| anschutz_93 |
So I'm trying to datalog with my laptop. On Thursday I plug the cables into the usb port, everything works as it should, a couple times it cut out and logworks said "serial ports unconnected" or something along those lines... fine, I log until my battery died.
Go home, recharge my laptop, try again friday night.... no good, I cannot get a signal, after an hour in my car I got a signal. Signal stayed until I got out of the car and placed the laptop down; It was lost. Fuck, so I try to connect again and it works, got in the drivers side, drive down the driveway, signal lost. Cannot get a signal again... I think its my usb->db9 cable, replace its not the problem. The usb ports are not picking up or giving any signals!
My usb port is not picking anything up, ipod, flash drive, anything. I checked the drivers, all drivers appear to be enabled. I removed and reinstalled all drivers for the usb ports, still nothing. I read online that you should be able to see if usb ports are enabled in BIOS..... well I looked through BIOS and there is fuckall about usb. Windows is not in safe mode, it is in normal, when you plug in a usb device it doesn't recognize it. Its a toshiba laptop running windows xp... wtf gives. Im probably just going to have to take it to a shop but any ideas? |
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| TrevorK |
| You can tell if it's enabled in the BIOS by checking if Windows sees it. Go into Device Manager (Right click MY COMPUTER, select MANAGE) and see if you see any USB ports listed (At the very bottom). If you don't see any, then Windows isn't seeing the ports (Which means most likely they are disabled or not working properly). |
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| AudiInProgress |
Toshiba laptops suck. That's your number one problem.
Secondly, are your USB Host Controllers and USB Root Hubs showing up in Device Manager?
Have you tried plugging in another USB device such as a thumb drive to see if Windows picks it up?
Also, there is a section where you can check the power output of a USB post, make sure it's at full strength... And make sure to UNCHECK the box that says something like "allow windows to turn off this device to save power"
-rob |
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| anschutz_93 |
are your USB Host Controllers and USB Root Hubs showing up in Device Manager?
Yep. I also removed them and windows reinstalled them once I restarted. They are definately there. All were enabled
Have you tried plugging in another USB device such as a thumb drive to see if Windows picks it up?
I tried a flash drive (which is known to work I tried it right after in another compter) and my ipod. The ipod didn't even charge in the port, flash drive didn't do anything (not even the weird blinking it normally does).
Also, there is a section where you can check the power output of a USB post, make sure it's at full strength.
Where is this section... power management I assume? lol I just decided to say fuck it and took it to a computer place to diagnose... I need it before Friday so I dont really have time to mess around with it. They haven't started working on it yet so I will suggest this tomorrow morning.
I'm sure its an easy fix but w/e, I hate computers... |
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| GOT SE-R |
quote:
Originally posted by AudiInProgress
Toshiba laptops suck. That's your number one problem.
-rob
:lol:
So true. I know we have one...
I can't believe you didnt rag on me when I brought mine to you. Hahaha |
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| anschutz_93 |
Well, I took it to a little computer place by my work. Data Corp on 99th, was the only place that I could get to after work and they told me they could look at it the next day. Friendly guy, Chinese, a little hard to understand but great service.
Anyways he looks at it, says that in terms of software and shit, its fine... just doesn't work. He told me either something inside and fried (lol he told me what is was but I have since forgot), in which case it would be too expensive to bother fixing (this is kinda an old laptop) or the usb ports themselves were fucked. Ok fine, he charges me a very reasonable amount for his time and I'm gone.
So I come home, at this point I can either shell out some money and buy a new laptop (which i really don't need, I honestly only use this thing for a wideband and tuning software) or take this thing apart and see if I can find anything. I have never taken a computer apart, and I tend to run out of patience fast so I was taking a bit of a risk. After supper I bring out my little screwdriver set, within an hour I have the whole thing disassembled and I find my problem. Two of the usb ports had all broken off of their alloted spots, the 3rd (which is on some big L shaped chip) just doesn't work (I broke a resistor off of this big chip so maybe that is why it doesn't work?).... So I figure, I have a couple soldering guns, I have a little experience with wiring (lol hours upon hours... I now hate everything electrical), but I'm out of soldering paste and the port has to go in such a position that new solder must be added. So I grab the next best thing, marine epoxy, I just go to town with this shit, smear it all over the usb port, push it into place and close everything up.
Late last night, I started her up, put in the flash drive and now she works. Although I guess I should have waited a little while longer because in the morning the flash drive was stuck inside the port. It took a little convincing to get the drive out of the port but I was successful and now have a single working usb port! |
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| AudiInProgress |
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
ha |
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| RangerMan |
ha interesting read..
"flash drive was stuck inside the port."
Your laptop coulda just been a little hungry |
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| kevito_ |
| heheh, servicing disposable products is always good fun. One of my friends tried to replace a DSP chip on a board by using a heat gun. The gun worked, but the solder on the chip was higher temp rating than the other pieces. When he went to lift the chip off the board, he bumped it when he tried to lift it. The other chips slid off and he started to cry. |
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| anschutz_93 |
^ lmao thats funny.
Anyways an update.... My usb still works but it is a real bitch trying to plug something into it, some glue settled on the inside so its a tight fit. I did what I needed to do with my car so I don't have a use for it (the laptop) so I have it put it into storage in my room. I also have a cup of screws, washers and little pieces that broke off that I don't know where they came from. It still runs so w/e.
When I took it apart I must have broken/dislodged a couple components. The fan for the processor (?) runs non-stop so I must have cracked a switch or something. Other than that it is actually running better than ever, the hd stopped making that weird clicking sound and the blue screen that used to pop up every now and again hasn't came back! |
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| Twigs_Dee |
| MAHAHA Flash STUCK!! MAHAHAH :lol: :lol: :lol: |
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