USB port not working, buy Ultrabase ?

[hclatwr]

Hello
I got a x40 for free, my employer does not need it anymore since the USB ports on it are not working. I was thinking of buying an Ultrabase Dock Station, does it come with its own USB controller, or is it only a "HUB" for the onboard controller.

Thanks

[sjthinkpader]

There are three USB ports on the Ultrabase. Not sure a failed USB port would affect the Ultabase USB ports. I would think they are not linked.

[dr_st]

I tend to agree with sjthinkpader. Even if the ultrabase does not have its own controller (which i don't think it does), chances are that what is busted on your unit are the physical ports and not the controller itself. So I would expect it to work.

In the Windows device manager, is the USB controller correctly recognized? Any question/exclamation marks next to any USB devices?

[Treefrogfarmer]

I just today received a used X4 Ultrabase and "fitted" it up to my new to me X41 Tablet.
Windows XP Pro recognized the addition of a generic USB Hub controller. . .which would suggest that the base itself has its own controller.
HOWEVER, I am still finding my way with this piece of gear. The literature suggests that the ports are "pass through", so I am not sure exactly what that entails. As I write this I have the tablet docked, and have my Iomega160 USB drive attached, and am using the dock's telephone line out. I do not have any ultra slim devices to test the expansion slot.
I do have to say that the "fit" of the base to the tablet is the most cockamamie I have ever seen. . .which may explain why the Thinkwiki states that the X4 Ultrabase is "incompatible" with the X41 Tablet
Bob

[tim S]

While the X40 and the X41 may look the same, internally they are different.
That said, the same dock fits both. The X41 tablet is a different beast altogether
and it's dock is really designed for the tablet form factor which is larger than the
other two. So it seems you have the wrong dock.
I do agree with the previous posters that the actual USB connector is probably
the problem and that more than likely the on board controller is still working, so
the dock, or at least the correct dock, should be fine.
"Pass through" means that the dock only has extra ports with no built-in controllers,
so it uses the laptop controllers when it's connected.
If a laptop controller is broken then that part of the dock won't work either.
Tim S

[hclatwr]

When I plug in an optic mouse I get a red light under the device but it does not do anything, of course this mouse works when I plug it in an other computer.

The controller is present in the device manager and there are no question marks on any device, I have tried reinstalling windows but that did not solve the issue.

On an other subject, would you recommend a *NEW* battery sold on ebay ?

[tim S]

Reloading Windows is only half the battle. You now have to go to the 'Lenovo/IBM X41tablet
device drivers' page on the web and install pretty much everything you find there.
Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and the USB ports will start working after you do that!
Tim S

[Treefrogfarmer]

Tim S posted:
While the X40 and the X41 may look the same, internally they are different.
That said, the same dock fits both. The X41 tablet is a different beast altogether
and it's dock is really designed for the tablet form factor which is larger than the
other two. So it seems you have the wrong dock.

Agreed, the X40 and X41 are different dimensions from the tablet. However, the UltraBase X4, as opposed to a X4 Dock, will mate up to the X41 Tablet. The Dock and the UltraBase provide slightly different capabilities. The UltraBase is quite light and provides for mobility, and with an UltraSlim Battery, additional time untethered.
As to whether the Ultrabase has a separate controller, I haven't opened up the unit and can't say. However, since the two USB ports on the Tablet are accessible and functioning as well as the three USB ports on the UltraBase, I tend to think there is a Hub controller onboard.