Is my USB port fried?

Factual Questions
1

Hubby and I recently upgraded our computer (monitor, processor, video card, mother board). Ever since then, it won’t recognize our printer, or even that there’s a USB port installed. At the time we were running Server 2000 (don’t ask), and I was told (by our PC tech at work) that Server 2000 sometimes has a problem finding printers. So we went to microsoft.com, and downloaded every upgrade, patch, and service pack we could find. Still no dice.

Now that I am a college student, I was able to buy XP Professional for $5. :smiley: We installed it Tuesday night, and the damn thing STILL can’t find the printer. My hubby is supposed to check it out this evening, but I was wondering if any of you could tell me anything.

Could it just be a bad USB port?

It’s a Lexmark Z45 printer that we bought just last year. We’ve never had any problems with it until recently.

Thanks in advance, Dopers!!

2

Check to make sure the port isn’t disabled in CMOS setup. Do this by rebooting and hitting the appropriate key when prompted at startup. There should be a section called Integrated Peripherals or something similar.

Have you run the driver disk that came with your motherboard?

3

Additionally - is it a USB port on the board itself or is it a seperate one hanging on the case connected by wires? If the latter, those USB grounds are quite easy to mismatch. Doublecheck you put them in right.

If it’s one on the board, I’d say you have a defective board unless Number’s advice works.