testing usb ports

[goodmami]

I've got another question regarding my x61t

Since the beginning, I had trouble getting two of the USB ports to work (both in Vista and Ubuntu 7.10). I'm thinking of requesting service since it's still under warranty, but before I do is there a way to test the ports? I'm running Ubuntu 7.10 right now.

For example, when I plug my iPod into the USB port on the left side (near the VGA-out), nothing happens. When I plug it into the front-most one on the right side (near the firewire port), the iPod says that it's connected, but the computer doesn't see it. If I plug it into the last one (near the headphone jack) it works fine.

Any help would be appreciated

[rkawakami]

I know that there's a USB-to-PCMCIA and USB-to-parallel interface cables which are supposed to work with programs like PC Doctor in testing USB ports. There's also "loopback" plugs like this:

http://www.passmark.com/products/usb2loopback.htm

but they are fairly expensive (~$50) to justify the cost, unless you are in the repair business. About the only thing I can suggest is to plug in simple USB peripherals like a keyboard, mouse or Flash drive and see what works and what doesn't.

[goodmami]

Yeah, well it looks like that software doesn't run on linux, anyway. Guess I'll just have to plug things in and see.

Btw, I got both of the ports on the right side to work, but the left one is still dead. I'm not sure how stable the second one on the right will be, though

thanks for your help