USB problems on a T41 laptop.

My trusty T41 Thinkpad has decided that it won't let me use my USB memory sticks any more. For a while they were flaky with Win2k, then I started getting "Unsafe Removal" popups while the stick was still in the socket. Now it's not recognized at all - even in Kubuntu, so it seems to be a hardware issue. I wasted a few hours tonight trying to trouble shoot it, without success. (Including updating the BIOS and drivers from Lenovo; deleting and rediscovering the USB hardware; etc. I even deleted a registry key that MS says can be a problem on WinXP (NOT recommended).) This thing has always acted as if the USB ports were 1.1- when they're supposed to be 2.0-speed ports. :-(

It seems to be a fairly common problem with some people reporting that emery boards help; others report that it doesn't.

I've ordered a PCMCIA USB adapter - we'll see how that goes.

I was just wondering if others have had similar issues with USB sockets on laptops and if there was some magic solution that I may have overlooked. (Beep?)

Thanks.

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #296,233 by Another Scott 11/18/07 11:48:03 PM Reply	USB problems on a T41 laptop. My trusty T41 Thinkpad has decided that it won't let me use my USB memory sticks any more. For a while they were flaky with Win2k, then I started getting "Unsafe Removal" popups while the stick was still in the socket. Now it's not recognized at all - even in Kubuntu, so it seems to be a hardware issue. I wasted a few hours tonight trying to trouble shoot it, without success. (Including updating the BIOS and drivers from Lenovo; deleting and rediscovering the USB hardware; etc. I even deleted a registry key that MS says can be a problem on WinXP (NOT recommended).) This thing has always acted as if the USB ports were 1.1- when they're supposed to be 2.0-speed ports. :-( It seems to be a fairly common problem with some people reporting that emery boards help; others report that it doesn't. I've ordered a PCMCIA USB adapter - we'll see how that goes. I was just wondering if others have had similar issues with USB sockets on laptops and if there was some magic solution that I may have overlooked. (Beep?) Thanks. Cheers, Scott. [link\|http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=006978452673906630972%3A_5xhnlvpsn4\|IWeThey Custom Search Engine]
Post #296,236 by bepatient 11/19/07 12:05:05 AM Reply	Only problems I've had with USB ports is my kids trying to stick other crap in them. The t23 has to go on the docking station for USB now :-( Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #296,251 by a6l6e6x 11/19/07 9:43:10 AM Reply	Indeed sounds like a hardware issue. Given the progression of events it's more than likely a solder connection for USB related circuitry. Alex Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law. -- Sophocles (496? - 406 BCE)

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