Workaround to lack of functional USB ports on a MacBook Pro?

[jjossie]

Hi everyone,
I've got a mid-2010 MacBook Pro that I use for music production and for some reason, as of late, both of my USB ports no longer work. They will transmit a little bit of power, but no data. I've tried my phone via cable and several flash drives. I've done some research and apparently they can't be replaced (at least, not easily). I need to be able to connect (primarily) a flash drive, possibly an external hard drive, and a MIDI keyboard (that one is most important), but not all at the same time. So what are my options? Could I use the Firewire and/or Thunderbolt ports and an adapter to connect my necessary USB devices? If so, what adapters should I use? Is there any way to fix the USB ports themselves? I have already done both a PRAM and an SMC reset, with no luck.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chayan4400]

Are you sure you have a 2010 model? Thunderbolt was only available on the 2011 ones. Check if you have a lightning sign next to the port shown to see if you have a thunderbolt port.

If you have a thunderbolt port, you can use this hub: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LVA3NMU/ref=twister_B00ZHVJ61Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you have a firewire port only, you'll additionally need apple's firewire to thunderbolt adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thunderbolt-to-FireWire-Adapter/dp/B00SQ2CJUS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449677624&sr=1-1&keywords=firewire+to+thunderbolt

and a firewire 800 cable:

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-IEEE-1394-Firewire-Cable/dp/B0069T5B4G/ref=pd_sim_147_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41rvZH4CY8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=195164S5PS58CFT5Y687

 

[jjossie]

Are you sure you have a 2010 model? Thunderbolt was only available on the 2011 ones. Check if you have a lightning sign next to the port shown to see if you have a thunderbolt port.

If you have a thunderbolt port, you can use this hub: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LVA3NMU/ref=twister_B00ZHVJ61Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you have a firewire port only, you'll additionally need apple's firewire to thunderbolt adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thunderbolt-to-FireWire-Adapter/dp/B00SQ2CJUS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1449677624&sr=1-1&keywords=firewire+to+thunderbolt

and a firewire 800 cable:

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-IEEE-1394-Firewire-Cable/dp/B0069T5B4G/ref=pd_sim_147_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41rvZH4CY8L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=195164S5PS58CFT5Y687

Well, I guess I do have the early 2011 one. Huh. when I had to reinstall my factory os, it said it was mid 2010 at first. but then I just checked the "about this mac" and now I feel dumb. Thanks for your answer though.

Also, dang, That adapter is expensive. I think I saw one for about $80 and I'd be willing to pay that as opposed to buying a new logic board or a new computer, but do you think that would work for connecting MIDI devices?

 

[Chayan4400]

If your MIDI keyboard worked with your integrated USB ports, then it will work fine with a thunderbolt adapter. Thunderbolt has a much larger bandwidth than USB 2.0, so any adapter will allow the USB 2.0 or even 3.0 ports to achieve their maximum transfer speeds. Indeed, if you get an adapter with USB 3.0 (Shown by blue USB ports), then you will have faster transfer speeds than before.