Why don't the usb ports work on the side of

USB ports on the side of the monitor are a USB HUB. For those ports to work, you must use a USB cable from the monitor (Connection is normally on the bottom USB Type B connection like on a printer) to a USB port on the tower. Once connected, the USB ports on the monitor should be operational.
If the cable is connected and the ports do not work, boot to safe mode (F8 at boot) open device manager, under USB controllers, USB ROOT HUBs, right click and Select PROPERTIES for each root hub (May be up to 7) go to the power management tab, and uncheck the checkbox that allows windows to turn that device off to save power. Once done on all HUBS, reboot in normal mode

is there an extra cable, aside from the Power Cord, and the VGA Cable? if not, look on the back of the monitor, there should be a similar plug in like a USB printer would have, its kinda square. If there is, you just need a USB printer cable to make it work.