Rust inside USB port

[hcastro]

Hi, I've just found out that there is rust inside 2 of the 2.0 USB ports of my PC case. For now they still work, but I'm worried that this could lead to something serious even with other components.
Does anyone know if there is a way to remove this rust without endangering my PC or at least preventing it from getting more rust?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

With PC shut down and, crucially, disconnected from mains supply, keep PC power button pressed for 15 seconds to purge all residual power from the PSU. That will ensure that none of the USB ports are live.

Then use a small, flat-bladed screwdriver to carefully scrape of as much rust as possible. Be sure to use an air-blower after that to drive out bits of loose rust from the USB port.

That should do the trick safely.

If they are really bad or the rust gets worse you'll have to replace the case. Beats me how rust got there anyway unless some liquid got spilled - - my case is over 10 years old and no rust on it anywhere, ports are shiny clean.

 

[jay32267]

I wouldn't try and remove the rust. It's probably too hard to get at and you risk little conductive particles flying around.

You could spray it lightly with something like WD-40 to prevent more rust though.

As far as it hurting anything...I doubt it. It most likely won't cause a short. The main thing it will do is cause your USB ports not to work, but if they are working I'd leave them alone. They may work forever this way.

If it really bothers you , you can put in new ports if they aren't ports that are soldered to the motherboard.

 

[hcastro]

I wouldn't try and remove the rust. It's probably too hard to get at and you risk little conductive particles flying around.

You could spray it lightly with something like WD-40 to prevent more rust though.

As far as it hurting anything...I doubt it. It most likely won't cause a short. The main thing it will do is cause your USB ports not to work, but if they are working I'd leave them alone. They may work forever this way.

If it really bothers you , you can put in new ports if they aren't ports that are soldered to the motherboard.

I thought about using WD-40, but I didn't knew if using it could make things worse. If there is no potential harm then for now I'll just do that. If the ports stop working then I'll probably make use of the warranty. Thank you.

 

[hcastro]

With PC shut down and, crucially, disconnected from mains supply, keep PC power button pressed for 15 seconds to purge all residual power from the PSU. That will ensure that none of the USB ports are live.

Then use a small, flat-bladed screwdriver to carefully scrape of as much rust as possible. Be sure to use an air-blower after that to drive out bits of loose rust from the USB port.

That should do the trick safely.

If they are really bad or the rust gets worse you'll have to replace the case. Beats me how rust got there anyway unless some liquid got spilled - - my case is over 10 years old and no rust on it anywhere, ports are shiny clean.

Thanks for your answer, for now I'll just try to prevent them from getting more rust.
I don't know either how is it possible that those ports got rust, since it's fairly new, there are no other USB ports affected and, as far as I know, there has been no liquid spilled. Could it be because I clean the case sometimes using Alcohol for medical use rubbed on a cloth? Or maybe because of the humidity in the environment?

 

[jay32267]

I wouldn't say the WD-40 is super necessary because as long as your PC is now hopefully in a dry environment I wouldn't expect it to continue to rust.

If you use WD-40...go light on it...maybe use a q-tip. Just don't soak everything because it can act as a solvent in certain situations and you don't want to dissolve anything...also I think it's probably flammable so make sure it dries before you go firing anything up.

That all being said, as long as it's working, I'd probably skip the WD-40....especially if the ports aren't on the mother board and can easily be replaced.

 

[jay32267]

The alcohol wouldn't cause it.

Although things happen...like it could have gotten a little something splashed in there....and then whatever it was SAT FOR A WHILE.

....but humidity....it would have to have been reallllly humid.