USB ports "blocked"

lanners

Hi all

Hope you can help. My mum’s laptop has suddenly stopped accepting any USB connections. The USB connector physically won’t go into either of the two ports. It’s like they’re blocked, it will go in so far but not fully.

She mainly uses it for a printer and when she told me it wouldn’t go in I assumed something was wrong with the cable itself and I brought out a new one – which wouldn’t go in either. Have also tried USB stick – nothing.

Any ideas?

White Wolf Airsoft

I know this is a bit obvious but check inside the connector and the port there may be something blocking it

lanners

Thanks - definitely nothing in there, I did check! Also the fact that it's both ports, i thought this might be relevant somehow...

Not the connector either as I tried 3 different ones.

Strange.

MrVestek

She could have forced something into the port causing the ports to bend backwards and just not told you about it.

People always think it's not their fault when it comes to these kinda things...

Voodu Child

You're not putting the cable in upside-down are you? :pac:

batman2000

Voodu Child wrote: »

You're not putting the cable in upside-down are you? :pac:

Or maybe Mom did,now the connectors pins are bent !!!

Overheal

Tell her she did a good job.







Seriously though, that's kinda a problem.

Depending on howit's bent - whether the internal 'tongue' or the entire receptacle itself. If it's the receptacle, you can disassemble the laptop and 'go in' to unbend the port. If it's the tongue, well you're fairly ****ed, and she was fairly rough with it.

Reamer Fanny

lanners wrote: »

Hi all

Hope you can help. My mum’s laptop has suddenly stopped accepting any USB connections. The USB connector physically won’t go into either of the two ports. It’s like they’re blocked, it will go in so far but not fully.

She mainly uses it for a printer and when she told me it wouldn’t go in I assumed something was wrong with the cable itself and I brought out a new one – which wouldn’t go in either. Have also tried USB stick – nothing.

Any ideas?

USB ports are fairly easy to replace on the motherboard

Hijpo

justryan wrote: »

USB ports are fairly easy to replace on the motherboard

As in soldering iron easy?

lanners

Voodu Child wrote: »

You're not putting the cable in upside-down are you? :pac:

No, although it's funny because I asked her all these questions on the phone before I went out (I was quite patronising about it actually!) but the damn thing definitely won't go in.

Looks like it must be bent then. But I don't really get how it's both, if she forced something into one of them or tried to put in the connector upside down, would that bend the other one as well?

USB ports are fairly easy to replace on the motherboard

When you say "easy"...I presume you mean for someone who knows about these things?

Reamer Fanny

lanners wrote: »

Voodu Child wrote: »

You're not putting the cable in upside-down are you? :pac:

No, although it's funny because I asked her all these questions on the phone before I went out (I was quite patronising about it actually!) but the damn thing definitely won't go in.

Looks like it must be bent then. But I don't really get how it's both, if she forced something into one of them or tried to put in the connector upside down, would that bend the other one as well?

USB ports are fairly easy to replace on the motherboard

When you say "easy"...I presume you mean for someone who knows about these things?

Of course for someone with experience repairing at the component-level is easy

Ravenid

Looks like it must be bent then. But I don't really get how it's both, if she forced something into one of them or tried to put in the connector upside down, would that bend the other one as well?

Most USB connectors are put onto the Motherboard as one unit.


Its a Desktop Motherboard I know but it does explain what I'm talking about.

If one gets bent the connection to the other is affected also (Pressure on the top one pushes down the bottom one or vice-versa.)

Can also happen on laptops where there isnt great support for the motherboard itself. System gets a knock, MB drops and the ports move. Usually not noticed until someone trys a USB device or a flash card.

I think its a trip to the repair shop or someone REPUTABLE with PC repair experience I'm afraid.

Hijpo

lanners wrote: »

Voodu Child wrote: »

You're not putting the cable in upside-down are you? :pac:

No, although it's funny because I asked her all these questions on the phone before I went out (I was quite patronising about it actually!) but the damn thing definitely won't go in.

Looks like it must be bent then. But I don't really get how it's both, if she forced something into one of them or tried to put in the connector upside down, would that bend the other one as

It.could happen if she thought that there was something wrong with the first port so she tried the second the same.way and did the same.damage.

lanners

Ravenid wrote: »

Most USB connectors are put onto the Motherboard as one unit.

Can also happen on laptops where there isnt great support for the motherboard itself. System gets a knock, MB drops and the ports move. Usually not noticed until someone trys a USB device or a flash card.

I think its a trip to the repair shop or someone REPUTABLE with PC repair experience I'm afraid.

Thanks a mil.

I had a feeling that might be the case...any idea how much it might cost?

MrVestek

lanners wrote: »

Thanks a mil.

I had a feeling that might be the case...any idea how much it might cost?

It'll vary. Look around for a few quotes. All it'll take is a few minutes with a soldering iron.

voojeq

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2011/01/25/usb_plug_for_idiots

no offence =]

Ravenid

Mind you