PASA1,

 

Disconnect everything from the USB ports.

 

 

Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager)

Go to the USB Controller section and click the + sign.

Starting at the bottom, USB Root Hubs, and working your way to the top, USB Universal Controllers, un-install everything in that section.

Restart your computer. Windows will find everything again and correct the problem one. Please be patient. The new hardware wizard may work 3-5 minutes before it's done.

 

Now try plugging items into the USB ports, one item at a time as you will see the new hardware wizard work for each item.

 

 

Rick

Thanks for reply, Rick.

Did exactly as you said.  And Windows re-recognized the USB "ports" just like you said it would. But no joy.  Ports all still dead.  Well, not exactly "dead," as they supply power (they light up the power indicators on WD and Iomega pocket drives), but they recognize nothing.  No flash drives, no printers, no external USB hard disks, no wireless dongles, no cameras, no nothing.  And all those things were working just fine until about a week ago.  And still work on every other system I have, from an old L-series desktop to a new Latitude D430.

I had actually tried this procedure before, as step #2,897 (approximately) of Dell's "solution tree" for USB port failure, but was hoping you'd found a magic shortcut. (The link to Dell's lengthy and totally useless step-by-step directions for this, which end by transferring you to an equally-lengthy "preparing for total operating system reinstallation" procedure, is:  http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/tree?c=us&cs=04&dl=false&l=en&s=bsd&treeid=C68294F9ADD10DA2E030A68F27282DAD&doclang=en.)

I haven't gone to the total-reinstall stage yet, or tried talking to Mujibar in Bangaldesh, but it's looking like the only next steps.  Any other ideas?

*** M.

 

PASA1,

 

Did you happen to re-install the operating system lately? If so did you remember to go to drivers and downloads, enter your service tag(DO NOT POST SERVICE TAG here or your post will get deleted, since it contains your personal information), and install these drivers in this order.

 

Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software
Chipset or SMBus driver
Processor Driver (if applicable)
Video
Audio (sound)
Input Drivers (keyboard/mouse)
Modem
Network Card

 

 

Rick

Thanks again for responding.

Nope, as I think I mentioned in original post, system had been running unchanged (no new peripherals, no new hardware, no new software, no new nuttin', same original operating system), for well over a year.  Except for the occasional automatic Windows and antivirus updates, of course.  When the USB ports stopped functioning, I was in the mid-afternoon of a normal day's work.   But I'll try the procedure you suggest and see what happens . . .

Thanks,

***

I initiated the procedure you recommend, but Drivers & Downloads for my service tag does not offer Notebook System Software on the availability list.  Should I procede with the subsequent driver list, or is there an alternative source to get the NSS drivers?  I cannot find the NSS drivers being indicated or listed as present anywhere on my 8200 already. 

Thanks,

PASA1