USB 3.0 port issues

[niccolo]

I have a fairly new T420s (finally bit the bullet after much agonizing), fairly happy with it notwithstanding the less than stellar screen.

One question: it has a USB 3.0 port on the back, with blue plastic marking it inside the port. I don't have any 3.0 devices, but I notice it doesn't work backwards compatibly with my iPod, when I plug it in the iPod isn't recognized by the computer or charged. Does this suggest a defective port or does the port possibly need to be activated or is it perhaps not as backwards compatible as I thought?

Appreciate the assistance!

[jdrou]

Check the device manager and make sure you can see the ports there. Note the USB 3.0 support is by NEC/Renesas and needs a driver that is not included in Windows but should have been pre-installed by Lenovo.

[niccolo]

Ports are there in device manager and drivers are listed as fine. I'm wondering if my not-brand-new ipod classic somehow isn't backward compatible with a 3.0 port, although that doesn't really make sense. At this point I just want to make sure the port isn't defective...

[jdrou]

The USB 3.0 ports might not supply enough power for the ipod. Do you have any other USB devices you can test in the ports (flash drive, mouse, etc.)?

[niccolo]

A USB flash drive also is not recognized when plugged into the port, and no power goes to it (the flash drive has a light that goes on when it's receiving power). The flash drive works fine with the other ports. Any other diagnostics or potential fixes I should try before contacting Lenovo to initiate a warranty claim?

Appreciate the assistance!

[jayton4]

I'm thinking it's a bad port. Call Lenovo support and see if they have any recommendations. Initiate the warranty claim after that. Like you said, an old ipod not being backwards compatible does not make sense.

[dr_st]

Is there perhaps a BIOS setting to enable/disable the USB3 controller?

[jdrou]

I don't think it would show in device manager if it were disabled in BIOS.
Just to make sure, you do see "Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller" and "Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Root Hub" there, correct? (That's what I see on my W520.)

Certainly sounds like a bad port to me.