USB ports no longer working, stemming from mobo?

[batmankiller]

Originally this thread was in the mobile computing section but I'm starting to think this could be a mobo issue.
My USB ports decided to stop working. I'm using Windows 7 and they were working fine this morning until I unplugged my USB devices and packed my computer, then when I came home, the ports stopped working. I have two ports and I've tried placing three different items (two mice and 1 webcam) in all the ports, no avail. Even the light under my mouse isn't lighting up. I restarted twice and when I go to device manager there are no exclamation marks or anything wrong under USB tab.

I even uninstalled all my USb serial controllers and restarted and they got installed back but still nothing. Then I disabled selective suspend and nothing too. I also tried going to each USB Root Hub and right click on it, left click properties, left click power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power. This didn't work as after I restarted it became checked again. I also upgraded to the newest BIOs but still nothing. Any ideas? is this a mobo issue ?

 

[LookinAround]

Very odd symptoms... I'd suggest you try booting into an alternate non-Windows OS, if your USB ports still don't work then you've ruled out Windows and would say it must be mobo/hardware/BIOS related i'd think.

See step #2 in link below to download and try booting into Knoppix then see if your USB ports still don't work. See [post=766270]How to recover your folders/files when Windows won’t boot[/post]

 

[batmankiller]

I went afk for 30 mins and when I came back I was able to use my USB drives for like 2 mins, then they stopped working again. And I don't have dvd/cd writer right now so I don't think I can boot in knopix. If anything I'm hoping to avoid that method.

 

[LookinAround]

The sum total of your symptoms (especially that last one of suddenly working again for 2 mins) sounds like it's likely a hardware issue is my guess

Tho maybe someone else might have other thoughts.....

 

[batmankiller]

Seeing as it's a laptop, is there anything I can do about it =[ (Can you actually replace laptop USB ports?)

 

[LookinAround]

If you have PCMCIA slots available you might find it cheaper to add a PCMIA card with USB ports. But to your question as to viability or cost of repair/replace of USB ports on a laptop, i don't really know. i'd defer that answer to those with more hardware knowledge then me (i'm more a software guy) or you might try calling a local repair shop to make the inquiry...