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August 26th, 2010 23:00

My solution to fixing a computer with fried USB ports, and a question

I though I should post my story in case it could help anyone here.

I have a Dell XPS 400, an 05 Model I got in 2006 as the first computer of my own. Overall the computer has been great over the years with only a few issues. These issues had actually helped me learn about computers (dealing with viruses, driver issues, installing more RAM, ect). The computer started getting blue screens for hardware issues, until after the third one. After restarting the computer, on the log-on screen in XP, the usb ports would not, work, meaning I could not use the keyboard or mouse, even though they worked fine on other computers. I figured it was a fried motherboard, and the computer was done for. A few weeks later after I had received my XPS 8100, I had an idea. I went out and bought this, a pci card with 4 USB ports (this is just the one I bought, another brand would probably have done the same):

https://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0311749

Basically it's a PCI card with 4 USB ports and 2 ancient firewire ports. Plugged it into one of the many PCI slots (that's odd, as my XPS 8100 has just one), started it up, plugged in the mouse and keyboard into the ports, and it worked! Now the computer is up and running with 4 usb ports, which is plenty as it isn't my primary computer. Just thought I'd post this in-case it could help anyone.

Also, I have a question. Can anyone recomend a good PSU for this computer? The PSU seems to be going bad, as it's louder than it was before and feels hot. It's the 375 watt PSU that came with it. I would like to buy an accurately rated quality power supply.

6 Posts

August 27th, 2010 03:00

https://www.targetsecure.co.uk/newtc24/default.asp

best powersupplyes! Evo Labs PSU

 

:-) you can get a 400W one for less then 10£ .

12 Elder

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46K Posts

August 27th, 2010 08:00

 andrewajt62 

The XPS400 system does not use a Dell proprietary power supply, you can use most standard ATX power supplies with either, a 24-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard power connector and with a minimum of 2-SATA power connectors.

As the XPS 400 has an open back panel, a power supply with or without the on/off switch can be used.

You should be able to buy a compatible power supply from most local, or online computer stores.

Check out the Corsair and Antec brands of power supplies.

Bev.

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