USB ports erratic on winXP

on various desktop pc’s, the USB ports (used for printers and keyboards, primarily) either work erratically or stop working. the problem is for those ports only, and solved by moving the device(s) to another port. the first port is essentially dead, as it cannot be used for anything else. These are white box pcs, and work flawlessly in every other way.

Has anyone encountered this? Is there a fix, or do the ports just wear out over time?

Thanks.