topic Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK! in Electronics

NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:10:59 GMT

I'm trying to charge my MP3 players (I have 3) and none of them will charge on any of my USB ports, either on the computer or on the screen.

This has never happened before. I rebooted overnight.

The MP3 players plug in and the screen lights up, but it won't power the batteries!

Anyone know why or what to do??? I have a new computer (only a year old).

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

jp4 — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:38:36 GMT

I can tell you that I once had a brand new computer that one of the USB ports stopped working and my work laptop has several USB ports that dont work. Per the IT department all the USB ports are usually connected to a central box inside, if its loose or not installed correctly all ports will not work.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

gardenman — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:28:51 GMT

Is it a desktop computer or a laptop? A desktop computer typically has two distinctly separate sets of USB ports. There are typically USB ports built into the motherboard that can only be accessed from the back of the computer. Then there will be separate USB ports on the computer case (front/top) that plug into a header on the motherboard. If it's a problem with both sets of USB ports then you'll have a bigger issue. If it's just the front/top USB ports that are affected, then it's likely the cable/header connecting those ports to the motherboard is damaged or loose.

Step one, find the USB ports on the back of the computer and see if one of those works. They'll be built into the motherboard directly and should work if the front ones become disconnected/damaged.

Step two. Try using one of the non-functioning USB ports to transfer data to/from one of your MP3 players. If you can't transfer data using any of the ports, then you're looking at one of two issues. A hardware failure, or a driver/software issue. It could be something as simple as a bad cable you're using to try and charge the device. Try swapping the cable and see if that works. (The power only goes through two of the ports on the cabe and if one of those got damaged data could still flow, but the power won't.)

If all else fails find your way to device manager (on a Windows system it's typically hidden away in Control Panel/Hardware and Sound, then click on the View hardware and devices) and look down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers. (USB stands for Universal Serial Bus.) If there's a big yellow arrow, that tends to imply you've got an issue. Right clicking on the Universal Serial Bus Controllers should bring up an option to scan for new hardware. Give it a click and see what happens.

Good luck!

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Allegheny — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:46:35 GMT

Sorry to break in. Just wanted to say, good to see you gardenman. Always enjoy reading anything you post. I love your avatar!

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

gardenman — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:59:36 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
Sorry to break in. Just wanted to say, good to see you gardenman. Always enjoy reading anything you post. I love your avatar!

That's Callie. She picked me out in a pet shop two and a half years ago when I was walking past a couple of cages of kittens. She came running up to the side of the cage, meowing and reaching out a paw towards me. I stoppped and pet her on the head a few times. The other kittens in the cage were all ignoring me, then a little gray kitten tried to get a head rub and she butted him out of the way and took his place. I wasn't really looking to add a kitten at the time but she was pretty persistent. I ended up taking her home and we've been inseparable since then. She's a pretty special little kitty.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:20:31 GMT

It reads my flip drive fine on front usb. I went into the USB Bus hardware and no yellow arrows. When I plug in my devices, it comes on at first and then goes dark.

Still need to move the computer to look behind to see if works from there.

I am worried that I've lost all my MP3 music now with no way to charge.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:21:58 GMT

When I go into devices, it also shows the devices I've used on the computer. All my MP3's are SONY.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:24:15 GMT

When plugged in, one MPE shows on screen "Connected to USB" but it isn't showing that's it's charging.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:26:07 GMT

Sorry, keep trying things... when I go into Windows Media Player (sorry I have Windows 7 and a PC desktop). and I try to sync, it says "connect a device" so it's not reading the players. Yet, the flip drive, zip drive I put in is fine and I can pull up docs.

Re: NONE OF MY USB PORTS ON COMPUTER WILL WORK!

Black Cat Back — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:54:45 GMT

Got it to work! Finally, it asked to update device and did. I was so desperate, I pulled out my ancient XP and it's charging too. So glad it's not any major issue. I have no clue as to why it didn't do this to begin with.

Thanks for the information everyone. I'm so not computer savvy and everything always happens to me!

I was thinking I'd have to use my old cassette walkman on my walks now. OY!