USB ports, mouse/ keyboard /and printer disconnecting

[nardopolo]

my mouse / keyboard / printer for some reason have been working up. they just disconnect and reconnect by itself which messes up some programs. sometimes they disconnet and dont reconnect. i had to insert another mouse to restart the computer. also when i plug in the new mouse, it only works on one usb, all the others seem to be down too. whats wrong?

nardopolo

[xavier]

Its either a power PBLM. or the board

[nardopolo]

but how do i fix it

[patio]

Front connectors or rear ?
Laptop or desktop?
Any new hardware installed recently ?

[xavier]

When you go to device manager are there any yellow !!! marks next to mouse keyboard ect?

[nardopolo]

They are both USB connected, to the back of my Dell desktop. This happened recently, before i installed Service Pack 3, but still happens now. Besides that, not much else was changed. and the device manager thing, im not sure how to get there, but i did go to Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Mouse and there are two mice listed in the hardware section, a Logitech USB Wheelmouse, and HID-compliant mouse. I think i am only using one, the Dell Logitech mouse. Everything seems normal under keyboard and printer though. Any suggestions on my next step?

[xavier]

Go to my computer, click on view system info.click onhardware & click on device manager  Do you see anyyellow!!!marks next to any device

[nardopolo]

nope no yellow marks, but this is during the time when the devices are still connected, not yet disconnected. im not too sure i can get it when its disconnected though. Still any help please?

thanks nardopolo

[xavier]

Try doing a system restore. Restoring the system before you had this problem.Programs, accesories, system tools,system restore

[nardopolo]

I do not wish to do a system restore because i don't want to lose my recent work. Is there any other way? Also in the device manager, when the the mouse/keyboard/printer are disconnected, they are not listed in the device manager at all. Any help?

Nardopolo

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

System restore does not delete any of your files, however, Programs installed after the date you specify might need reinstalling.
(I do System Restore a lot when fixing a recent problem and it is highly recommended in the forums)

[nardopolo]

Alright but what does system restore do? What do you lose?

Also a new development, sometimes when i turn on the computer, nothing is connected already. Any help?

Nardopolo

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

You should really check out this link:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000589.htm

There is an explanation to what it does and how to use it. 

[quaxo]

What Dell model is this?

Also, exactly how many USB ports do you have and what is their position on the system? What is plugged into each one? Do you have multiple items plugged into a hub going into 1 port? etc.

Here's what we need to know (using mine as an example):

Ports:
6 USB ports in back on motherboard
2 in front (connected to USB headers on the motherboard)
1 in front in the multi-card reader bay
2 ports on USB keyboard

Devices:
1 keyboard (w\2 port hub) plugged into back
1 mouse, plugged into keyboard
1 joystick, plugged into keyboard
1 webcam, plugged into back
1 printer, plugged into back
Sometimes 1 flash drive, plugged in front in multi-card reader's port
And sometimes an external hard drive which takes 2 ports at the front (one for power, one for data+power)

Theoretically, USB ports can support up to 127 devices. However, keep in mind that if you have too many items plugged into one port (like through an unpowered 4-port hub), the USB port can't supply enough power to them all, causing some or all of the devices to fail/disconnect because they are underpowered.

[nardopolo]

To Carbon Dudeoxide, I will attempt a system restore after I get help from quaxo.

To quaxo, I own a Dell Dimension C521, its a thinner model.
I have...

PORTS:
4 USB ports in the back on mother board
2 in front, under CD drive, I think it's also connected to the back, but not sure
2 ports on USB monitor

DEVICES:
1 USB logitech keyboard, plugged into back
1 USB mouse, plugged into back
1 USB HP printer, plugged into back
1 monitor with two extra ports, plugged into back
sometimes 1 flash drive in monitor
sometimes 1 iPod in monitor
1 USB port extension (just make the USB port more accessible), plugged into front

Could I provide any more information?

P.S. Also after I saw this post, I changed some stuff around, removing an unneeded extra speaker system (I think it's a subwoofer?) USB in the back, and also removing a permanent iPod cable connected to the moniter. This might help a lot.