sofware, or usage factors as these computers are in 3 separate locations with very different levels and types of use. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770/20 "2006-01-27T15:20:44Z")
Have you checked your MB BIOS to make sure the USB ports on/off option did not get inadvertently toggled into an “off” or “defeat” mode. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-killed-my-usb-ports/341770.md?page=2)