| The only simple thing that could have happened is that the USB header cable came loose. Otherwise the motherboard's southbridge or at least the USB hub is dead/dying and at that point you're (often) best off just buying a whole new PC if this is a concern (because the motherboard is relatively expensive and if you're going to replace it you might as well get all new stuff as putting money toward old equipment is usually not very cost-effective). I'd just buy a little USB extender cable or hub to attach to the back.
__________________ "I loved the P182 so much that, when my wife's system was all noisy and needed all sorts of cleaning, I bought her one. Then, when I wanted a cat, I bought a P182. The P182 is not a cat per se, but it's still an excellent buy."
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My System: 日夏子 Processor(s): Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13 -> 3.01ghz | Motherboard: MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 | RAM Memory: 2GB Patriot Extreme Performance | Graphics Card(s): PNY 8800GTS 320MB | Sound Card: Sound Blaster Xtremegamer 7.1 | Hard Drive(s): 80GB + 500GB | Optical Drive(s): 2x SATA | Case / PSU: Antec 900 + 620W Aerocool zeroDBA | Cooling: 4x 120mm Yate-Loon + 200mm top | Network / Internet: Qwest | Monitor(s): Dell 22" S2209W (1920x1080) | Operating System(s): Windows XP + 7 | |