toshwriter
19-12-2007, 12:03 AM
I connected my laptop to a printer, and it died. I booted up again, and the laptop refused to acknowledge that it had anything plugged in.
I have tried:
* A wifi card
* A memory card reader
* A hard disk (which incidentally still works fine in the firewire port)
Due in part to other Dell related deficiencies, my inability to use any USB devices effectively removes my ability to:
* Watch TV
* Listen to music
* Access the internet, wirelessly or wired
* Print documents
My laptop is effectively useless, unless I just want to play freecell and make word documents (but not print them).
The USB devices are receiving power from the ports, but the computer doesn't respond to them when they are connected (ie no sound is played). I reckon it's a hardware problem; probably something somewhere has fried. I'm assuming that the USB circuitry is integrated into the motherboard which means it can't be easily replaced.
That's my situation. I have a few options:
1. Replace the motherboard. Risky since I can't guarantee it's the problem. Also quite a lot of hard work. I could either a) buy a broken laptop of the same model and use it for spares, or b) purchase a new motherboard.
2. Use a USB cardbus. I've tried this before (because I have lots of USB devices that have high bandwidth requirements) but after a while it just died. I'm keen to avoid that again.
3. Buy a new computer.
4. Pay someone else to fix it.
5. Put up with it.
My opinions:
1a): No. The new motherboard might be damaged and I could end up damaging something else in the process. Also not a quick solution.
1b): No. Too expensive.
2): Possible, but it would only be a temporary solution.
3): Maybe. I was thinking of replacing it anyway.
4): No. More than the laptop's worth.
5): No. That would kill all its functionality.
Anyone got any suggestions/comments?
The laptop is a 3.5 year old Dell Inspiron 5150 (P4 you could have a BBQ on, 512MB RAM, 15 inch screen).
I have tried:
* A wifi card
* A memory card reader
* A hard disk (which incidentally still works fine in the firewire port)
Due in part to other Dell related deficiencies, my inability to use any USB devices effectively removes my ability to:
* Watch TV
* Listen to music
* Access the internet, wirelessly or wired
* Print documents
My laptop is effectively useless, unless I just want to play freecell and make word documents (but not print them).
The USB devices are receiving power from the ports, but the computer doesn't respond to them when they are connected (ie no sound is played). I reckon it's a hardware problem; probably something somewhere has fried. I'm assuming that the USB circuitry is integrated into the motherboard which means it can't be easily replaced.
That's my situation. I have a few options:
1. Replace the motherboard. Risky since I can't guarantee it's the problem. Also quite a lot of hard work. I could either a) buy a broken laptop of the same model and use it for spares, or b) purchase a new motherboard.
2. Use a USB cardbus. I've tried this before (because I have lots of USB devices that have high bandwidth requirements) but after a while it just died. I'm keen to avoid that again.
3. Buy a new computer.
4. Pay someone else to fix it.
5. Put up with it.
My opinions:
1a): No. The new motherboard might be damaged and I could end up damaging something else in the process. Also not a quick solution.
1b): No. Too expensive.
2): Possible, but it would only be a temporary solution.
3): Maybe. I was thinking of replacing it anyway.
4): No. More than the laptop's worth.
5): No. That would kill all its functionality.
Anyone got any suggestions/comments?
The laptop is a 3.5 year old Dell Inspiron 5150 (P4 you could have a BBQ on, 512MB RAM, 15 inch screen).