Laptop USB periferals not working

The problem started with my old mouse, it would constantly stop working, by which i mean lose all power, so i assumed it was on the way out and bought a new one.
The new mouse was fine to start but started having the same problem very quickly.

Now the mouse will only work for a up to about a minute befor it dies and and will only start again if i restart the machine or go to standby. But if i am using the usb with other devices such as my wirless net or keypad the entire usb will drop the second i plug in the mouse. If i do not plug in the mouse though my other usb stuff works normally in all the usb ports.

Any help or advice you can give will be a huge help.

Stephen

 

sounds like an irq conflict. or there's a problem with your usb port. UPnP is supposed to prevent the problem with conflicts though.

 

Sorry to be a pain in the arse but all of that went over my head. Im competent enough using computers but once you start getting technical im a bit lost

 

okay, i'm sorry...

Each device you plug in has a unique IRQ - a number which identifies a signal interrupt going to the processor to identify the device. on windows XP and ME, sharing (two devices using the same irq number) is avoided with Universal Plug n Play (UPnP) but on older operating systems, this has to be sorted manually if a conflict arises. I've never had to solve a problem with irq conflicts, so i'm not too sharp on fixing them, but i assume this is solved in Bios. (the basic input/output system that links your computer and your operating system).

Let me know which operating system you're using, and I'll try and explain further.

 

Thanks for sticking with me and trying to explain things a bit more clearly.

I am using Windows XP with sp2

 

windows xp allows irq sharing, so that's probably not your problem.

What coincided with the mouse crapping out on you? new software or hardware? spilled coffee? more importantly, do you get the problem with any additional hardware to your net adapter and keypad, or just the mouse? Does the mouse work alright on it's own?

in device manger (right click my computer and select manage then expand device manager), there's a subsection for mice and other pointing devices. plug the mouse in on it's own, and select properties and it should confim that windows is acknowledging the device, whether it's working properly. any suggestions would be welcome from the other members too.

 

It sounds to me as though your tripping the usb power overload as your mouse will work for 10mins before dying and then your usb port lose all power which shouldnt really happen unless its a really old laptop,try connecting something that uses alot of juice eg a dsl modem,mine actully gets warm to the touch and used to crash my presario 2500 laptop,see if your usb dies sooner

If petes suggestions dont bear fruit you could try using an ordianry ps2 mouse or buy a powered usb hub,which ant much use if you want to use your laptop at work\school ect

 

I've got a feeling that a usb hub would just give the same result. a PS/2 mouse sounds like a good idea. maybe you should borrow one from someone before spending the 6 quid, but it's your best chance to sort it without addressing the technical problem with your usb ports. cheers for that rikky

 

As far as i can remember no hardware/software changes conincided with the original fault, but as i said i thought it was just a fault with the mouse so i wasnt really thinking about it at the time.

When the mouse is working the computer recognises it as working correctly and functions as normal, and when it dies the computer does not recognise anything is plugged in.

The mouse does work for a sort time when used alone but as soon as any more hardware is added all the usb hub stops and only works again after a restart. Ive tried using as many usb devices i can find but the problem only seems to happen with the mouse (both the original one and the new one).

It would seem to me that the power overload seems like a pritty likely candidate for the problem. The laptop is only a couple of years old so what would likely cause the problem and is it something that can be fixed or just worked around.

Thanks again for your help
Stephen

P.S just one more dumb question what is a PS2 mouse?

 

I was going to explain, but i didn't wan't to seem patronising. A PS/2 mouse is one with a standard circular plug. it's green normally and looks like an s-vhs plug. The reason that sounds like the way to go is that it bypasses usb completely, and functions independently of your net adapter and other usb devices. to warn you though, a faulty power supply will probably present problems in the future. the way around is to get it fixed.

 

did you get it sorted?