USB ports not working. Not even to access BIOS.

[Arcadio]

It's a Dell XPS 410 machine. The usb keyboard and mouse stopped working, so the client called. I checked it out and it turns out that none of the USB ports are working. I cannot even access the BIOS. There are no ps/2 ports. Is it safe to say that the only solution is to change the motherboard?

 

[MrUnknown]

You could try installing an internal USB card to add USB ports

 

[Arcadio]

You could try installing an internal USB card to add USB ports

Don't I need to install drivers for it? Without a mouse and a keyboard I can't install any drivers or programs.

 

[Felix]

No, USB cards are plug and play.
The drivers are installed when the O.S. Detects the card.
At least if you're using Win Xp or newer.

 

[abe]

you can try reseting the cmos, remove the battery and drain, if no go, then check the solder points on the board.

Abe

 

[RemoteGeek]

Seems others with a Dell XPS 410 are having similar problems:

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19247116.aspx

 

[Crgky127]

If you try the PCI USB card and there are multiple users, you might end up needing to slave the drive and remote registry edit to autologin. (I had a different situation last week and found out that XP doesn't load some USB devices until you are actually logged in.)