Usb ports don't work, out of the blue

Re-install your operating system,,save necessary files first if you want/can

Connect a USB mouse.
Then, in Control Panel, access the 'Mouse' panel, and "enable" the touchpad.

just uninstall old driver and then you should install a new and updated touchpad driver in your system.
then restart your system. its a software issue.
for new driver go to dell.com at drivers and download.
okay

Hello...
Full details about sound issue in my website...
www.sureshayyar.110mb.com (Support page)

As an alternative u can do this (i am using this solution till date)

If u cant install the sound driver correctly, just buy a " USB Sound Adaptor" and connect it to the USB port and connect the speaker sound jack to the sound port in this adaptor....u will get back the sound....also keep in mind that u " may " have to disable onboard sound in BIOS, u may also have to make changes in the Control Panel / Sound and Audio Devices / Audio Tab / Sound Playback option... Click the drop down button and select the "USB Audio Devices/Headset"

You can get it in Ebay for $1 to $4 or google it to locate a place near u......

This is the one i am refering to(I bought it in Ebay for 1$)....u can buy something similar also....there are many available mfd from China, just plug and play on your USB port....

If you find this solution useful please leave a feedback and rating to this solution.

Regards....
All the best, my dear friend..

I have the dell inspiron 5160 works great a little slow but no big deal. The problem I have as of Monday the power cord will not stay in and now will not charge. Is it the power port? Can this be fixed?

Sure there are USB docking stations that use the USB port for keyboard, mouse, printer, and video

The only way you are going to get any enhanced audio out of a 5160 is with an external USB audio device.

One option: PCMCIA Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS Notebook

Not in most Dell models. Most of the time they are on their own circuit board that pluge into the motherboard. It generally runs somewhere around $70, depending on the cost of the ports.

This is either a driver glitch or a faulty port. Start by uninstalling the usb drivers from the device manager, then reboot. The machine will find the ports and reinstall the drivers automatically. If this doesn't fix it, then the ports are faulty and will need replaced. The usb ports are very simple devices, when the drivers are present, they either work or they don't. Other than the drivers, they have nothing else to go bad other than the port itself, and in general, when one goes they all go.

well, then, lend me your ears, eh?

sounds like you're right on the front door of a possible motherboard major headache, with charging and usb ports unhappy.

this still under warranty? Check here to make sure