Front Panel USB Connectors Not Working

My computer case has two front panel USB 2.0 connections and I've had a problem with them ever since the beginning. Behind the front panel they are on a little pc board screwed to the panel with 1 wire coming out to go into the motherboard's usb connection. When the 1st one failed, I wrote to Rosewill and they sent me a new one which I screwed into the back of the front panel and plugged in. But after a time those failed. Now, this case is not made anymore.

When I plug something into it, windows either doesn't recognize it or it does and then as soon as I go to open something on that device windows drops it saying the device malfunctioned (it didn't).

Is there a way that I can test this usb port or do anything to it within windows? The only thing that could be wrong with it physically I think is either bad solder of the wire to the board or bad wire, but this is twice now. My motherboard has two USB headers, 3 & 4 and 5 & 6. (USB 2.0 1 & 2 are the ones on the rear i/o panel). I have a bunch of usb devices that show up in device manager but I don't know which ones are from the front panel.

I have a bunch of usb devices that show up in device manager but I don't know which ones are from the front panel.

I don't understand this. Obviously you know what is connected, specially in the front. Are you meaning a software failure?

As for the hardware part of it or if the problem is 100% hardware, an obvious proof would be trying the other mobo connector just in case. There're also universal adaptors (unlike any case part) to connect the inner mobo connectors to sockets in the rear attached as if they were PCI/PCIe cards. There're 2 sockets adaptors with one cable and 4 sockets ones with 2 cables. If you need some of them being frontal you'd use extenders. There're also groups of sockets and card readers with sockets for 3.5" and 5.25" bays if you happen to have free ones.

So, we may better assist you. Please, list brand and model numbers of all your PCs in your 'system specs'. So far, there is only one unidentified Dell Laptop there.

Check 'devices manage' for problem drivers.

Are the rear USB ports working correctly?

AmericanPharaoh said:

So, we may better assist you. Please, list brand and model numbers of all your PCs in your 'system specs'. So far, there is only one unidentified Dell Laptop there.

Check 'devices manage' for problem drivers.

Are the rear USB ports working correctly?

Both of my systems are there. System 1 in my profile is the laptop, system 2 is the desktop. The rear ones work. I tried updating drivers but it did not find a better one. First thing I'm going to try is cleaning it and swapping headers. Not just cleaning the connector and pins but the part behind the front cover. The back side of the usb receptacle where its soldered onto the board along with the wires that go to the header is all exposed. cleaning it is a good place to start, I didn't think of that.

Brucex64 said:

Both of my systems are there. System 1 in my profile is the laptop, system 2 is the desktop. The rear ones work. I tried updating drivers but it did not find a better one. First thing I'm going to try is cleaning it and swapping headers. Not just cleaning the connector and pins but the part behind the front cover. The back side of the usb receptacle where its soldered onto the board along with the wires that go to the header is all exposed. cleaning it is a good place to start, I didn't think of that.

If the cleaning ends up not fixing the issue and you end up needing a new front USB panel hub, it might be a good idea to upgrade your case instead, since your motherboard supports USB 3.1 Gen1 (2 front, 4 rear) as it stands, you're connecting USB 3.1Gen 1 to a USB 2.0 front panel hub. Or if you don't want another case, you could simply buy a new front panel USB 3.1 Hub. But that could end up costing nearly as much as another cheap case.

Megahertz said:

Modern cell phones charge drain's a high current from the USB that can easily damage the MB USB port.
What I do is to charge my cell phone on an external charge and only connect the cell phone to the computer if it is 100% charged.

I don't use the computer for charging - I use the connection for file transfer.

- - - Updated - - -

Alrighty...I **think** the problem is solved! I got a can of electronic cleaner opened up the case and went to work. I sprayed down the board on the back of the front panel, both USB headers on the mobo, the connector, and also the USB receptacles on the outside face of the case. Once back together it appears to be working. I connected my phone and transferred some image and video files to my computer and it didn't fail at all. The power button section seemed to have a lot of dust behind it so I sprayed that too. I will have to see if it holds up!