USB ports: what to do?

[danman]

I have a w510. I pulled a mouse cord out of the back usb port, and a small, tan, rectangular object came out with it. Now, the USB ports don't work. I've read that this is a frequent problem with Lenovo laptops. Seems to me, if it's a frequent problem...they should issue a recall and eat the costs.

Anyway..what is my best option to get a USB port back onto the machine? The tongue part that came out has grooves in it that match up with the pins. It doesn't look like it broke. It looks like an intact part that simply slid off the pins. I thought of inserting it back in with glue on it, then blocking the port so that it can't be used again. Will that work, or will the glue conduct the signal across the pins an screw it up worse? I think there are a couple other ports (firewire, etc.) that can be turned into a USB slot. I looked at the reviews of such devices on Amazon, and they're not very positive. Some say it makes the machine run hot.

Until I can get some resolution, I can't print from the machine.

[TPFanatic]

I had the same issue and I glued the piece back into my T500. It doesn't clutch devices perfectly but it's better than nothing.

[danman]

You mean....your USB ports started working again after you did that? I would be thrilled if that worked for me. The one that screwed up was the one in the back on the right side as you're facing the screen. I think it's only usb2. The other 2 are usb3. If I get it to work via the method you described, I'll tape it off and never use it again.

I've never had any luck with "super glue." If it lasts at all, it only lasts for a short time...and I'm back to square one. In fact, if gluing it works, I'll fill the rest of the slot with glue to block it off...so I won't accidentally forget and repeat the problem.

[axur-delmeria]

USB ports not working could be caused by:

1. Blown fuse (supplying +5v to the USB ports) on the system board.
2. chipset damage

Hopefully it's just #1.

[TPFanatic]

Oh I misread your post, I'm sorry. My issue was different. With mine I had a USB mouse plugged in but then the cable got yanked and it pulled out the plastic piece that prevents USB devices from being plugged in backwards. I did not lose USB functionality though. The other ports still worked before I glued the plastic back in, and the broken port still worked too, and they all work now.

So our issues are different and all your ports no longer working is probably because of what axur-delmeria said. All I add then is it's possible to glue the plastic back in.

[axur-delmeria]

Well, check if any of the contacts of the broken USB port are touching each other or the metal bracket (which is the chassis ground).

[danman]

I have a w510 i7 with 8gigs memory and a 9cell battery. A month ago, I pulled a mouse cord out of the usb port on the back of the machine, and the tongue came out with it, which killed all my usb ports. I know I have an ExpressCard slot, and some sort of jack on the left side of the machine, though I forget what that port is/does...perhaps firewire? Which port should I get a converter for that would add a usb port?

MOD Edit: please do not double-post!

[MikalE]

Has anyone thought about opening up the machine and replacing the USB port?

[danman]

It is my understanding, from other posts, that the usb port is part of the motherboard..so it can't be replaced.

Does anyone know which other port on the machine would be best for a converter device?

[RealBlackStuff]

If you are handy with a soldering iron, you can replace just the USB-port(s).

[MikalE]

I would think so. They certainly weren't molded into the circuit board.

[danman]

The story continues. Turns out, I must have put the peg back into that back usb port. It's still there, but very loose. The grooves fit over the 4 wires. I'm going to tape the hole shut. The 3 serial ports on the left side work, but intermitently. You put the mouse cable (or whatever) into the usb slot firmly, then pull it out a little bit..and the mouse works...until you bump it somehow, and it stops.

The good news is...the eSATA/usb port works like a charm. That's all I really need...a usb port to print and scan from.

I don't know if the back port peg can be glued into place or not, but I figure the lose connection it makes is affecting the usb ports on the left side of the machine, with the exception of the eSATA. From now on, if a cable fits too tightly into a usb port, I'm going to throw it away. I spoke with Lenovo today. They said there is no adapter that will turn one of the other jacks (ethernet or firewire) into USB ports.

[D L Davis]

Here's another update. The eSATA still works, but I worry that it won't for long, since it's getting all the extra wear. I can plug in a mouse in the two side USB ports, and the red light will flicker. It'll even stay on for a minute or two if I position it just so. I've tried prying the the leaf up a bit, but that seems to do no good. My guess is that the connection between the port and the mobo is loose. Not much I can do about that.

[Cigarguy]

If the ports are breaking due to high usage, maybe look at getting a docking station or possibly another MB. Once they physically break there's not much you can do to fix it.

[D L Davis]

Hmmm....docking station. I'll have to look into that while they are still available. I don't think the USB ports should be giving me trouble at all. The machine never has been used very heavily. Other than the USB's, my w510 has been great...as was the x41 I had prior to it.