One out of two USB ports isn't working

[iamtristan]

tried both.
- clean install 12.04.2
- clean install 13.04

no success in both cases.

any other ideas how to get usb support on this second usb port?

[sudodus]

You need not install Ubuntu to try it. Run it live (booted from the install CD/DVD/USB drive)!

It is very unusual, that a USB port works in windows but not in linux. Have you tried it in both systems with some simple hardware, that is likely to work in both systems? For example a mouse, keyboard or 'flash pendrive'? Could it be a hardware problem, for example some connector, that is not connecting properly?

If still no luck, try some other linux distro, for example Linux Mint or Knoppix.

[fantab]

Yes, like suggested try Another Disro, you can try Fedora or openSUSE. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu so if you are having problems with one, the other won't help much. Knoppix is great to check hardware issues.

[iamtristan]

Have you tried it in both systems with some simple hardware, that is likely to work in both systems? For example a mouse, keyboard or 'flash pendrive'? Could it be a hardware problem, for example some connector, that is not connecting properly?

Yes I have tested with mice, pendrive, keyboard and webcam.


does Fedora have this great boot repair application?



Edit:
tested Fedora - wont even boot...

[iamtristan]

i had a thought, i first installed ubuntu-12.10-desktop-amd64 because http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...release=latest gave me this.

but in my laptop i have a intel i7 cpu, is it possible that this causes the problem?

i tried to boot into live ubuntu i386 version but failed always...

[fantab]

No... your issue has nothing to do with intel i7. In fact intel, on the whole, supports Linux/Opensource quite well.

Yes, even I had this problem where I couldn't install 32bit on a 64bit machine. It happened with Ubuntu only. I couldn't figure out why though neither did the people who were trying to help in this forum.

How did that Fedora install go? any luck with that port?

[iamtristan]

Fedora didn't boot - i stopped testing because i didn't want to mess with my dual boot configuration.

Its really weird,
I can boot from live-usb on the non-working port and it starts grub and let me choose between install ubuntu or try without installing, but both options result in

BusyBox v1.19.3 (Ubuntu 1:1.19.3-7ubuntu1) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system

[fantab]

I think you should try to boot another Distro just to confirm things.
Perhaps its time you consult your Laptop's Service and try to get your port replaced.

Good Luck...

[iamtristan]

i thought about this - but it seems rather strange that the port works flawless on windows but not on ubuntu.

anyway - thanks very much for your time!

[sudodus]

Fedora didn't boot - i stopped testing because i didn't want to mess with my dual boot configuration.

Its really weird,
I can boot from live-usb on the non-working port and it starts grub and let me choose between install ubuntu or try without installing, but both options result in

BusyBox v1.19.3 (Ubuntu 1:1.19.3-7ubuntu1) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system

This is interesting. Obviously the usb port is working, but somehow it is disconnected electronically, when linux starts. Maybe some driver in the linux kernel cannot cooperate with your usb hardware or firmware.

Can you find any setting in your BIOS menus for USB? Some computers have a setting to enable/disable USB legacy emulation. I have a Toshiba laptop with InsydeH2O BIOS, where this feature is described like this,

Enable or disable USB keyboard/mouse legacy emulation so that, even if your operating system does not support USB devices, you can still use a standard USB mouse and keyboard.

There is another menu item for USB 3,

Enables the internal USB3.0 controller/ Disables the internal USB3.0 controller. If this setting is selected, the internal USB3.0 port(s) on the PC will work as USB2.0 port(s).