Argthtjtr

My new laptop fan cooler's usb cable plug sucks a small black thing out of a usb port on my lenovo Thinkpad T400. That thing seems to be used for fixing the four pins inside the port. Without it, the connection is often loose,and there is often no detection of the devices.

I wonder if there is a solution for fixing the problem?

Is it a design problem of my new cooler, or a problem of my old laptop?
Although my laptop was purchases since 2009, it hadn't have that problem, until last month my new cooler's plug suck the black things out of two ports. Is it reasonable to ask for redemption from the cooler's seller or manufacturer?

The little black thing from a port:

A port with the little black thing:

Two ports without the little black things because the cooler usb plug suck them out:

That black plastic thing is a contact support block that is a single integral piece (both arrows) that the contacts insert into. Black on your USB sockets, white in image below:

If you give the USB plug inserted into this socket a good sideways push, it can snap the contact support block (top arrow) out of the socket.

Once this happens, the port is destroyed. Even if you insert the USB plug in the proper direction, the contacts have no support to ensure full, proper contact.

At this point, you've got a few options.

1. If the sockets are installed on the motherboard, you will have to do a full motherboard replacement (expensive)




2. If the manufacturer planned on users abusing their equipment, they may install the sockets on a small sub-board, you will have to replace that sub-board (less expensive)




3. If you know someone who has the skill to unsolder the socket, they (after much disassembly) may be able to desolder and reinstall the sockets. More or less expensive, a 2009 laptop may be worth less than the repair expense.

I would examine how you use the cooler and how its plug mounts. The most likely cause is that you use the combination of laptop and cooler in such a way that you keep hitting the USB plug, causing too much stress on the socket.

It's common when using stick type USB devices, to hit one of them and due to the leverage from the case length, snap the support block out.

Cable plugs tend to be a lot shorter and are less likely to break this piece as you're less likely to catch them just right.

As a temporary fix, if you have the loose plastic thing (black or white), try putting it in the way it should go, just before inserting USB plug. It may provide needed support to the contacts. When you pull USB plug back out, you may need tweezers to retrieve little plastic thing.