How to backup without no usb ports working

RayBob · Sep 4, 2025

Hello all
I have to send this machine to Dell for repair.
All usb ports are inoperative.
Is there another way to back up my data?
Thanks in advance
Dell Inspiron 15 24H2

cereberus · Sep 4, 2025

RayBob said:
Hello all
I have to send this machine to Dell for repair.
All usb ports are inoperative.
Is there another way to back up my data?
Thanks in advance
Dell Inspiron 15 24H2

With Macrium Reflect you can backup to another networked pc even over wifi.

Some routers also have a usb port that can be used as network storage.

Of course, use of a cloud service is also handy. You could lease onedrive, google drive, icloud, dropbox space for a few weeks at relatively low cost e.g. 200 GB on icloud for £3 per month (and cancel when not needed).

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 4, 2025

You can do a backup with many image backup applications, including some of the free ones.

mngerhold · Sep 7, 2025

RayBob said:
...All usb ports are inoperative. Is there another way to back up my data?

How have you been backing up prior to the failure?

idgat · Sep 7, 2025

RayBob said:
Is there another way to back up my data?

Cloud. Google account is best (saves letting Microsoft get its clutches into your system with OneDrive)

antspants · Sep 7, 2025

If it’s software related, you’re backing up problems.
Did you create a new user account to check?

Unlikely but you never know.

EDIT:

Seems I asked you before in another thread and never got a reply from you.

antspants said:
Create a temporary new user account. Tell us if the same problem occurs.
Just to find out if this is profile based and only tied to your current account.

Add Local User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

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Delete User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to delete a user account to remove it from your Windows 11 PC. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop...

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glasskuter · Sep 7, 2025

Unless you took steps to deal with it otherwise, chances are, if you set up your user account as a MS account, your personal files are in Onedrive anyway, not on your system drive.

In your other thread, you said the device was out of warranty. Yet you are choosing to send it back to Dell for repair....ouch! Did you request a written quote for the repair? If so, would you mind sharing that total?
You never stated the exact model of of Inspiron you have. The Inspiron 15 line has been around for years and there are many models. Depending on it's age, and what Dell is going to charge you, it would seem to me it may well not be most cost efficient thing to do. Many times one is better off putting their good money to the purchase of a new device.

RayBob · Sep 7, 2025

mngerhold said:
How have you been backing up prior to the failure?

No I have not. It was my son’s computer and he gave it to me to try and repair the ports. He said they just stoped working.

RayBob · Sep 7, 2025

glasskuter said:
Unless you took steps to deal with it otherwise, chances are, if you set up your user account as a MS account, your personal files are in Onedrive anyway, not on your system drive.

In your other thread, you said the device was out of warranty. Yet you are choosing to send it back to Dell for repair....ouch! Did you request a written quote for the repair? If so, would you mind sharing that total?
You never stated the exact model of of Inspiron you have. The Inspiron 15 line has been around for years and there are many models. Depending on it's age, and what Dell is going to charge you, it would seem to me it may well not be most cost efficient thing to do. Many times one is better off putting their good money to the purchase of a new device.

2 years old and it will be an estimate for repair.

RayBob · Sep 7, 2025

antspants said:
If it’s software related, you’re backing up problems.
Did you create a new user account to check?

Unlikely but you never know.

EDIT:

Seems I asked you before in another thread and never got a reply from you.

I did set up a new user account and it still did not word

antspants · Sep 7, 2025

RayBob said:
I did set up a new user account and it still did not word

That’s a shame, not a good sign.

RayBob · Sep 7, 2025

antspants said:
That’s a shame, not a good sign.

All indications are an internal problem. Sending unit to Dell for analysis and estimate
Thanks

gunrunnerjohn · Sep 7, 2025

Unless this is a pretty high-end Dell computer, I'd be shopping for a new computer if you're sure it's a hardware failing. The USB ports are on the motherboard, if that needs replacement, it'll cost as much as a similar new computer.

Of course, it would be useful if you actually shared the exact model of the computer to allow more intelligent answers.

Try3 · Sep 7, 2025

Edit - Sorry, I think you've already tried out my ideas judging by your other thread - www.elevenforum.com/t/all-usb-ports-are-inoperative-supplies-5volts-to-devices-but-windows-11-ver24h2-does-not-recognize-devicey.39463/

I assume that you tried running SFC in case it is a Windows fault that impacts on the USB ports.
SFC - ElevenForumTutorials

If you have decided to return it for repair, there's no harm in first checking if it is a USB driver corruption problem.
Windows does not always detect driver corruption. I have personally experienced a corrupted display driver that generated no error reports of any kind and that was fixed by re-installing its driver.
Look in Device manager,
- Universal serial bus controllers
- Universal serial bus devices
- USB connection managers
- and any other USB entries in its list
Delete each of the entries within each group and let Windows re-detect the hardware & reinstall its drivers [which it should do straightaway and can be forced to do by clicking on the Scan for hardware changes icon].

Best of luck,
Denis

RayBob · Sep 7, 2025

Try3 said:
Edit - Sorry, I think you've already tried out my ideas judging by your other thread - www.elevenforum.com/t/all-usb-ports-are-inoperative-supplies-5volts-to-devices-but-windows-11-ver24h2-does-not-recognize-devicey.39463/

I assume that you tried running SFC in case it is a Windows fault that impacts on the USB ports.
SFC - ElevenForumTutorials

If you have decided to return it for repair, there's no harm in first checking if it is a USB driver corruption problem.
Windows does not always detect driver corruption. I have personally experienced a corrupted display driver that generated no error reports of any kind and that was fixed by re-installing its driver.
Look in Device manager,
- Universal serial bus controllers
- Universal serial bus devices
- USB connection managers
- and any other USB entries in its list
Delete each of the entries within each group and let Windows re-detect the hardware & reinstall its drivers [which it should do straightaway and can be forced to do by clicking on the Scan for hardware changes icon].

Best of luck,
Denis

Thanks for getting back to me. I have already deleted all the drivers for usb functions but that did not work. Sending it to Dell for analysis analysis and estimate on the repairs.

mngerhold · Sep 8, 2025

RayBob said:
Thanks for getting back to me. I have already deleted all the drivers for usb functions but that did not work. Sending it to Dell for analysis analysis and estimate on the repairs.

Since you confirmed the USB ports work in the BIOS/UEFI setup, it can surely only be a software fix.

I assume you wanted to backup user data before doing so - and now you plan to send it anyway with no backup? Do you have any promise from Dell that they won't wipe it clean? If not, then you may as well install windows from scratch yourself and save the cost.

You may have been asked already, but can you not connect to another machine over a network (wifi, ethernet)?

idgat · Sep 8, 2025

mngerhold said:
Do you have any promise from Dell that they won't wipe it clean?

Agreed. This is always the greatest risk, no matter how reputable the service provider. I suspect some uninformed naive blind faith because of the "big name" manufacturer

OP would be best off .....

mngerhold said:
you may as well install windows from scratch yourself and save the cost.

Alternatively, swap out the drive with a new blank one (thus keeps the old system intact) and try a clean install

Alternatively, delete the USB drivers from the Device Manager, then reboot and let Windows re-install. Run Windows update making sure to check the Advanced Options > Optional updates for additional driver updates

Scififreaks · Sep 14, 2025

No usb access.

Network shares, I'd set up network share transfer over network cable. Thats assuming you still have a working system that still has WiFi /network cable to download any required features that may have not been installed by default. Plenty of YouTube videos on shared Folders and network shares.

Aiomi backup also has been useful for me

This guy has some great tutorials on the tube

Good luck

SmokeMe · Sep 14, 2025

If you really want to have a bootable External drive you can always do
as I did by connecting the Power & SATA MB ports to a external cable to plug a SSD into.
Not as simple as a USB but more powerful.

Order Placed! - (Your latest online purchase.)

Those pesky nose hairs…

www.elevenforum.com

How to backup without no usb ports working

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