Dead USB ports?

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javanaut · #1 Post by **javanaut** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:32 am

I have an X40 -- 2371-7GU -- on which I believe both of my USB ports died. I have tried removing the USB devices in the Win2K Device Manager and rebooting and I have installed the lastest version of the Embedded Controller program (1.56) and the BIOS (1.55). All of these actions did not fix the problem. Neither a USB mouse or my SmartDisk Firelite disk drive work in their respective ports. Both used to work until the other day when I walked away from my computer and came back to a machine that had rebooted (I did not see any error messages only the login screen after a re-boot). Is there anything else that I could try? Are the USB ports part of the motherboard? Is the motherboard a field replaceable unit (FRU), i.e., if it is the motherboard can I replace it or does it need to go back to IBM? Thanks very much for your help in advance.

Regards,
Danton Chin

DavidNZ · #2 Post by **DavidNZ** » Fri May 13, 2005 4:14 pm

Danton,

Motherboard isn't really an FRU, even thought many *could* do it. Best ring your nearest service centre. The fact that both went at once probably means faulty mobo. Turnaround time for a replacement board, assuming the part is available, should be quite quick.

tsammyc · #3 Post by **tsammyc** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:53 pm

Same thing happened to my X40 and is a well-known problem. Apparently, the X40 is sensitive to improperly made USB cables, so I imagine that you might have plugged in a new cable/device recently, which blew the ports. The motherboard has to be replaced. Fortunately, the IBM service centre is a 15 minute drive for me and they did it under warranty in 1 day. It is a well-known problem though.

DavidNZ · #4 Post by **DavidNZ** » Mon May 16, 2005 2:57 am

a well-known problem? uh-oh. Guess I should really splurge and get the ultrabase afterall. Anyone else reading this have the same problem as above?

tsammyc · #5 Post by **tsammyc** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:56 pm

If your USB cables have been working fine, don't change them! I bought a new USB HD, which had those dual USB connectors to increase the power to the HD. They were crossed and shorted out the ports.

Sounds like you're trying to find a reason to buy an Ultrabase

DavidNZ · #6 Post by **DavidNZ** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:27 am

Heh - i do want the base, but just can't quite commit NZ$350 for it. For what it is, I think it's outrageously priced...

Dead USB ports?

Dead USB ports?

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