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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the USB Ports on a Dell Computer

Summary: This is a list of frequently asked questions to help troubleshoot, repair, and use the USB connectors and ports on your Dell computer.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Introduction

USB logo 01 USB logo 02

This article provides a reference on USB ports on a Dell computer. It covers the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) by our end users and provides clear answers to each.

The questions vary from what the ports look like, to how to troubleshoot them when something goes wrong.

I hope you find what you need below. If not, contact your local support.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • A Port or Connector: A Port or Connector on a Dell computer has either holes or a slot that matches the plug or device that you are connecting to the Port.
  • Universal Serial Bus (USB): USB is a long-standing industry standard that defines the cables, connectors, and the communications protocols used in a bus. These are used for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and electronic devices.
NOTE: USB was intended to standardize the connection of external devices to personal computer. (Such as keyboards, pointing devices, digital cameras, printers, portable media players, disk drives, and network adapters.) This is both to communicate and to supply electric power. It has achieved widespread use on other devices, such as SmartPhones, PDAs, and video game consoles as well. USB has replaced most of the earlier interfaces such as serial and parallel ports. It has also taken the place of separate power chargers for mobile devices.

How does it work?

The goal of USB is to end the headache of using different connectors for different devices such as serial and parallel connections. It aims to give you a single standardized way to connect up to 127 devices to the one computer.

When the computer powers up, it queries all the devices that are connected to the bus and assigns them an address. (Sometimes called Enumeration.) It also finds out what type of data transfer the device is looking to perform:

Interrupt
An input, low-power device like a mouse or keyboard would select this type of mode.
Bulk
An input/output device like a printer or scanner would choose this mode which receives data in one large packet.
Isochronous
A streaming device would use this mode, as data streams live between the device and the computer with no error correction. (Such as external speakers.)

The computer tracks the bandwidth use. It denies access to any other Interrupt and Isochronous devices, if over 90% of the bandwidth is in use. This leaves the remaining 10% for bulk mode transfers.

USB devices are Hot-Swappable, this means you can pull them out and plug them in, while the computer is still powered up and working.

There are several types of USB ports in use. Select your version from the tabs below to see the available ports and plugs and what they can do:

USB 1.x

USB 1.1 was the first revision of the USB port that was widely adopted in the late 90s.

It had data rates of 1.5 Mb/s on the low end and 12 Mb/s on the high end.

Port USB Port Plug USB 1.0 Connector

USB 2.0

The introduction of USB 2.0 resolves several issues with USB 1.x.

It increases the signaling rate to 480 Mb/s for High Speed.

However due to access constraints with the bus, the effective signaling rate was limited to either 35 MB/s or 280 Mb/s.

USB 2.0 also introduces several modifications, such as the introduction of both the Micro/Mini specifications and the high/low-power ports.

Type-A Port USB Port Type-A Plug SUSB 1.0 Connector
Mini Port USB Mini Port Mini Plug USB Mini
Micro Port USB Micro Port Micro Plug USB Micro
Type-B Port USB AB Port Type-B Plug USB Type A to B Connector

USB 3.0

The USB 3.0 standard defined a new SuperSpeed mode of 5.0 Gb/s and was backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices and cables.

Communication is Full Duplex and taking the overhead into account, it is reasonable to expect signaling rates between 3.2 Gb/s and 4.0 Gb/s,

NOTE:  While the center of this port was often colored Blue, this convention was not kept to 100% by all manufacturers.
Port USB 3.0 Port Plug USB 3.0 Cable

USB 3.2 Gen.1

NOTE: The USB-Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has replaced the previous naming convention with USB 3.2 Gen 1. (The old naming convention was USB 3.1 Gen1 or USB3.0.) USB-IF have removed the 3.1 definition and updated to 3.2. This is to align more consistently with the latest USB Type-C specifications. There are no other naming changes between these two sets of specifications.

USB 3.2 Gen 1 is 3.0 plus all the changes that have been made to USB 3.0 over the years. Systems with Legacy USB 3.0 ports are now USB 3.2 Gen 1.

USB 3.2 Gen 1 can also be referred to as USB SuperSpeed. (When compared to USB 2.0.) It has a max bandwidth of 5 Gigabits per second (5 Gbps).

USB 3.2 Gen 1 can either be legacy USB Type-A ports or the new USB Type-C ports.

USB Type-C ports that meet only the USB Gen 1 Specification can support Data transfer and USB Power delivery.

Port USB Type-C Gen1 Plug USB 3.0 Cable

USB 3.2 Gen.2

NOTE: The USB-Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has replaced the previous naming convention with USB 3.2 Gen 2. (The old naming convention was USB 3.1 Gen2 or USB3.0.) USB-IF have removed the 3.1 definition and updated to 3.2. This is to align more consistently with the latest USB Type-C specifications. There are no other naming changes between these two sets of specifications.

USB 3.2 Gen 2 can also be referred to as USB SuperSpeed (When compared to USB 2.0.) It has a max bandwidth of 10 Gigabits per second (10 Gbps).

USB 3.2 Gen 2 is only found with USB Type-C connections and has the capabilities that are mentioned in USB Gen 1 plus the following:

  • Double the data rate of USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Gen 2 = 10 Gbps)
  • DisplayPort over USB video capability
  • The USB Type-C port on USB 3.2 Gen 2 computers can be paired with an optional Thunderbolt 3 Controller. They can attain speeds of up to 40 Gbps.
Port USB Type-C Gen2 Plug USB 3.0 Cable

USB Type-C

The work being done on Type-C is to replace the current standard with a new future-proof revision.

This new type is not backwards compatible with the older versions and is a new connector shape with the speeds of USB 3.2.

It also comes with additional improvements:

  • It delivers improved power over USB connections. 
  • The connector size is small, which should mean one socket across all devices. 
  • It supports alternate modes, which helps when using adapters on the socket for other connection types.
  • The connector cannot be plugged in upside down due to its new design.
Port Type-C port Plug Type-C connector

Dell has used the USB port over the years, sometimes with some proprietary changes.

USB Dell Dual Port/D-Bay

Dell D-Series laptops made extensive use of the USB 1.1 port

However Dell also designed a proprietary port that used the port above a USB port to supply extra power. This was for external devices such as external CD-ROMs and other devices that did not provide their own power source.

These Dell devices were fitted with a dual connector for this purpose.

One to supply power from the Dell connection and one to supply communication from the USB.

Port D-Bay Port Plug D-Bay Connector

USB Dell PowerShare

You can identify a Dell PowerShare port by the lightning symbol next to the USB logo. PowerShare will only power devices while the computer is in a 'low-power state' (Standby) mode when the computer is running on battery power only. The computer allows the battery to discharge down to 50% at which point the PowerShare feature is disabled. (This depends on the model of computer and the BIOS revision.)

USB powershare

So far there has not been a popular operating system that has not supported USB. Everything from Apple, Linux, and Windows have support for these USB standards that are built into their operating systems from the base up.

As we have gone through the different stages of the USB standards, so has the definition of whether the USB was Powered.

From the beginning, we have seen that some external devices do not supply their own power. They take power from the computer that they are connected to and transfer data across the same connection. There have been several different answers to this over the last 20 years:

Un-Powered
This type of port only supports low-power devices using less than 100 mA.
Dell Dual Port/D-Bay
Dell added a power socket above a USB port. In order to supply power to external devices that drew too much power for a USB connection at the time.
Powered
This type of port is usually deliver power even when the computer is turned off. These supply 2.5 Watts which charges small devices such as SmartPhones and PDAs.
Low Power
This type of port only supports low-power devices using less that 150 mA, it is a USB 3.0 standard.
High Power
This type of port only supports devices using less that 900 mA, which charges small devices such as SmartPhones and PDAs. It is a USB 3.0 standard.
Dell PowerShare
This facility used the BIOS to set limits on charging devices while the computer was turned off or on battery only. Typically it would cut off charging when the battery dropped to 50%.
Type-C
Type-C can supply 100 Watts of power in both directions, while simultaneously transferring data on the same connection.

NOTE: On many of the new laptops, the Default setting in the BIOS for USB PowerShare is: Disabled

Only the USB connector with a lightning bolt icon, as seen in the image below, can be used.

USB Powershare

NOTE: To enter the BIOS, tap the <F2> key on the keyboard after turning the computer on at the Dell logo.

This functionality is enabled in the system setup under the On Board Devices heading. You can select how much of the battery's charge can be used (pictured below). If you set the USB PowerShare to 25%, the external device is allowed to charge until the laptop battery reaches 25% of full capacity.

(for example. 75% of the laptop's battery charge is used up).

NOTE: Depending on your systems BIOS revision, the below settings menu may differ. Look for 'Onboard Devices' or 'System Configuration' in the BIOS settings menu. The two screenshots below show differing menu layouts and wording of the USB PowerShare settings options. Look for either USB PowerShare or USB Configuration options.

USB powershare BIOS

When this option is set to Disabled, the USB PowerShare feature is turned off. Any devices attached to the USB PowerShare port do not charge when the computer is in a low-power state. Selecting any of the other settings enables the feature. It specifies the system battery capacity at which charging a USB device on the USB PowerShare port is terminated.

NOTE: PowerShare only powers devices while the computer is in a 'low-power state' (Standby) mode when the computer is running on battery power only.
  • S1 (powered on) - USB power is on by default with either AC or battery only
  • S3 (Standby) -  Battery or AC
  • S4/S5 (Hibernate or Powered down) -  AC only

Depending on the model of computer and BIOS revision, the computer allows the battery to discharge down to 50%. At which point the PowerShare feature is disabled.

Also check that the USB configuration options are enabled and ticked. (depending on the model of computer and the BIOS revision should look like the screen below)

BIOS USB config

NOTE: The Latitude E6510 does not support the USB PowerShare feature.

The online documentation and the BIOS may show the feature as available. However, it is not supported on this model. The documentation and BIOS is being updated to reflect this.

Low Power

These devices are what is called Plug and Play. That means they work when they are plugged in. However some proprietary drivers may be needed for any addon functions the devices may have.

Keyboards

Keyboards are a standard low-power input device. However, they can also include additions such as:

  • Keycard Readers
  • Unpowered USB Hubs
  • Roller Balls
  • Track Sticks
  • Other added devices.

If a keyboard does not work - test it outside of the operating system and in multiple sockets.

You can also test it on another computer to see if the issue follows the keyboard.

Mice and other Input Devices

Input devices such as your mouse or track ball are low-power devices.

Testing in other ports and on another computer identifies where a fault originates.

Flash Drives

Flash Drives are low-power storage devices and have taken the place of the floppy disk.

Not all drives are compatible with all USB ports. You may have a conflict between the port and the drive manufacturer.

Try the device in several ports and computers to see where the fault follows.

Joysticks and Game Controllers

Joysticks and Game Controllers that connect with a USB cable are low-power devices.

Testing in different ports and on another machine identifies where a fault originates.

Independent Power Source

Hubs

There are powered hubs and unpowered hubs. However, hubs at their base are a cheap and easy way of expanding how many USB devices you can plug to a computer.

One plug from the Hub goes to your computer. It allows several devices to connect to the ports on the Hub and pass through to the computer.

Powered Hubs work better than unpowered ones do.

You can gang a maximum of 127 devices.

If you are having trouble with a hub, try different combinations of ports and devices and try on another computer.

Remember that one connection always has to go to the computer.

NOTE: Hubs can be built in to any number of other devices. (For example: Keyboards, Printers, and Monitors.) Remember that for these hubs to work, a USB cable must be connected from the hub to one of the USB ports on your computer.

Latitude E-Series Docking Stations

Latitude Docking Stations have their own external power source and connect using their own proprietary connector.

The connection however is still a USB connection.

You find that several different ports use the Dock like a power hub and connect through to the computer using that dock connection.

Trying different ports and different computers identifies where your fault lies.

Printers and Scanners

Printers and Scanners have their own external power source and can sometimes be used as USB hubs depending on their configuration.

Once you have tested the connection to the computer, follow a proper Printer or Scanner troubleshooting guide for further instructions.

External Hard Drive

These devices usually have either their own external power source or some form of extra cabling. So that you plug up to more than one USB port while the device is in use.

Check the device on several ports and try it on another computer if you are troubleshooting a fault with the connection.

NOTE:

Some storage devices using a USB 3.0 port are not detected when the computer resumes from sleep or hibernation. Update your BIOS and the USB 3.0 Intel drivers to the latest revision, in order to resolve this issue. They are available from the Dell Support Site for your computer service tag or model type.

If you are trying to boot from a USB 3.0 storage device, and it is not detected. Swap the connector to a USB 2.0 connection instead.

These problems vary with the external storage device manufacturer.

External Optical Drive

These devices can be both low-power and have their own power source.

It depends on what they do and how fast they spin.

A simple read-only drive is low power. However, if you want dual layer or a writer, then it is best to get one with an external power source.

If it is detected, try it in multiple ports and try it on another computer to see where the fault goes.

High Power

SmartPhones, PDAs, MP3 players, so on

These types of devices are multipurpose, in that they charge from USB, but they are also storage devices with data to transfer through USB.

You can also use them as devices on the computer to play music or extend a network connection among others.

Webcams and Cameras

These video devices are multipurpose, in that they charge from USB, but they are also storage devices with data to transfer through USB.

NOTE: If your computer reports that you are using USB 3.1. This is not an error in itself. USB 3.1 was renamed to 3.2 in 2021 and was only a naming change that does not impact the USB functioning.

How do I identify a working USB port in a Windows operating system?

Your USB ports on your Dell computer are plug and play. If you have issues with your USB port, it is either port-related, driver related or device related. The following solutions help you identify the problem to resolve your USB port issues.

Begin troubleshooting your USB ports by checking Device Manager to see if your USB ports or hubs are working properly.

  1. Click the Start button.

NOTE:

In Windows 8, move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears, and then click Search. In the search box type: Control Panel

In Windows 11 and Windows 10, click or tap the Windows Start button and type Control Panel.

  1. Click Control Panel.

  2. Click Hardware and Sound.

  3. Click Device Manager.

  4. Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers and check to see if all your USB ports, hubs and controllers are functioning correctly. Any devices not functioning has a yellow exclamation mark in front of them.

  5. If Device Manager shows that any USB ports, hubs or controllers are not functioning, check for updated drivers.

NOTE: If you have Accidental Damage Cover, damage is covered as part of the Accidental Damage package. We must know where the damage is and how it occurred when you contact your local Technical Support. If you DON'T have any cover or no Accidental Damage cover, then any repairs are chargeable.

You can check your warranty status on the link below.

The first step is to check the ports, the connector, and the cable for any wear and tear or damage that might be causing you problems:

  1. Checking for damage is basic. It is looking at the USB ports on the computer and the connector on the USB device and visually checking if there are any:

    • Cracks in the plastics surrounding the port?

    • Any part of the port is crimped or bent?

    • Any pins from inside the port are bent or missing?

    • Any parts of the port are missing or broken off?

    • Any damage to the devices male connector?

    • Any damage to the cable from the connector to the device?

    1. If you identify any of the above, you must contact your Technical Support.

    2. If not, go to the next step.

  2. Does the USB connector meet the official USB Specifications?

    USB A plug

    NOTE: These specifications are for USB 1.1, for 2.0 and 3.x, only reference the sizes for the connector itself and not the plastics behind it.

    1. Our computers do not detect it if it does not follow these specifications. Contact the USB devices vendor.

    2. If it does, then follow on to the next step.

  3. Is there anything obstructing the USB device from fully seating in the USB port?

    1. Yes, you should contact your USB device vendor.

    2. No, then proceed with the next step.

  4. Does the external USB device work ok in another Dell computer?

    1. No, then you must contact your USB devices vendor

    2. Yes, then proceed with the next step.

  5. Plug the external device to the port. If you move the connector while it is plugged into a particular USB port, does it affect whether the device is picked up or not?

    1. Yes, then contact your technical support.

    2. No, then go to the next step.

  6. If the computer supports it, run the ePSA or the Online diagnostics from the Dell Support Site.

    1. If an error code is reported - troubleshoot and resolve that error.

    2. If no error is reported, then go to the next step.

  7. Have you ruled out a software issue in any way? There are three basic ways to accomplish this:

    1. You can two-way swap the Hard Disk Drive (hard drive) or solid state drive (SSD) with one from a similar working computer. Does the fault follows the drive to a new machine or if the issue stays with your computer?

    2. You can boot from an Ubuntu Live image (Regardless of the operating system in use on the computer). It lets you check to see if you experience the same issue in another operating system.

    3. You can run a factory restore or reinstall your Operating system.

CAUTION: Carrying out option c, would only be done as a last resort and if one of the other two steps could not be done. You MUST back up all data before carrying out this procedure - if you do not, data WILL be lost. Any operating system reinstall or factory restore involves formatting the storage drive. See the guides on the Windows portal for more information about these procedures.

  1. Was the issue seen once the operating system and Software was ruled out?

    1. No, then the issue is resolved.

    2. Yes, then contact your support to take this further, they take you through some further troubleshooting. You can also access more on the Dell Support Site by entering your service tag.

See the additional information section at the bottom of this article for contact us instructions.

An out-of-date BIOS driver can create issues with your computer recognizing the USB port.

NOTE: The update may take a few minutes. Do not interrupt the update process.

  1. When prompted, confirm the update from the current version to the new version by pressing Enter.

  2. When the update process is complete, your computer restarts again to load the operating system with the new driver version installed.

Dell has an online diagnostic tool to help identify and fix issues with your computer.

  1. Go to the Dell personal computer Diagnostic page.

  2. Click the Advanced tab.

  3. Click Hardware.

  4. Using the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the window below; locate the listing for USB.

  5. Select USB.

  6. Click Run Diagnostics.

  7. Agree to Terms and Conditions in Legal Statement.

  8. Follow the instructions to test each USB port.

There does not appear to any doubt that the USB standard is here to stay. Especially with the Type-C which while not being backwards compatible with the older standards, is now seeing ever more use.

What benefits does the Type-C USB standard bring? :

Improved Transfer Speeds
Type-C is a connector type, so we have to say that the newest revision is Type-C using the USB 3.2 standards. This Standard has pushed transfer rates to 10 Gb/s. However, it is possible to use a Type-C connector on an older standard bus like USB 2.0. This would not make the device backwards-compatible - only slow. We recommend that you check any devices you purchase with a Type-C connector to ensure that its revision is USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Improved Power Delivery
While the older standards of USB could provide up to 2.5 Watts of power, the Type-C ups this to 100 Watts and it is bi-directional. The same connection can either supply or receive power simultaneously its transmitting data across the same connection. Many devices have swapped over to USB charging cables over the last few years and this development can only speed up this process further.
Improved Connector and Plug Design
The Type-C connector is both smaller and better designed than the old Type-A connector of USB 2.0 and 3.0. It can take the place of the multitude of USB types in use. (Such as the Micro, Mini and Type-D connectors.) It is impossible to plug this cable in the wrong way round as it is reversible. It also leaves room for further improvements down the line.
Improved Protocols
The Type-C can support several different protocols using Alternate Modes. These allow you to have adapters that can output VGA, DVI, Display Port, HDMI, or other types of connection from a single USB port.
Simplifying the usage of USB
The Type-C should lead to a more unified standard with one connector type and interchangeable cables and devices.


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Additional Information

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Affected Products

Chromebox, Chromebook, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Tablets, Thin Clients, Dell USB-C to HDMI 2.0 / USB-A 3.0 Adapter, Dell Adapter - USB-C to HDMI 2.1 - SA124, Dell Adapter USB-C to 2.5G Ethernet - SA224, Latitude 10
Article Properties
Article Number: 000129226
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 24 jan 2024
Version:  11
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