Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

1 out of 3 usb ports not recognizing my devices

Feb 11, 2015 1:55AM PST

Hi,

i have a HP ultrabook folio 9470m with two regular 3.0 usb ports on the right side of the machine and one powered 3.0 port on the left side.

the powered port does not recognize any device i plug into it.

for example: i have a logitech wireless mouse that works perfectly in one of the two ports located on the right side but as soon as i plug it into the powered port, i get an error message saying unknown device. the issue is the same with an external hard drive and a usb sound card. right side ports recognize it fine, left powered port has no clue what it is. the port is not dead because it sees that something is plugged it, it just doesn't know what to do with it.

i tried uninstalling all of the usb drivers in the device manager to no avail.

please help.

chris

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
True.
Feb 11, 2015 2:16AM PST

USB 3.0 port troubles are all over the web. Since this is so well done and the reasons for this appear to be the choice of the USB controller, you may want to exchange this for another model that works.
Bob

- Collapse -
thanks
Feb 11, 2015 2:27AM PST

Hi,

thanks for the quick reply.

what are you suggesting that i exchange, exactly? my whole computer?

thanks again

chris

- Collapse -
Yes.
Feb 11, 2015 6:52AM PST

Here's why. This issue appears to follow the choice of which USB 3.0 chipset they used. Unless the maker can fix it and the first call I suggest you make this the reason to return it. Why should you be a crash test dummy?
Bob

- Collapse -
And a second reason.
Feb 11, 2015 6:56AM PST
- Collapse -
I've had good luck with an Inland USB 3 PCIe card...
Feb 11, 2015 7:08AM PST

After going round and round with my Dell's USB 3 ports, I bought an Inland PCIe card that added 2 USB 3 ports that have worked with everything I've got. This includes Vista, Windows 8.1, and the beta version of Windows 10. I've got two external hard drives plugged into the ports, and have never had the first problem with them. I finally got the Dell USB 3 ports working on another computer, but believe me it was a major hassle.

Good luck.

- Collapse -
(NT) Sadly, no way to use that in the HP Ultrabook.
Feb 11, 2015 7:09AM PST