Thinkpads Forum

570, usb port on main unit stopped working ,but usb port on sub base works fine, anyone have any ideas

billyibmm wrote:570, usb port on main unit stopped working ,but usb port on sub base works fine, anyone have any ideas

That means that the motherboard needs to be replaced, did you check device manager?

billyibmm wrote:570, usb port on main unit stopped working ,but usb port on sub base works fine, anyone have any ideas

Just answered this in a thread nearby... I believe in your situation that you blew out the fuse for the built-in USB port. A motherboard replacement certainly would fix that type of problem (assuming it's perfectly working and guaranteed). If you or a trusted friend has the needed skills and tools to open up the laptop and find the fuse, it's possible that I can identify it enough to recommend a replacement. I've already done this with a fuse on a T23 motherboard. At the least, you would need the Hardware Maintenance Manual to disassemble the laptop, the screwdrivers to do so, and a multimeter to check the fuse.

How much would a 570 motherboard cost? Is it worth it, when one could get a whole unit for around $100?

@rkawakami:
Hmm, I hope he will, since I have the same problem.
Unfortunately, during a recent replacement of my 570's keyboard and screen, I had to be very careful with the screws: some were worn and had to be drilled out.
So, to be safe, I want to leave the ones that survived the operation as untouched as can be.
I hope your fuse theory will eventually come to my rescue!

pianowizard wrote:How much would a 570 motherboard cost? Is it worth it, when one could get a whole unit for around $100?

Well, given that one needs a multimeter to verify that the fuse is bad and a soldering iron (and a steady hand and good eyes) to remove and replace it, then it all depends on whether or not he/she/they have those tools to begin with. I would say that the fuse is no more than $3 (shipped). It's up to owner to determine if a motherboard replacement makes more sense then an entire laptop or some time spent with a magnifying glass .

Ray,

Question,

If someone has the usb problem and removes his mobo will you be able to repair it?

Charging for the service of the repair of course.

cmarti wrote:If someone has the usb problem and removes his mobo will you be able to repair it? Charging for the service of the repair of course.

best Yoda impression.... Hmm, difficult to say, it is.

Since I don't have a 570 system (assuming that's what were talking about here), nor do I (or anybody else that I know) have schematics for ANY of the Thinkpads, I can not guarantee anything. Knowing where the USB port is on the motherboard, I can only assume that any fuse(s) protecting that port are nearby. If found, checked, confirmed as being blown, properly identified, a source for buying ONE of them found at a decent price, and replaced, then I can only assume that it will work again.

However, a fuse blows for a reason. If that reason still exists somewhere in the system, powering up the board can blow the fuse again and/or cause other damage. If the owner is aware of all of those facts, then I could probably perform the repair given all of those previous conditions.

I would FIRST recommend that the owner, if possible, locate a source closeby (person or business) that has the experience and tools needed for such a repair. If they take the time to remove the motherboard from the laptop and have the proper fuse on hand, then all they really need is someone with the soldering skills. I'm sure that would save $$$ as the repair shop will not have to spend their time with the disassembly/assembly process.

If the laptop owner has used a multimeter on the fuse and found it blown, given some high-quality pictures of the fuse, I might be able to identify the proper replacement and locate a source.

(Ray wonders if he is about to go into a laptop repair business....)

rkawakami wrote: (Ray wonders if he is about to go into a laptop repair business....)

Fair enough i am doing my "little" jobs on laptops too.

cmarti wrote:

rkawakami wrote: (Ray wonders if he is about to go into a laptop repair business....)

Fair enough i am doing my "little" jobs on laptops too.

ray, i am the one who started this thread. i can't reallt say that if there is a fuse that it is blown. my problem started out where the usb socket started being erratic, and if you held up on the plug , it would work. now it won't work at all. i can use the usb port on the sub base and that works fine . i have tried to make sure all the fine wires in the plug are in the best position to make good conact. what i think is wrong is that the connections inside on the board are broken loose. i have the electonic capability to solder it if that is the case. i just will have to figure out how to get it apart to look at it. thanks for all the replies...bill

billyibmm wrote:i can't reallt say that if there is a fuse that it is blown. my problem started out where the usb socket started being erratic, and if you held up on the plug , it would work. now it won't work at all.

That could be just a loose connection like you say.

billyibmm wrote:i just will have to figure out how to get it apart to look at it. thanks for all the replies...bill

If you haven't already done so, download this Hardware Maintainance Manual (HMM) from IBM for your 570:

HMM for 570

It details the steps required to disassemble your laptop.

rkawakami wrote:

billyibmm wrote:i can't reallt say that if there is a fuse that it is blown. my problem started out where the usb socket started being erratic, and if you held up on the plug , it would work. now it won't work at all.

That could be just a loose connection like you say.

That's probably the case with my 570 too (the previous owner described it like that). Seems to be a weak point of this particular model...
Anyhow, what would this connection look like? Like something that can be soldered or perhaps a small cable....or something else?
Would it be obvious from just looking at it (perhaps only using a magnifying glass), where the break is?

RfromR wrote:Anyhow, what would this connection look like? Like something that can be soldered or perhaps a small cable....or something else?

Most likely the USB jack is soldered directly to the motherboard (or some other PC board) like this:

113KB picture of USB port from 600X

In which case, I would look very closely at the way the jack has been soldered down to the board. Of course it's possible that the problem exists away from this point, but I'd start there and work my way back by trying to following each circuit trace. It's also entirely possible that one (or more) of the contacts inside the USB jack (on the small white board) is dirty, broken and/or disconnected.

Thanks for the very useful info, rkawakami

One more thing:
Does one reach the USB connections from the top?
I have the HMM and it seems the 'Upper Shield' (FRU part # 1150) needs to be removed (see page 75).
Is this correct?

RfromR wrote:Does one reach the USB connections from the top?
I have the HMM and it seems the 'Upper Shield' (FRU part # 1150) needs to be removed (see page 75).
Is this correct?

Based upon where I've seen the USB port located in the system drawings (page 97), you may only have to remove the "frame" or keyboard bezel (1080, page 63), to gain visible access to the USB port. How much more you have to disassemble the laptop is unknown to me. Sometimes you do NOT have to remove everything the HMM lists to get at a particular FRU. It's also possible that you may have go all the way to the system board (1180, page 81) if the USB jack has been soldered onto the bottom side of the motherboard.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
Judging from the drawings -combined with your photo- it seems to me the USB jack must be soldered on top of the motherboard, but anyway: when I decide to repair it, I'll make some photo's and link to them here.
The moment of repair will depend on my free time and courage