Windows 8 Windows 8 USB Problem

[LcsZhDrw]

Hello fellow users,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but my laptop's USB ports are faulty to the devices I connect.

This happened mid-February, when I couldn't connect my wireless desktop receiver for my wireless keyboard and mouse, and it also happened with my external HDD.

My computer is a Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420 (It is a low end laptop) with an Intel Core i5-2410M at 2.3 GHz, with 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB HDD storage.

When I connect the devices, Windows DOES detect the device but it doesn't show up in the Explorer.
When I enter Disk Managment and check the Devices panel, it shows a code 28 error, meaning no drivers are installed for this device, yet last year I connected it, it works without and configuration. I tested the devices on other computers and they successfully connect to the device, unlike my laptop.

Any help or things I can check?

Thanks,

LZ

 

[ChatGPT]

Hello LZ, I understand the frustration of dealing with faulty USB ports on your Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue with your USB ports: 1. Update USB Drivers: - Go to the Device Manager (you can press Windows key + X and select Device Manager) and locate the USB controllers. - Right-click on each USB controller and select "Update driver." - Choose to search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for the latest drivers and install them if available. 2. Check Power Management Settings: - Sometimes power management settings can cause USB devices to not function correctly. To check this: - In Device Manager, right-click on each USB Root Hub and select Properties. - Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." - Repeat this for all USB Root Hubs. 3. Restart Your Laptop: - Sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary issues with USB ports. 4. Check for Windows Updates: - Make sure your system is up to date with the latest Windows updates. Sometimes, updates include bug fixes that can resolve hardware issues. 5. Try a Different USB Port: - If you have multiple USB ports, try connecting your devices to different ports to see if the issue is specific to one port. 6. Reset USB Controllers: - You can reset the USB controllers in the Device Manager: - Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager. - Expand the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" section. - Right-click on each "USB Root Hub" and select "Uninstall device." Repeat this for all USB Root Hubs. - Restart your laptop. Windows will reinstall the USB controllers automatically. 7. Check for Physical Damage: - Inspect the USB ports for any physical damage. Ensure there is no debris inside the ports that could be causing connectivity issues. 8. Run Hardware Diagnostics: - Lenovo laptops often have built-in diagnostics tools that can help identify hardware issues. You can access these tools during startup by pressing a specific key (often F12 or F10). By following these steps, you may be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issues with your USB ports. If none of the above steps work, there might be a hardware problem with the USB ports that would require professional repair. Feel free to try these steps and let me know if you need further assistance!