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Help! Broke my USB port!

post #1 of 14
5/1/06 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
OK, so I am an idiot, a clumsy fool. I was on the phone and I tripped over the USB cable to my printer. It's ripped out one of the centre pieces in a USB port.



I plugged something into the broken one and the system died on me...also device manager is also only reporting 5 'USB root hubs'. I presume there should be six.

The printer also fell on the floor, but thankfully its ok. The end of the printer cable is rather bent however.

I'm guessing that I'd need a new motherboard to replace the busted port?
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post #2 of 14
5/1/06 at 4:03pm
Yup. New motherboard.
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post #3 of 14
5/1/06 at 4:43pm
Ouch, You could try taking it to a local electronic repair company and see if they can replace the broken port. Otherwise its a new MOBO.
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post #4 of 14
5/1/06 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 
Well the other ones all work fine...guess I'll just have to put up with being 1 USB down. Another reason to sell this and get an m1710...

cheers for your info guys.
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post #5 of 14
5/1/06 at 5:01pm
What about your Dell Warranty?
Any coverage left? If so.. I would just call and tell them one port stopped working (Wouldn't tell them you ripped the inards out).
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post #6 of 14
5/1/06 at 5:30pm
lol, I think if you had an accidental warrarty they would go for it. But its hard to say that it happened on it's own.
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post #7 of 14
5/1/06 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I got a year's warranty and i bought the machine in august last year. But I've had it apart 3 times, and also upgraded the video card. Do I still have coverage?

If I rang them up and told them that one of the ports had stopped working, what would they do? Send me a new mobo?
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post #8 of 14
5/1/06 at 5:43pm
I don't think it matters if the unit has been apart. But my experince with Dell is they charge you for the replacement part if they do not receive the old part in 30 days. I imagine that they test each returned part for there RMA process and would see physical damage. It could end up being a Cluster-Muck.
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post #9 of 14
5/1/06 at 6:13pm
If you are any good with a soldering iron, it is fairly easy (and very cheap) to buy new USB ports.
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post #10 of 14
5/1/06 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
Any idea where I could get one from? All the shops I've tried seem to just sell USB hubs etc.
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post #11 of 14
5/1/06 at 9:24pm
Go to a local computer repair place and purchase a dead motherboard for a few bucks.. you may even get it for free!
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post #12 of 14
5/2/06 at 12:25pm
Look at on online electronic parts store (not computer store) or maybe ebay. In the UK, www.rapidelectronics.co.uk sell them for 37p.
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post #13 of 14
5/2/06 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by reflux
Yeah, I got a year's warranty and i bought the machine in august last year. But I've had it apart 3 times, and also upgraded the video card. Do I still have coverage?

If I rang them up and told them that one of the ports had stopped working, what would they do? Send me a new mobo?

I'd call them up and just tell them it stopped working.. You'll have to play their song and dance to test the software, etc..
And they should end up either sending you a new Mobo and tech to install, or send in your Laptop to be repaired at the epot.. Depending on the service you have.
What have you got to lose out of at least trying?
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post #14 of 14
5/2/06 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tentonine
If you are any good with a soldering iron, it is fairly easy (and very cheap) to buy new USB ports.

What he said. Check Farnell, Mouser etc for a replacement port (dual socket by the looks of it) and hook up with the local electronics geek for a small solder job
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