Computer help, anyone? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Faith · 07-29-2006, 10:00 PM

One of my students broke my USB ports on my laptop. I found out that the USB ports are part of the motherboard, and that I would have to replace the entire motherboard (very expensive!).

I still have a firewire port that works. Does anyone know how I can get around the broken USB ports with an external USB port? Maybe something that goes through the firewire port?

Thanks.

Surfah · 07-30-2006, 02:58 AM

I don't believe there is any sort of firewire to usb extension out there.

Do you have an unused pcm card slot? If you don't have a wireless card or something plugged in there they do sell cards with USB, USB 2.0 and Firewire and USB 2.0 combos. If you can't do that then you're left with replacing the motherboard.

Faith · 07-30-2006, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfah33

I don't believe there is any sort of firewire to usb extension out there.

Do you have an unused pcm card slot? If you don't have a wireless card or something plugged in there they do sell cards with USB, USB 2.0 and Firewire and USB 2.0 combos. If you can't do that then you're left with replacing the motherboard.

Thanks surfah33. I think you might have saved me. I have an empty slot with a blank piece of plastic in it that I can pop in and out. I will check to see if that is a pcm card slot, and if it is, you saved the day!

ute4ever · 07-31-2006, 03:56 AM

Laptop or Desktop?

Desktop just go out and buy a PCI USB card and install it.

Laptop go out and buy a PCMCIA USB card and install it.

This is less expensive and a simple work around.

Faith · 08-02-2006, 07:00 AM

Thank you both so much for your help. I was able to get a USBPCMI card and all is well.

07-29-2006, 10:00 PM	#1
Faith Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 24	Computer help, anyone? One of my students broke my USB ports on my laptop. I found out that the USB ports are part of the motherboard, and that I would have to replace the entire motherboard (very expensive!). I still have a firewire port that works. Does anyone know how I can get around the broken USB ports with an external USB port? Maybe something that goes through the firewire port? Thanks.

07-30-2006, 02:58 AM	#2
Surfah Master Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: F'burg, VA Posts: 3,211	I don't believe there is any sort of firewire to usb extension out there. Do you have an unused pcm card slot? If you don't have a wireless card or something plugged in there they do sell cards with USB, USB 2.0 and Firewire and USB 2.0 combos. If you can't do that then you're left with replacing the motherboard. __________________ Ernie Johnson: "Auburn is a pretty good school. To graduate from there I suppose you really need to work hard and put forth maximum effort." Charles Barkley: "20 pts and 10 rebounds will get you through also!"

07-31-2006, 03:56 AM	#4
ute4ever I must not tell lies Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,103	Laptop or Desktop? Desktop just go out and buy a PCI USB card and install it. Laptop go out and buy a PCMCIA USB card and install it. This is less expensive and a simple work around.

08-02-2006, 07:00 AM	#5
Faith Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 24	Thank you both so much for your help. I was able to get a USBPCMI card and all is well.