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kaarup

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 9, 2009
31
0
Denmark
For some reason that i cant think off, my USB port (the one) suddenly stopped working.

Any way i can find out if its software related?
 

Abyssgh0st

macrumors 68000
Jan 12, 2009
1,888
9
Colorado
I suggest backing up your drive and do a fresh install of leopard/snow leopard. Don't restore via migration assisstant, and see if a totally blank OS fixes the problem. If it does, try restoring your drive via migration assisstant, and see if it still works. Post your results, and hopefully it will work once you restore your drive or else you're gonna have a good problem.
 

RogersDA

macrumors 6502
Aug 19, 2009
271
0
My USB quit yesterday.

Rev C Macbook Air. I was booting from the CD using the superdrive. The screen flashed on, the drive shut down, and I had to reboot from the SSD. Ever since then the USB port does not work (checked other types of USB devices) and shut-down/restarted several times.

Off to the Genius Bar on Friday....
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
For some reason that i cant think off, my USB port (the one) suddenly stopped working.

Any way i can find out if its software related?

Mine stopped working as well, about 5 days ago. If I plug in a USB drive (HD or thumb drive), the drive LED comes on, but the drive does not show up anywhere or mount.
 

stoconnell

macrumors 6502
Mar 22, 2009
446
0
Rockville (Despite REM's plea.)
Mine stopped working as well, about 5 days ago. If I plug in a USB drive (HD or thumb drive), the drive LED comes on, but the drive does not show up anywhere or mount.

Did you try a mouse? Just to see if the pointer functions? Trying to separate drive mounting functionality (which could be software or permissions). Did you try looking at your logs and/or running a permissions repair?
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
Did you try a mouse? Just to see if the pointer functions? Trying to separate drive mounting functionality (which could be software or permissions). Did you try looking at your logs and/or running a permissions repair?

I tried a mouse, it lights up (underneath), but does not move the pointer or scroll. I could not find a "permissions repair" anywhere and the logs did not show anything about USB (when I plug in a usb thumb drive, nothing shows up in the log). This MBA is my first Mac, so I am not as versed in Mac as in PC.

Looks like I have to call Apple. I HATE the thought of having to send it in and be without my computer for who knows how long (the closest Apple store is about 2 hour drive, but even then, if it is hardware, I am sure they can't fix it on the spot). Not a good first impression with a Mac. I never had a windows laptop malfunction in all the years I used windows machines. Maybe I was lucky, but with the MBA basically a top end machines, you would think this would not happen in the first month or so of use.
 

stoconnell

macrumors 6502
Mar 22, 2009
446
0
Rockville (Despite REM's plea.)
I tried a mouse, it lights up (underneath), but does not move the pointer or scroll. I could not find a "permissions repair" anywhere and the logs did not show anything about USB (when I plug in a usb thumb drive, nothing shows up in the log). This MBA is my first Mac, so I am not as versed in Mac as in PC.

Looks like I have to call Apple. I HATE the thought of having to send it in and be without my computer for who knows how long (the closest Apple store is about 2 hour drive, but even then, if it is hardware, I am sure they can't fix it on the spot). Not a good first impression with a Mac. I never had a windows laptop malfunction in all the years I used windows machines. Maybe I was lucky, but with the MBA basically a top end machines, you would think this would not happen in the first month or so of use.

Repair permissions is in the Disk Utility, which is in

/Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility

This could very well be a hardware problem. I was just trying to go about ruling out a software configuration issue since the mechanical connection seems to work (you get a light).
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
Repair permissions is in the Disk Utility, which is in

/Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility

This could very well be a hardware problem. I was just trying to go about ruling out a software configuration issue since the mechanical connection seems to work (you get a light).

I found the disk utility, but I do not see anything in the menus for repairing permissions. I would assume you need to see the drive listed in order to specify what permissions you are trying to repair, but nothing except the HD is shown.
 

stoconnell

macrumors 6502
Mar 22, 2009
446
0
Rockville (Despite REM's plea.)
I found the disk utility, but I do not see anything in the menus for repairing permissions. I would assume you need to see the drive listed in order to specify what permissions you are trying to repair, but nothing except the HD is shown.

Select the disk icon below your physical hard drive name default is "Macintosh HD" and make sure you are in the "First Aid" tab on the right side. You should have options of:

[Verify Disk Permissions] [Verify Disk]
[Repair Disk Permissions] [Repair Disk] (greyed out)
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
Select the disk icon below your physical hard drive name default is "Macintosh HD" and make sure you are in the "First Aid" tab on the right side. You should have options of:

[Verify Disk Permissions] [Verify Disk]
[Repair Disk Permissions] [Repair Disk] (greyed out)

Verified and repaired disk permissions, but no change to USB behavior.
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
Bummer. I was hoping it was something easy. When permissions go sideways, things that used to work start failing in odd ways. I have a feeling you will be asked to re-install your OS unless hardware diagnostics can show a fault.

So in the final analysis, mac OS is really no better then windows? It basically has the same shortcomings? If I reinstall the OS, and it then works right, once I restore from my time machine backups, I will be in the same mess again? So why does everyone say Mac is better then windows? At least in windows, I could just reinstall the USB drivers and be back in buisness without losing all my stuff...
 

ewilson6

macrumors 6502
Nov 30, 2006
368
3
If you want to go back to windows, I will gladly buy your macbook air for $100 dollars and have it up and running in 2 minutes or less.

--Eric Wilson
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
If you want to go back to windows, I will gladly buy your macbook air for $100 dollars and have it up and running in 2 minutes or less.

--Eric Wilson

We New Englanders are a stubborn bunch. I don't give up that easily. And if I wanted to go back to windows that quickly, I would install it on this MBA and then not be a "fish out of water". Believe me, it has crossed my mind several times. Windows XP was always just so stable and easy to deal with. Instead of trying to take advantage of the situation, why don't you tell me how to fix it in less then 2 minutes. A full OS re-install would take a hour or so. This leads me to believe an OS install is not needed and you know EXACTLY what the issue is (and that it is easy and fast). Give a brother a break and fess up.
 

RogersDA

macrumors 6502
Aug 19, 2009
271
0
WOOT! Loving SMC Resetting

Did a SMC reset on the Macbook Air, and now the USB port is back. No trip to the Genius Bar tomorrow (couldn't go today as "work" got in the way).
 

stoconnell

macrumors 6502
Mar 22, 2009
446
0
Rockville (Despite REM's plea.)
Resetting the SMC makes sense as it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping.
 

Gadgetman99

macrumors regular
Sep 1, 2009
164
0
Did a SMC reset on the Macbook Air, and now the USB port is back. No trip to the Genius Bar tomorrow (couldn't go today as "work" got in the way).

Thanks! I did the same this morning (reset the SMC) and now my USB works again. Also saved me a trip to the "Genius", over 2 hours away.
 
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