# USB Port q **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749 "2008-08-12T17:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/1 "2008-08-12T17:07:59Z")
OK, maybe I don’t know as much about USB ports are I thought I did. At work we have a laptop that has 3 USB ports on the side of the case. We have a communication tool that uses a serial port connection, which this laptop does not have. So we have been using a serial to USB port adapter. Anyway, for some reason the computer will only recognize this adapter and connected hardware when plugged into the first USB port. due to the weight of the USB to serial port adapter, the first USB port is worn out and does not make a good connections any longer. It was my understanding that inside the case all three USB ports went to the same place, and if a device worked in one USB port it would work in any USB port, but that isn’t the case here. What am I missing? Any cluse or suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/2 "2008-08-12T17:20:48Z")
I have found similar idiosyncrasies with my desktop computer that has six USB ports on the rear and two on the front. I have resorted to a four-port hub for some devices. - which might be a solution for you, to take the weight off the port. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/3 "2008-08-12T17:24:04Z")
We have gone to a USB extension cable that now takes the weight off the port, but the pins are basically toast. Rather than sending in the computer for a new USB port, I would love to be able to use on of the other ports. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/4 "2008-08-12T17:35:04Z")
I can’t see why that wouldn’t work but unfortunately with some devices is seems that they only ‘like’ one particular port. I have absolutely no idea why but _sometimes_ a powered hub will overcome that problem. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/5 "2008-08-12T18:03:07Z")
That’s actually not the case. Each USB device installs separately on each port. Plug in your device, and go to device manager,. You’ll probably see an unknown icon with a yellow exclamation point. Right-click and update driver. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/6 "2008-08-12T18:07:29Z")
I found this advice on another board: > [@](#): > > Plugging a USB device into a different port will register it as a new device. This happens in every version of Windows since Windows 98. > > If you want your device to work in every port every time, let Windows initialize it once for every port. [This](http://books.google.com/books?id=itychkxRWL4C&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=web&ots=MH0N-OtB2W&sig=K8usvdE6ogwqTxnsGClmR0O5QuE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA36,M1) page shows how to determine if it’s a driver issue. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/7 "2008-08-12T19:59:08Z")
When I look at device manager with it plugged into a different port, I don’t see a yellow exclamation point. Scaning for changes makes no difference. Looking at the device manger I have two USB host controllers which makes sense, but I have three root hubs for the three USB ports. According to **x-ray vision** ’s link I should only have two. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-port-q/459749/8 "2008-08-12T20:13:10Z")
I had a similar problem to this with a wireless adaptor - it would only work on one USB port. I fixed it by going to device manager, uninstalling all of the USB ports and root hubs, then letting Windows find and install them all over again.