Question:
My USB ports on my Toshiba laptop stopped working?
yumi_reiku
2009-07-13 08:38:51 UTC
I have a optical mouse, for my Toshiba laptop, Window XP, Vista capable. And theres the little USB plug that goes into the computer, so I can use the mouse. It's been working fine, until last night. My mum was messing with my laptop trying to fit it in a bag, and didnt remove the USB for the mouse, so it was pushed and pulled and shoved into the port. And now............none of my ports work. Why? I know its NOT the mouse, the mouse works perfectly fine with our desktops, and when i plug my phone (or mp3 player) in a port, the computer doesnt pick it up. What's wrong with my laptop? Did my mum mess it up? Do I need updates, if it's only a year old? Or do I just flat out need to get a new laptop? Please.............Dont say new laptop
Three answers:
Bon Gart
2009-07-13 08:50:53 UTC
Don't say new laptop? Why? Because you refuse that abusing the laptop by pushing, pulling, and twisting the USB dongle in the VERY DELICATE AND FRAGILE surface mounted USB port on the motherboard?



Here is the situation.. from a laptop repairman who has had to deliver bad news like this before (IE me)...



Your mother, by being irresponsible and not removing the dongle, most likely damaged the USB port, and the motherboard. The small surface contact solder points were most likely the only things holding the port on the board. It wasn't designed for any kind of heavy stress. When the port was shoved out of position, it would tear the copper trace off the motherboard, before it would break the solder, or the metal of the contacts.



A repairman with any skill with a soldering iron might be able to repair it, depending on how severe the damage. But, you are talking like... an hour to take it apart, two to three hours to repair, and another hour to put it all back together right... three hours at a minimum, 5 hours outside... hours that will cost you $40 or more each... so expect a minimum of $120 in labor... more like $200... and that's just labor.



Your regular warranty will not cover this. This is not failure of a part. This would fall under "abuse" just as a broken screen would fall under that same category.



Places like Best Buy / Geek Squad will just offer to replace the motherboard, which is almost like getting a new computer.. but that will run you $250 and up, just for the part... let alone three hours of labor as well.



So what do you do? take it to a repair shop, and pay their diagnostic charge. Let them explain what is wrong, and what your options are. You can easily take that estimate/explanation to another shop, should the first prove to be too expensive to have it repaired there.



However, don't ever ask a question, and tell people what NOT to give as an answer. If you knew what the issue was, and what would be required, you would not be ASKING the question in the first place. You very well might need a new laptop. You are going to have to deal with it, and learn from the mistakes that led you to needing this.
Ellison
2009-07-13 08:45:05 UTC
This has nothing to do with the beating that your USB ports took during the assault but maybe your USB drivers were uninstalled after something that you or someone else did on your laptop. Go to the manufacturer's website and look up your model number, reinstall the USB port drivers, restart your computer, and then see if they work after that.
ezyl
2009-07-13 09:13:12 UTC
what a stupid question eventhough you know what your mom did to your laptop....go and spank your mom....lol


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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