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XPS 8910, Rear USB 2.0 ports not working?
I have an XPS 8910 out of warranty. Both USB 2.0 ports for KB and mouse stop working. Now one 3.0 port has stopped. Soon won't have any ports for mouse and KB at all. With KB in a 2.0 port, cannot get into BIOS. KB and mouse just makes a blink at start up and then no light. BIOS is 1.1.5, Windows 10 just updated today, no help. In device manager, no yellow tags on any USB controller. Bios has all ports enabled. Bios diagnostics OK.
Is mother board done ?
Vic384
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April 25th, 2018 04:00
There was a thread about this problem several months ago. As I recall only the USB 2.0 ports were a problem, the USB 3.0 ports continued to work. Also as I recall, some motherboards were changed but the problem continued. One possible solution was to connect the keyboard and mouse via a powered USB hub to the USB 2.0 port.
Tcatman
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April 25th, 2018 05:00
I am going to try and find a powered USB hub tonight to see if I can salvage this box. I think there must be a transistor to turn the 5V on and off the port for power saving and it is probably burned open from not being able to handle the current to run the mouse and keyboard. I may one day try to jumper power on to the port one day. At any rate, I am very disappointed in the quality of this motherboard since it did not last 2 years. No more Dell for me.
Vic384
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April 25th, 2018 06:00
My keyboard failed to work on the USB 2.0 port of my XPS 8910 about a week ago. I still have about a week on the warranty but I don't think I want to go through the trouble of replacing the motherboard if this is going to happen again. The keyboard is working fine off the USB hub. My wireless mouse was always on the hub so it was only the keyboard that was a problem.
Tesla1856
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April 25th, 2018 08:00
I would use the warranty. Yes, a pain but use the warranty that you paid for. The whole MB might blow-up in a month because of this USB circuit defect.
Tesla1856
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April 25th, 2018 08:00
1. Yes, it's in the spec for USB-2.0 to limit to 0.5-amp and Windows will (should) tell you if over-amping . USB 3.0 can handle a bit more.
2. Yeah, boards die. Especially these new laptops that are built like phones inside. Lost one in a $2000 Lenovo X1-Carbon a while back.
Yes, a few times over the years, I've run good on motherboards with partial circuits blown.
My (new) Renesas USB-3.0 card will be in soon. I'll post progress.
https://www.dell.com/community/Vostro/Vostro-460-XPS-8300-Upgrade-Adventures/td-p/6054983/page/2
Vic384
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April 25th, 2018 10:00
The Dell warranty will expire but I brought my XPS 8910 from Costco and they extend the warranty an additional year. If Dell will send me a new motherboard and if I don't have to send the old one back then I will take them up on the offer. :Smile:
RoHe
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April 25th, 2018 11:00
Fat chance, but they probably will send you a pre-paid return label with the new board...
Dell captured a couple of these 8910 systems with failed USB2 and reported that wiping the HDD and doing a clean OS install fixed the problem, but some users who tried this said it didn't work for them... YRMV. :Wink:
Vic384
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April 25th, 2018 13:00
I don't see how that would fix the problem, because the only thing I had to do to fix the problem is connect the keyboard to my USB hub which was already connected one of the USB 2.0 ports.
RoHe
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April 25th, 2018 15:00
I can only tell you what my Dell tech contact told me after their investigation into this specific problem. And like I said, some users who followed that lead said it didn't work for them.
AFWIW, some users also said that connecting a USB2 hub to a rear USB2 port didn't fix the problem for them. So "one size" doesn't fit all. :Surprise:
And it's odd that a lot of users suddenly all experienced the problem around the same time, which might suggest a software update had something to do with it. Otherwise, you'd have to speculate that some bit of motherboard hardware was designed to self-destruct around the same date.
Consider yourself lucky the USB2 hub solves the problem for you. :Wink:
Vic384
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April 25th, 2018 17:00
Ron,
I searched but I could not find the original thread that discussed this problem, but if I recall correctly, even a motherboard replacement only fixed the problem for a short while then the problem returned.
I recall that some folks just switched the keyboard and mouse to the USB 3.0 ports; the problem only occurs with the USB 2.0 ports.
I would also point out that if a USB hub is used to solve the problem it should be a powered USB hub.
I must say I am disappointed with Dell's analysis of the problem on captured 8910 systems; it makes me wonder if Dell knows more but isn't willing to share because there are workarounds.
I hope this new thread helps those who encounter this problem; when I read the original thread I took an interest hoping that it wouldn't happen to me but it has.
Vic384
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April 26th, 2018 04:00
Here is the original thread about the same problem from over a year ago: https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General/XPS-8910-Rear-USB-2-0-ports-not-working/td-p/5098676
Tcatman
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April 26th, 2018 09:00
I bought a 10 port powered USB 2.0 hub last night and connected it to one of the bad 2.0 ports, and connected the mouse and keyboard to it. It took a while to boot and set up the hub but all is working. I can even get to the BIOS now. One of my 3.0 ports is also dead due to running the keyboard so that is not a long therm fix or eventually you won't have any working powered ports. The ports do not have 5 volt supply to run the device anymore, but the serial lines still work. So the factory supplied mouse and keyboard are too much for this feeble motherboard. I assume there is a port fuse or switching transistor that has burned open. I may try to fix that but there is no time and the thing works now.
RoHe
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April 26th, 2018 10:00
Glad the powered USB2 hub is working for you all.
NMITGuy
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December 26th, 2018 08:00
I have 2 of these exhibiting the same behavior that are out of warranty. Now I understand why I received such a good deal on Dell's so-called flag ship model. I can't believe I've had so many issues with this particular line of Dell. This wreaks of manufacturer defect and Dell should be held accountable, address this problem and stand behind their products, even for those out of the warranty period. I think I will need to re-evaluate my company's relationship with Dell.
dellstudio87
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January 21st, 2019 19:00
I had this problem also. Both USB 2.0 ports failed with the keyboard and mouse that came with my 8910. I moved them to USB 3.0 ports and some of those failed. I switched to a different keyboard and a Logitech wireless mouse with the USB 3.0 ports, and those continued to work. After reading some of these threads the other day, I decided to order a powered USB 2.0 hub to see if that would work. It arrived today. Before installing it, I decided to test the USB 2.0 ports again. I don't think I had tested the keyboard by hitting F12 and going into BIOS Setup, so I decided to connect the keyboard to one of the USB 2.0 ports and do that. Lo and behold, it worked! Then I started up Windows 10 and that worked, also! I tested the keyboard with the other USB 2.0 port and that worked, too. Then I moved the dongle for the wireless mouse to one of the USB 2.0 ports. Both keyboard and mouse are now working with Windows 10 with the USB 2.0 ports, without having to use a USB hub. There must have been some recent software changes with Windows Update that fixed the problem with the USB ports on my computer. I tried some suggested software fixes a few months ago and those did not help. I will see if the ports continue to work. I think the keyboard that came with the 8910 was causing problems.