So, new T41 and I just got around to trying to print something. Plugging a couple of my printers into the USB ports, and nothing happens. No recognize, no "new device found". Is there something one has to do to enable. I have check in device manager and is says all four ports (why are there four ports) are working properly.

It SEEMS that there is power, since when I plug in my USB charging cable to my ipaq, it seems to be getting power.

thanks

Well if the iPaq is charging wouldn't that mean the USB ports are working?
I would try a different USB cable for the printer or check the printer.
Try like a USB mouse and see if that works or some other USB device.

that the printer and USB cable work fine with another computer, pops up normal just fine

This happened to me on a desktop PC with a broken install of XP - for some reason, cancelling a windows update that I didn't want to install, stopped it from detecting any USB devices.
Not particularly helpful, I know, but you could try doing a repair install of XP if you have an XP cd available

So, to further this, the USB ports are not even showing up in the pcdoctor test your system area. Just PCL and COM1. so, I think there is a problem here.

Are you running the Windows PC Doctor or the one within the System BIOS area? The Windows one can be deceived if Windows doesn't load up the drivers-- the BIOS one loads it's own set, so will be more accurate (it's under System Tools when you press the Access IBM button on boot)