I've been dealing with some strange USB problems lately. My keyboard's WASD and arrow keys were acting all mixed up, and a restart didn't fix it. Unplugging and replugging the USB resolved the issue temporarily. I've also noticed that in one of the USB ports, the keyboard's LEDs flickered even when the PC was powered off, and I had to unplug it to stop that. Additionally, my wireless mouse dongle has stopped working in two different USB slots; it worked fine in a third one. I only have a USB-C cable connected to the motherboard, which is for my DualSense controller, and that seems to work okay. About a year ago, I had to replace a defective GPU because it was shutting my PC down during gameplay, but it was fine for a year before the issues started. I'm worried the motherboard might be the culprit here. Should I consider replacing my motherboard? Is there a way to test its condition? My motherboard is an AsRock B550m Pro4.
1 Answer
It sounds like there's a real chance that your USB ports may have developed some issues, but I don't think the GPU problem from a year ago is related. The flickering LEDs suggest that the USB port might not be making a proper connection. Sometimes, debris or damage inside the port can cause problems like this. You might want to try cleaning the ports with some isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—just be careful with the amount you use! If that doesn't help, it could be that the ports themselves are failing. Unfortunately, if many ports are acting up, you might need to consider replacing the motherboard soon. Keep an eye on the ones that are still working just in case they go bad too.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely give that cleaning method a shot. Do you think there's a way to test the motherboard's health with software, or is it mostly physical issues?