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The M15x is Alienware's 15 inch extreme gaming laptop.

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USB ports not working

I have an alienware M15x that I have had since 2011 with windows 7 home premium. Im not sure how long ago, but I suppose maybe a year or so ago one of my USB ports just stopped working. This was fine because my second port was working and I just used a USB splitter in it. Starting 2 days ago my USB port started turning on and off randomly. Now today it just wont turn on at all. So far I have tried updating all ports and controllers in device manager, have uninstalled and restarted computer, turned off the auto power save feature for the ports in DM. Device manager shows they are all working, have tried multiple devices in ports with no go's. Brought my computer in to a repair shop, guy didn't even open up computer, and just said I needed new ports, $220 for ports, $80 for diagnostics, plus time. He said the soldering was probably bad on them. Said screw that, took it home and took it all apart. The soldering is completely fine, nothing was loose, all was great. My Esata/USB port is working for my mouse, but I would like to know why my USB ports aren't. Also since I have done the uninstall on controllers I am now getting a pop up that keeps saying usb device not recognized, even though I have nothing plugged in. Any ideas?

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Hi,

With a strong light and a magnifying glass visually inspect the USB port(s). Check that the pins are all there and that they are straight and parallel with each other and that there is no dust or lint in the port.

It could be that there is a short circuit between two of the pins that is "calling" the USB controller but obviously as nothing is connected it doesn't know what to connect.

If the visual inspection doesn't show anything plug in a known working USB device (not self powered) which has power indicator light e.g. optical mouse. If the light works then the USB power is OK, and if the device doesn't work then the data lines are faulty. (USB pins are +5V (VCC), data-ve, data+ve, Eth looking from the left as you face it)

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Thanks for the reply. I have closely inspected both ports and the pins all seem to be good. I did a thorough cleaning yesterday when I had the computer ripped apart. There was indeed a ton of dust and lint, however its spotless now and still not working. My optical mouse does not light up in either port.

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HI,

Try connecting a self powered USB device to the ports, e.g. a camera or a mobile phone perhaps -make sure that they are turned on.

If they work it proves that the USB controllers in your laptop are OK and that it is just a 'power' issue to the non self powered USB devices.

Check with a DMM (Digital Multimeter -Voltmeter function) for +5VDC at the port. If not there and since the ports are probably board mounted something has been either burnt out or switched off perhaps.

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The service guy is probably right, but wants to charge a lot just to take off the cover, inspect and solder a few joints.

I have found that the solder joints on the USB metal housing are insufficient.

This causes the USB metal housing to flex when connectors are inserted.

With continued use, the solder joints of the 4 electrical wiring pins crack, which causes the port to become intermittent.

Devices that use a lot of current, such as external DVD drives seem to have the problem worse than a low power mouse. But eventually the port stops working.

Search on Youtube for one of my videos, that is showing a BDROM replacement.

After the dis-assembly and BDROM replacement, at 9m:20s I also show the USB ports with this problem, and how I fix it.

Search for " Sony Vaio VGN-AW BlueRay DVD BDROM Replacement BC-5500S"

To fix it, you will have to take the back off of the laptop, a bunch of screws.

Draw the outline of your laptop on a piece of paper, and tape the screws on the paper in the position thatthey were removed. Makes it easier to put it back together because of the different sizes.

Remove the USB port which is usually just one screw and a few connectors.

Look at it with a microscope, and you will see the cracked solder joints.

Get someone that is good with soldering, and have them re-solder the joints. Use some additional lead solder and do use "rosin" flux. (SN63PB37 RMA)

Should not cost you anything.

Austin_semiconductor

Allen TX

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See if the port connector is loose. It is a fairly substantial harness, that may have worked itself loose. That would an easy fix. Just take off the back cover ( lots of screws, pretty much all of them have to come out).

And take a look. Might get lucky.

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