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ACER 5100 does NOT recognize USB portS

post #1 of 17
4/27/10 at 8:11pm
Thread Starter 
For almost a day, we have not been able to use the usb ports on our 5100-3123.
How has anyone who has run into this issue dealt with it.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

A.S.C.
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post #2 of 17
4/27/10 at 8:31pm
Did you install anything or update Windows between when they worked and when they didn't work? If so, you can try either uninstalling whatever was installed or using system restore to go back to a previous save point.
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post #3 of 17
4/27/10 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 

No additions

D - we didn't add anything new - so I suppose we'll have to use 'Restore'.
Will update this post once we try a 'restore'.

ASC
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post #4 of 17
4/27/10 at 9:05pm
If that doesn't work, try looking in device manager and see if your USB ports are showing up.
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post #5 of 17
4/27/10 at 10:31pm
Its apparently a south bridge problem. Check out this link to an older thread. Its 5 pages long but good reading.
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread177674.html

One guy was lucky and was able to rectify the problem with an install of Vista and some driver searches. Others tried Vista and didnt work for them.
It was indicated later in the thread that its a southbridge problem which would normally require a full board replacement or some very delicate soldering (not homestyle soldering either)
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post #6 of 17
4/28/10 at 2:08am
Thread Starter 
Thanks saugen48 - will see what happens as we figure it out -
ASC
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post #7 of 17
5/2/10 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, it is May 2nd and ALL of the usb ports on our 5100 are NOT working.
Every single driver we could update we did. I flashed the bios without issue and even that did not help. We are not updating from XP Pro so am not sure which way to turn on this issue.
Anyone got any idea about this.

A.S.C.
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post #8 of 17
5/2/10 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saugen48 View Post
Its apparently a south bridge problem. Check out this link to an older thread. Its 5 pages long but good reading.
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread177674.html

One guy was lucky and was able to rectify the problem with an install of Vista and some driver searches. Others tried Vista and didnt work for them.
It was indicated later in the thread that its a southbridge problem which would normally require a full board replacement or some very delicate soldering (not homestyle soldering either)
saugen48

We didn't see anything in particular that turned out to be a solution for the 'southbridge problem' .
Will re-read the thread you indicated to see if we come up with something
Let us know if you have any other suggestions
ASC
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post #9 of 17
5/2/10 at 9:22pm
The only suggestion was as I indicated would be a full mainboard replacement or some very delicate electronic soldering (not the normal home-type)
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post #10 of 17
5/3/10 at 5:17am
I saw this same problem on another Acer laptop. The small battery that maintains the bios memory and such was removed and caused the computer to not be able to read the USB or CD drive. Sadly, I was never able to remedy the problem. Was your laptop dropped in any way?
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post #11 of 17
5/3/10 at 8:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shadowwalker702 View Post
I saw this same problem on another Acer laptop. The small battery that maintains the bios memory and such was removed and caused the computer to not be able to read the USB or CD drive. Sadly, I was never able to remedy the problem. Was your laptop dropped in any way?
this laptop hasn't been dropped - however we have had some static electricity which we have since remedied -
Currently trying ACER tech support and uninstallation and re-installation on usb drivers - so we'll see what happens. . .
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post #12 of 17
5/3/10 at 10:27am
saugen is right.

it is a bad board, with a bad southbridge. The southbridge is failing. A shop that repairs boards could try to reflow the southbridge but it will still fail eventually.

eventually your keyboard and touchpad may stop working, then it may not detect the hard drive anymore.


Recommend a new board or part it out and sell it.
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post #13 of 17
5/3/10 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichelleG View Post
saugen is right.

it is a bad board, with a bad southbridge. The southbridge is failing. A shop that repairs boards could try to reflow the southbridge but it will still fail eventually.

eventually your keyboard and touchpad may stop working, then it may not detect the hard drive anymore.


Recommend a new board or part it out and sell it.
MichelleG,
Thanks for your input. We've only had this laptop for 3 years. It's very hard to believe that it's falling apart piece by piece.
We've got an entire library of iTunes and maybe some pics so we're hoping that moving these items isn't gonna take forever.
we're gonna take a look at new board prices and determine if that route is the best way to go -
MG, it seems you have qualifications for repairing laptops - i want to pick up certification so I can work with the different laptops we have here - any suggestions on a good way to accomplish laptop tech status?
Thanks for your time and submission to our dilemma here -
Mike
A.S.C.
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post #14 of 17
5/3/10 at 1:35pm
If you have access to another computer, you can remove the laptop harddrive, purchase a laptop harddrive external case with usb cord. Put the HD in the case and plug it in a usb port on another computer and you will have access to the files you need.
Like these, very cheap. http://computers.shop.ebay.com/?_fro...s&_sacat=58058. Check what kind of HD is in your machine (I assume since its 3 years old, that its an IDE/PATA and not a SATA so order accordingly
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post #15 of 17
5/3/10 at 3:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saugen48 View Post
If you have access to another computer, you can remove the laptop harddrive, purchase a laptop harddrive external case with usb cord. Put the HD in the case and plug it in a usb port on another computer and you will have access to the files you need.
Like these, very cheap. http://computers.shop.ebay.com/?_fro...s&_sacat=58058. Check what kind of HD is in your machine (I assume since its 3 years old, that its an IDE/PATA and not a SATA so order accordingly
Thanks saugen48
We've already moved all of our files to a server. We have a couple of the external cases-they are handy when you're in a pinch.
Will be looking to change motherboard-so we'll see how things turn out and will post the action here.
A.S.C.
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post #16 of 17
5/3/10 at 7:30pm
Good stuff. Always nice to hear back, be it success or not. Helps others with that model
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post #17 of 17
12/20/11 at 9:14am

My acer 5050 usb's went down & i have tried various remedies, by accident I downloaded Ubuntu to my suprise my usb's worked. When I switched back to XP usb's not recognised again. Confused dot com!!!

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