This has been an ongoing problem for me for over 5 years. Basically my usb mouse randomly stops working after using it for a fey days. Once it stops working it will be down for anywhere from an hour to a week.

This has happened on many different operating systems (opensuse, fedora, mandriva, windows and now linux mint). Generally after a fresh OS install it will be ok for about a week and then it goes out and unplugging the mouse, restarting the computer does nothing. It at times will randomly start working for an hour or two and stop again.

the usb port that i am using, works with everything else (keyboards, memory sticks) ... however i do have 2 other usb ports which are not working at all with anything. They are located at different ends of the laptop. i have tried changing the batteries, many different mice but the results are the same. the light for the mouse receiver is on (solid) and the mouse works ok with my other computers.

i have tried many things over the years with no luck. My Laptop is an Acer Aspire 5600, the mouse is a logitech wireless usb mouse

...when i run "dmesg" ... this is what i see (for usb suff) - not sure what it means though, hopefully someone can help me understand what is happening


157.380202] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 6
[ 157.650126] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid
[ 157.650130] usbhid: USB HID core driver
[ 157.704995] logitech 0003:046D:C517.0001: parse failed
[ 157.705017] logitech: probe of 0003:046D:C517.0001 failed with error -71
[ 157.724980] logitech 0003:046D:C517.0002: parse failed
[ 157.725000] logitech: probe of 0003:046D:C517.0002 failed with error -71
[ 157.880200] hub 5-0:1.0: port 2 disabled by hub (EMI?), re-enabling...
[ 157.880215] usb 5-2: USB disconnect, address 6
[ 158.120215] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 7
[ 158.240186] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 158.464178] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 158.680095] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 8
[ 158.800096] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 159.124334] input: Logitech USB Receiver as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.3/usb5/5-2/5-2:1.0/input/input7
[ 159.124637] logitech 0003:046D:C517.0003: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Keyboard [Logitech USB Receiver] on usb-0000:00:1d.3-2/input0
[ 159.164230] logitech 0003:046D:C517.0004: parse failed
[ 159.164253] logitech: probe of 0003:046D:C517.0004 failed with error -71
[ 159.164409] hub 5-0:1.0: port 2 disabled by hub (EMI?), re-enabling...
[ 159.164419] usb 5-2: USB disconnect, address 8
[ 159.440071] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 9
[ 159.564093] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 159.788217] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 160.004087] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 10
[ 160.124187] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 160.348209] usb 5-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[ 160.564209] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
[ 160.972209] usb 5-2: device not accepting address 11, error -71
[ 161.084247] usb 5-2: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 12
[ 161.496083] usb 5-2: device not accepting address 12, error -71
[ 161.496120] hub 5-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 2

Over the years, one learns certain filenames off. I used one on your behalf.
I think this is the key to it all.
I imagine the thing draws too much current, is disabled & vanishes. It works sometimes because it's a borderline thing. I think you may find that chipset temperature is the key variable. Have you good ventilation under your laptop? I am not aware of an EMI problem switching off a hub.

@chemicaluser, overheating can also be caused by an accumulation of dirt/dust inside your box! Sometimes this type of problem can be solved by opening the box and giving it a good dusting with dry compressed air! (ask a service technician if you're not comfortable trying this yourself)

To answer your question, I do not have any ventilation under the laptop ... never have. Not to mention its been running 24/7 for over 3 years (file server). I have never cleaned it or anything like that, so I will definitely open it up and give that a try.

thanks for taking the time to reply