usb

Clarifications

You might search for PCMCIA cards that would give you a USB connection. I've never searched for one, so I don't even know if they exist. If they do, it would more than likely be a USB 1.0 connection (slower). So, if you have USB 2.0 devices, they may be hindered in their operation.

In addition to the possibility of a USB PCMCIA or Express card for your laptop, the primary reason the USB ports fail is that devices draw too much power from the port.

The 5 volt power line is at best protected by a small series resistor. When the load is too high, the resistor opens up and the port no longer functions.

If you normally connect multiple USB devices at a time, or have high current devices that are port powered, you need a powered hub to prevent the same thing from happening again.

Chas