Gemo

Hope this is the right forum for this problem.

I have an older Toshiba T4200 that I use occassionally. Although the USB port is only 1.1 I use the USB port to connect a USB mouse and it works well.

I recently started using an external USB 2.5" hard drive that is powered via the USB port and it works well with my other (newer) PCs. However when I connected this external USB h.d. to the T4200 it looks like it blew the power to the USB port.

Now the USB mouse won't light up or work when it is connected. The USB drive still works OK on my other PCs. Other than the USB port not getting power the T4200 works fine.

So what happened to the T4200 and how can I fix it. I'm hoping there is a fuse or fusable link I can repair that powers the USB port.

Ralck

Are there any other USB ports on the computer you can try plugging things into? Also, in device manager, is there anything that is yellow or has a question mark next to it?
If you can, let us know any more specifics about what actually happened when you plugged in the drive as well as the maker of the drive.

TheMatt

This should probably be in the laptops forum...
But anyway, does the mouse work in any other ports? It sounds like its the internal power supply, which is unfortunatley not replacable with out replacing the entire motherboard. If its just that one port, then use another for the mouse. And remember to check the voltages when plugging in newer devices to older USB ports.

Gemo

Apprectaie the comments.

Unfortunately there's is only one USB port on this old (but usable) beast.

The good news is that I plugged another external USB drive (one that has an external power supply) into this port and it works OK. So my theory is that the power on the USB port is dead but the data connection is still working.

I going to pick up a powered USB hub and see if that resurrects the use of this USB port. Seem logical...???

BTW - the currennt rating on the USB port is 500mA and the USB drive is rated at 700 mA so I didn't think I'd be too far out of whack - and thought, if anything the port will just get loaded down and not work, but not kill the power supply!

Gemo

Yea! I picked up a powered USB hub and plugged it into my notebook's USB port and then plugged my mouse and USB drive into the hub and everything's working!

ebackhus

Those powered hubs are a gem, no? I have one as well but it stopped being self-powered shortly after the first use. It'll still work when using USB port power, but I take care not to overload it.

laboye

Well, the powered hubs also have an AC adapter for that extra "leg-up" of juice. They also work great. What thought to be a little odd about this situation is: I have a USB Hard Drive, and it has 2 USB plugs. The first for data and power, and the other is for extra power. Though I know this isn't common, doesn't it seem logical? As for the USB power problem, It would seem like you blew out an electrical component (capacitor or resistor maybe?). Both are too much pain to replace. At least you found the hard way out with the hub! Also, I don't see any support for this model laptop on Toshiba... Well, hopefully this situation will just fix itself.

ebackhus

I have an adapter for 2.5" laptop drives to USB that uses the two plugs as well. It even runs on 1 plug! The scanner on my design PC (listed below) has a USB scanner that gets its juice through a single USB plug.

laboye

The thing is, most USB ports on laptops are unpowered unless it's stated in the guide/features/port label. All desktop ports are powered with the occasional exception of the front ports.