Extra USB keyboard ports not working

Many USB keyboards have extra USB ports to allow connection to other USB devices directly through the keyboard; it’s a great idea if it works as it should

This type of USB keyboard problem falls into 3 categories

1.     The device is not recognized and nothing comes up when the device is plugged in.

2.     The USB port is recognized as a USB 1 port to some degree and we get an error message similar to a high speed device has been plugged into a low speed USB connection

3.     The port does not provide enough power to support the USB hardware being plugged into it, there may also be a reported message such as The USB device has exceeded the power to the USB port

We must first understand that the issue may not be directly related to the keyboard, after all the keyboard is simply acting as a USB hub.



The root of the issue will more likely be USB power issue on the computer that the keyboard is plugged into.

The source of USB keyboard ports giving problems can be confirmed when one computer will run the keyboard and a connected USB device and yet another computer will not.

Not all USB ports are the same, even if both computers are USB2 the power to one port may be more or less than another computer.

Other causes can of course include the keyboard type, how much USB power does it require? Different keyboards require different amounts of power.

The configuration of the USB ports within the keyboard are certainly worth looking into, on the Dell keyboard I use it has two USB ports, I plug my USB pen drive into the one on the right it works fine, plug it into the one on the left and it fails, but plug the mouse into either and it’s fine, which points to the output on the left hand USB port is less than the right as it can power the mouse, but not the USB pen drive, unlike the one on the right which can power both.

Solutions
If you receive the error plugging a high speed device into a low speed port check to make sure your computers USB ports are actually USB2 and if it is, make sure the correct USB2 drivers are installed, otherwise it may only using legacy USB drivers hampering it’s performance.

Check for any BIOS updates for your computer this can help to rectify a certain type of USB power issue .

In low power ports, only use low power devices such as mice, save the higher powered ports for more power hungry devices

Purchase a powered USB hub, run your keyboard from this, it should provide more power, and may give any USB keyboard ports not working more power too.

Keyboard Problems
For more on keyboard problems and fixes

Keyboard Cleaning
Cleaning a keyboard is it worth it?

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