# Why do my USB ports quit working? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657 "2008-01-23T13:18:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/1 "2008-01-23T13:18:57Z")
Recently I’ve been having problems with my USB ports on my primary computer. They simply… go away. Or at least some of them do. My mouse and my wireless network dongle are both plugged into ports directly on the back of my computer, and they never stop working. However, two printers and my iPhone dock are plugged into what I assume are hubs - the printers are plugged into my monitor, which has another USB cord that plugs into the back of my computer. The iPhone dock plugs directly into the FRONT of the computer. Last night, they were all working fine. This morning, nada until I reboot. What the heck is going on? For what it’s worth, the only semi-major change that’s happened lately is that I’ve installed and quite frequently run Microsoft Virtual PC. However, it’s nothing nice and easy, like the ports quit working when I start Virtual PC. Other than that, everything I’ve been doing I’ve been doing for months or years, and never had any problems before. ---
**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/2 "2008-01-23T13:40:14Z")
I always assume it’s personal. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/3 "2008-01-23T13:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] plugged into what I assume are hubs [/QUOTE] Do these presumptive hubs come with wall warts, or are they unpowered? If the later, your printers etc. may be pulling too much juice off the bus. That can cause it to go down, and cause all sorts of odd, seemingly unrelated symptoms as well. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/4 "2008-01-23T13:58:24Z")
Well, the monitor plugs into the wall, and that’s where the printers are connected. The iPhone dock is hooked to a USB on the front of the computer, but how much power can a little dock pull? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/5 "2008-01-23T14:08:35Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] The iPhone dock is hooked to a USB on the front of the computer, but how much power can a little dock pull? [/QUOTE] I plugged my wife’s iPod into her hub the other day, and up popped an alert saying it couldn’t be mounted because the bus was maxxed out on power. Turned out her hub has a little bus power/external power switch on the side that had found its way to the ‘bus power’ position. I flipped it to ‘external’; problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/6 "2008-01-23T14:53:50Z")
Power management, probably. Right click My Computer -\> Properties -\> Hardware Tab -\> Device Manager. Got to the bottom and expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Select USB Root Hub (2.0 sometimes), right-click -\> Properties-\> Power Management -\> Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn of this device to save power”. Do that for any/all root hubs you may have. Press OK. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/7 "2008-01-23T15:36:43Z")
**Flander**! In the words of Minnie Pearl, for two cents I’d haul off and _kiss_ you. I’ve been wondering what made my ports go to sleep, so that I had to reboot to print. Thank you so very much! ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/8 "2008-01-23T15:42:13Z")
I shall begin plans on my new kissing booth. **NinetyWt** is first. 😉 Giggidy giggidy goo! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/9 "2008-01-23T16:00:46Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] I shall begin plans on my new kissing booth. **NinetyWt** is first. 😉 Giggidy giggidy goo! [/QUOTE] Hey it was MY thread. _I_ get the first kiss! \*pushes **NinetyWt** out of the way. I just did what you suggested - I sure the heck hope it works! ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/10 "2008-01-23T16:56:38Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] Hey it was MY thread. _I_ get the first kiss! \*pushes **NinetyWt** out of the way. I just did what you suggested - I sure the heck hope it works! [/QUOTE] You can _BOTH_ go first! 🆒 P.S. - I hope it works for you, **Athena**. Let us know. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/11 "2008-01-23T17:19:04Z")
I have a similar problem with my iPod and my wireless network adapter, both of which are USB. (Adapter is plugged in to a USB port in the back of the PC, iPod plugs into a USB on the front.) If I plug the iPod in just to recharge it, I don’t have any problems. But as soon as I move something from iTunes into my iPod, I lose my internet connection. What’s weird is that the adapter still appears to have a connection to my wireless modem, but traffic just stops dead. I have to reboot in order to get my internet connection back. I’m guessing it’s not a power issue since it only seems to happen when I move files to the iPod? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/12 "2008-01-23T17:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] Hey it was MY thread. _I_ get the first kiss! \*pushes **NinetyWt** out of the way. [/QUOTE] I reckon I oughta kiss you too, since you instigated it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/13 "2008-01-23T18:09:37Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] I reckon I oughta kiss you too, since you instigated it. 😃 [/QUOTE] I like where this is going! 😃 > [@Shoeless](#): > > I have a similar problem with my iPod and my wireless network adapter, both of which are USB. (Adapter is plugged in to a USB port in the back of the PC, iPod plugs into a USB on the front.) If I plug the iPod in just to recharge it, I don’t have any problems. But as soon as I move something from iTunes into my iPod, I lose my internet connection. What’s weird is that the adapter still appears to have a connection to my wireless modem, but traffic just stops dead. I have to reboot in order to get my internet connection back. I’m guessing it’s not a power issue since it only seems to happen when I move files to the iPod? This is a weird problem, but Google seems to find you’re [not the only one with the problem.](http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/665119-connecting-ipod-shuffle-disables-wireless.html). [This page has a possible solution.](http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-184927.html) Another thought would be to see if there is an IRQ conflict. It’s a shot in the dark, but you can google “resolve conflicting IRQ” and get instructions on how to check your hardware and make changes if necessary. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/14 "2008-01-23T21:47:40Z")
Thanks for the links **Flander**. Oddly enough (or maybe not) I also have a LinkSys wireless adapter, so that may well be the problem. I thought plug’n’play was supposed to eliminate all those pesky IRQ problems! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/15 "2008-01-23T23:32:02Z")
Now that your _usb_s are working, here’s a wonderful device to plug into it. [http://www.mensup.fr/usbwine/usbwine.swf](http://www.mensup.fr/usbwine/usbwine.swf) It’s a funny video, and absolutely safe for work. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/16 "2008-01-23T23:50:29Z")
**AskNott** , that is THE best use of a computer peripheral. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-usb-ports-quit-working/434657/17 "2008-01-24T15:24:35Z")
Flander - maybe you know the answer to this too - I frequently will plug in a USB 2.0-capable device into a USB 2.0 port and the computer will say “This device will perform faster if you use a 2.0 port” - but I am using one. My computer doesn’t even have a 1.1 port. Then some other time I’ll use the same device in the same port and it works as 2.0. Do you know why this would happen? And, of course, when transferring files on this supposed “1.1 port” it’s very slow.