A31p (2653) USB port problem- short circuit causes shutdown?

[fongj]

Hi all,

I bought my A31p (2653-XX9) refurbished from IBM. Other than some gray pixels (from being crammed in my backpack a few times), my other big problem is that one of the two usb ports is broken.

The A31p has two USB 1.1 ports in the back, and my top one is broken. The plastic piece inside the port that keeps the plug from being put in upside down has been missing for a while now. I can still use the port, though, except if I jab at it, and the USB cable accidentally touches the metal surrounding the port, most of the time the laptop will shutdown. This is some kind of short-circuit protection, or something like that, I assume? Then, I have to press the power button to turn it back on, and there is a minute or two after the shutdown when I think the protection needs to reset before the laptop can be turned back on.

Does anybody have any information, tips, or suggestions on this? (My Thinkpad is definitely out-of-warranty, so I didn't bother calling IBM to ask them.)

[Frank Ponte]

The USB ports are part of the motherboard and cannot be easily replaced. The plastic "tang" isolates the pins from shorting. When a hot pin is shorted it pulls down the system voltage and the unit shuts down. Here's my suggestion for this problem. Using tweezers straighten out all pins and isolate them from each other and the metal socket frame. Once isloated, fill the socket cavity with a silicone gasket sealer (available at a hardware or automotive parts store). The USB port will no longer be usable, but you've got another. The pins will be permanently isolated from shorting and you should be A-OK.

Regards,
Frank

Hi all,

I bought my A31p (2653-XX9) refurbished from IBM. Other than some gray pixels (from being crammed in my backpack a few times), my other big problem is that one of the two usb ports is broken.

The A31p has two USB 1.1 ports in the back, and my top one is broken. The plastic piece inside the port that keeps the plug from being put in upside down has been missing for a while now. I can still use the port, though, except if I jab at it, and the USB cable accidentally touches the metal surrounding the port, most of the time the laptop will shutdown. This is some kind of short-circuit protection, or something like that, I assume? Then, I have to press the power button to turn it back on, and there is a minute or two after the shutdown when I think the protection needs to reset before the laptop can be turned back on.

Does anybody have any information, tips, or suggestions on this? (My Thinkpad is definitely out-of-warranty, so I didn't bother calling IBM to ask them.)

[fongj]

Thanks for that awesome info Frank! I'll try that, and start carrying around a small usb hub in my notebook case (one usb port isn't enough).