Fried USB ports

O

OldBob

New Member
I may have fried the USB ports on my Asus P4C800E-Deluxe.

When I plugged the USB cable from my digital camera into the pc there was small spark (static). The pc locked up … had to hold in the power button to get it to shutdown then reboot.

Now all the USB ports are dead. Device Manager thinks they are all operating normally, but XP (SP2) doesn’t see any of them. Rebooting doesn’t help, nor does replugging the devices back in. I was able to download the pix using the same cable onto a laptop. The computer seems to be operating fine otherwise.

1- Is there any chance that this is a driver (vs. hardware) problem?
2- How do I verify that the USB ports have actually been destroyed? (note that they are built onto the Asus motherboard)
3- Assuming the USB controller is toast, what are the trade offs of the alternatives:
a. install a separate USB card in an available slot (will the mb even see it?)
b. buy a new motherboard.
c. If I opt for the new mb, will XP be happy to see it, or will I have to go through a bunch of operating system gyrations to get everything to work?


All thoughts on what to do next will be appreciated!

OldBob
 
Which USB ports have you tried? Where was the spark? Onboard ones, or case/front USB ports?

1) there's always that chance, but seeing as there was a spark and the machine locked up, it's doubtful.

2) Get some other OS running on there. BartPE is made from your XP disk and can use USB mice, USB flash drives, and such. I think you have to plug them in before booting. Also, some more recent mobo's will see USB devices in the BIOS... Plus them in before powering up.

3a) Not expensive, some even have USB headers for front USB ports. However, I don't know how it works outside windows(booting from USB devices, etc etc...)

3b) Possible upgrade? I donno :P

3c) As long as the mobo runs the same chipset, processor, etc etc, XP shouldn't mind. I switched an Abit AN8 with an epox something(both nForce4's) and it worked just fine.
 
he probably fried the wire connecting the usb ports to the case

try the plugs on the back of the case, those are hardwired to the motherboard
 
I tried the two external front ports ... neither works. I also tried the two on the back panel, neither works. The front panel 'drive' for memory cards etc, which is connected to a USB port doesn't work either. There may be some internal ports, but I haven't opened the box yet
 
to The Other One

I'm not sure just what you mean by "BartPE is made from your XP disk and can use ..." can you clarify.

BTW ... I notice some nice photos. Espec like the one of the Eiffel Tower w/sun behind

OldBob
 
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