USB port from laptop broke off into mouse

[Aurana13]

Hello,
This morning, my cat jumped on my laptop and knocked it to the ground, it tumbled and fell onto the portable mouse hooked into the side USB, breaking the laptops USB port. I have since fixed the mouse and tested it on another computer, it works fine, but the laptop will not register any USB plugged in, even to another port on the opposite side, or a free USB port attached to the power cable. How do I proceed?

 

[USAFRet]

Hello,
This morning, my cat jumped on my laptop and knocked it to the ground, it tumbled and fell onto the portable mouse hooked into the side USB, breaking the laptops USB port. I have since fixed the mouse and tested it on another computer, it works fine, but the laptop will not register any USB plugged in, even to another port on the opposite side, or a free USB port attached to the power cable. How do I proceed?

The attachment from the USB port to the circuit board is almost certainly broken inside.
The only way to determine the extent of damage is to open it up and see exactly what is broken.

 

[Aurana13]

This would damage every port attached to the motherboard?

 

[bignastyid]

The port could have shorted and damaged the usb controller. Make sure none of the pins in the broken port are shorted. If they are not and the other ports still do not work, you probably need a new motherboard.

 

[USAFRet]

This would damage every port attached to the motherboard?

Possibly, yes.
As the other ones have proven not to work, I'd say almost certainly yes.

 

[ubercake]

I don't know how you can reattach the USB port since it is often fixed to the motherboard ICB on a laptop. And because the bus is serial, all of the ports (or any of the related hardware for that matter) need to be functioning on a given controller for any of them to run. This is why your other ports aren't working either.

If you have accidental warranty coverage, make a claim. If not you could contact the laptop manufacturer and see about having them fix it which would most likely involve a new motherboard. The cost of it may get into the range of a new laptop, but it's worth a shot to see what the manufacturer has to say.

 

[Aurana13]

realistically speaking, if I had a second motherboard that may have had a slight issue not related to the usb, replacing those pieces and soddering them on correctly might fix the problem? If the person doing it were reliable and capable with small repairs as such?

 

[Aurana13]

No one has suggested even trying to uninstall and reinstall my drivers..... should THAT not be tested before I am suggested to just go out and purchase a new motherboard?

 

[skit75]

It is likely that the USB controller chip is damaged/fried. They fry rather easily when the +5V hits +data or -data pins. Even if the physical plug is repaired, you may need to replace USB controller chip also.

 

[USAFRet]

No one has suggested even trying to uninstall and reinstall my drivers..... should THAT not be tested before I am suggested to just go out and purchase a new motherboard?

No one is saying rush out and get a new mb. I am saying diagnose the issue first.

The laptop falling directly on the port with something attached would suggest a physical issue, rather than drivers.
You could try it though.

 

[ubercake]

No one has suggested even trying to uninstall and reinstall my drivers..... should THAT not be tested before I am suggested to just go out and purchase a new motherboard?

If you are asking this question, why haven't you tried it already?

 

[skit75]

A micro/mini solder repair technician can make this type of physical repair if you can source the two parts... and know one that owes you a favor.

 

[jarotech]

What is the make and model of your laptop? We'll start with this information first.

 

[ubercake]

Just curious... Did a driver update fix the broken hardware issue?

 

[skit75]

^^

I see what you did, right there.