USB NOT WORKING

[Mickey Mouse]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
My friend has got three USB ports on his machine, one on the back and two on
the front.
He can plug his flash USB stick in the back port and it works fine but the
stick isn't recognised
in either of the two front USB ports. He's running XP. To make the non
functioning ports work
do they need drivers or something? What can we do?

TIA

 

[Rich Barry]

First look in the Bios. They may have to be enabled there. Then rt click
on MyComputer>select Properties>Hardware>
Device Manager>USB Controllers. rt click on each one and choose
Uninstall. Restart and let WinXP reinstall them.

 

[Elmo]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
My friend has got three USB ports on his machine, one on the back and two on
the front.
He can plug his flash USB stick in the back port and it works fine but the
stick isn't recognised
in either of the two front USB ports. He's running XP. To make the non
functioning ports work
do they need drivers or something? What can we do?

Has any device worked in the front ports? Is it possible the plug
running from the motherboard to the ports was unplugged while working in
the case?

USB Help sites:
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

 

[marse]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
My friend has got three USB ports on his machine, one on the back and two
on the front.
He can plug his flash USB stick in the back port and it works fine but the
stick isn't recognised
in either of the two front USB ports. He's running XP. To make the non
functioning ports work
do they need drivers or something? What can we do?

TIA

What does Device Manager have to say about the number of ports?

Have the front (case USB ports) ever worked?

The ports on the back are directly on the motherboard, while the ports on
the front are part of the case. M/B's usually have a set of pins to wire
USB ports on cases. If the case USB ports have never worked, or your friend
doesn't know, open it up and just look at it. Its possible that the M/B
doesn't even have a set of pins to wire "external" USB ports.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Thank to you guys/gals, I'll check all that out.
I don't know if in fact they in fact ever worked, I'll ask.
I'll check inside and see if they are connected and if necessary
the bios and uninstall them and reboot.
Again, thanks.