700m USB problem

[arcanej]

My girlfriend has a Dell 700m and loves it. Unfortunately, the USB ports on her laptop have gone dead for most of the time. Sometimes she is able to get a USB mouse to work for 3 minutes but then the thing dies and sits on her desk openly mocking her. The laptop is under warranty but she won't be able to send it in until she is done with the academic year. Does anyone know a quicker fix for this problem?

 

[Ethan2099]

if she trys to escalate it to a manager she might be able to get them to send out a technician to replace the motherboard next business day onsite. it's what i would try to get done for the customer if I was on the american side.

if your service contract is return to depot but if you can convince the tech that the issue is extremely urgent you might be able to get him/her to set it up as NBD tech.

 

[arcanej]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. It's better than waiting a month.

 

[bacillus]

a usb2 pcmcia card may be the quickest option for now!

 

[BespinReactorShaft]

What's the main application of the USB port?

 

[arcanej]

She uses it for three primary functions: a usb mouse, to transfer photos between her camera and the computer, and a usb pen drive.

The mouse, while a great convenience, is something she can live without.

While it is annoying to her, she can use my computer to unload photos.

However, it seems to be the pen drive that actually is of greatest importance.

I'll look into the pcmcia card but she doesn't have a lot of cash at the moment. Thanks for the continued suggestions.