X40 with non-working USB ports

[Lockheed]

I got two X40s with latest bios. The problem is, that one of them behaves like it has no USB ports at all. They cannot be selected as boot device in BIOS when there is a USB stick or ThinkPad USB DVD drive plugged in, neither do they function within OS. Linux lists 4 ports, but no device is being detected with lsusb when plugged in. The same is true for Windows XP.

What's more, even if I put this X40 in a docking station, its USB ports are equally ignored.

Is this a faulty motherboard, or could there be some arcane ThinkPad setting that is causing this? I think I went through every setting in BIOS, but I read there is some windows software called something like "ThinkPad Configuration utility" - could someone disable USBs within it in WIndows, and now they are off?

[Neil]

Yes, it's a faulty system board. Likely the USB controller chip has failed. My X40 is in the same condition, and it's fairly common failing, though certainly does not affect all X40 systems.

My solution, for a few years now, has been to put a USB adapter in the CardBus slot. But, one cannot boot from such an adapter. For boot options I am fortune to have an Ultra Base with optical drive.

[axur-delmeria]

Thinkwiki article regarding this issue.