USB ports degraded..

OK. I can see that happening too.

David B. wrote:
> Ahh, ok, wasn't following your first post. As far as the short, as the OP
> stated that he physically damaged the front port, the likely hood of a
> short
> is pretty good, I've seen quite a few, the plastic support piece gets
> broken
> off inside the port, all you have left are the 4 connections, the don't
> have
> to move much to short out.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> Help Us Help You http://dts-l.net/goodpost.htm
>
>
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:e1VAnZuBJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> When you plug a device in, the presumption is that the contacts are being
>> made between the USB device and the USB connector (which is in turn wired
>> to the MB). If they aren't (for any one of them), that is an open
>> (broken) circuit, not a shorted one. Of course, it is possible to have
>> a
>> short circuit condition between two (or more) of them, but I really
>> expect
>> that is very unlikely.
>>
>> David B. wrote:
>>> An open? The USB contacts by default are open in reference to
>>> themselves,
>>> how could breaking the port make them any more open? More likely some of
>>> the
>>> contacts are shorted
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> ----
>>> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:OEV7YIjBJHA.1892@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> JS wrote:
>>>>> Well if the USB connector is badly damaged it might have created a
>>>>> partial
>>>>> electrical short.
>>>>
>>>> Or more likely, an open.
>>>>
>>>>> At the very least it takes the damaged connector out of the picture as
>>>>> a
>>>>> possible cause.
>>>>>
>>>>> JS
>>>>>
>>>>> "Walter M" <WalterM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:329A5690-7115-46F6-A799-08C43B55AD53@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> No, I haven't done that - do you imply I should? I can see that might
>>>>>> make
>>>>>> sense..
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "JS" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Did you disconnect the cable from the motherboard to
>>>>>>> the damaged front panel USB connector?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> JS
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Walter M" <WalterM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:24CC7FF0-7137-4B81-80B6-C8958023374A@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>>> Some time ago I damaged physically one of the USB 2 ports on the
>>>>>>>> front
>>>>>>>> of my PC, and subsequently (probably as a result) find that all the
>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>> ports, four at the back and the second one on the front panel,
>>>>>>>> though
>>>>>>>> still
>>>>>>>> working are now functioning in a very degraded mode and are slower
>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>> transferring data by a factor of 10 or 20.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There's no error or warning displayed in Device Manager against the
>>>>>>>> Enhanced Host Controller, or anywhere else.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is it likely that I've broken some hardware on the motherboard, or
>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>> there any diagonstic that I can perform to clarify whether
>>>>>>>> reinstalling some
>>>>>>>> firmware or driver might fix this?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> At worst, I could presumably install a USB/Firewire expansion card
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> replace the failed ports.. A couple of other questions then arise:
>>>>>>>> If
>>>>>>>> I do
>>>>>>>> this, will I need to delete the existing drivers and controllers,
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> so
>>>>>>>> on, to avoid conflicts, and hence abandon the existing USB ports;
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>>> so, am I likely to run into difficulties at any time, including
>>>>>>>> reverting, if I
>>>>>>>> can't access an XP installation disk?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Many thanks for any thoughts..
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [Windows XP Home, SP3]

Bill in Co. wrote (in news:e1VAnZuBJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl):
> When you plug a device in, the presumption is that the contacts are being
> made between the USB device and the USB connector (which is in turn wired to
> the MB). If they aren't (for any one of them), that is an open (broken)
> circuit, not a shorted one. Of course, it is possible to have a short
> circuit condition between two (or more) of them, but I really expect that is
> very unlikely.


No, short is correct. The OP isn’t complaining about devices plugged into the
damaged port not working, he’s complaining about problems with the other ports
on that controller.

If there was a broken contact on the port in question, then it would only affect
devices plugged into it; it would have no effect on the other ports. If it has a
short, then the electrical signal travels back through the controller and can
affect the other ports.

As an analogy, imagine an electrical cord plugged into the outlet in the wall.
If the cord is cut so that the wire is not connected, then whatever the cord is
connected to won’t work, but the rest of the building’s power system is
unaffected. If the cord is cut in a way that causes a short, then the current
flows back and blows the fuse/throws the breaker.

--
Alec S.
news/alec->synetech/cjb/net



> David B. wrote (in news:eXqiY3sBJHA.3496@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl):
> > An open? The USB contacts by default are open in reference to themselves,
> > how could breaking the port make them any more open? More likely some of the
> > contacts are shorted

> > Bill in Co. wrote (in news:OEV7YIjBJHA.1892@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl):
> > > Or more likely, an open.

> > > JS wrote (in news:eTVDH%23iBJHA.4108@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl):
> > > > Well if the USB connector is badly damaged it might have created a
partial
> > > > electrical short.
> > > > At the very least it takes the damaged connector out of the picture as a
> > > > possible cause.