Disable USB Ports

alias7

Hi,

I have this nuisance brother who comes into my room, switches on my computer (which he does not have a password for) and plugs his phone into one of the front USB ports on my computer - to charge his phone.

He lost his normal charger, so now he's taken it upon himself to use my computer, and when he's finished he ALWAYS just switches it off at the wall! Everytime I come in I'm getting a "You have not shut down correctly" message.

At first I had no idea what was causing it, until I caught him in the act.

My question is, how can I disable the 2 ports on the front of the computer, so that when he plugs it in, it wont start charging his phone, and he will have no need to do it in future.

I've already tried disabling it in the Registry Editor, but it still started charging my phone up, it just didn't allow me to Read/Write with the computer.

What I want is to be able to disable it so that it doesn't recognise anything.

Any ideas?

Sooler

Take the fuse out of the mains plug.

BillScarab

You could just open the case and disconnect the front USB ports

nickmack

alias7 wrote:

My question is, how can I disable the 2 ports on the front of the computer, so that when he plugs it in, it wont start charging his phone, and he will have no need to do it in future.

I've already tried disabling it in the Registry Editor, but it still started charging my phone up, it just didn't allow me to Read/Write with the computer.

What I want is to be able to disable it so that it doesn't recognise anything.

The power to the USB port and the drivers are two seperate compnents. If you disable the USB ports in Windows, it is likely they will still be powered.

As far as I know, other than when there's a short, when the PC is plugged in and USB ports connected up, they will be powered.

Little_John

2 ways the one sugested of unplugging them internally or disable them in the system bios, tell us the make and model of your motherboard and we will be able to find out how to do it, if it is a branded pc then have a look in the manual.

cwoodham

Tell him to get a Mains USB charger. For example here:

http://www.techfocus.co.uk/Mobile-Phone-Chargers.htm

Only about £5.

alias7

cwoodham wrote:

Tell him to get a Mains USB charger. For example here:

http://www.techfocus.co.uk/Mobile-Phone-Chargers.htm

Only about £5.

He has had 3 different phone chargers this month, and he's lost them all. The phone was new last month (14th feb). It is now 8th March and he has lost his own original, his girlfriends original, and a spare.

He has no money, my parents refuse to buy him another, and I refuse to give him any money.

I think I'm going to be carrying my PC connection cable around places with me from now on!

Fifer

Hide the PC mains cable. Or steal his phone; he'll think he's lost that too.

alias7

I have been hiding the PC mains cable, however today I was at work at 7am, and was so tired I totally forgot to hide it.

Today I have came in from work and found his phone plugged in, again - and so I've searched this topic because I want a more reliable fix. The PC is really hot, which means it will have been on for a fair few hours at least. I am getting "Hardware Error" messages asking me to reboot all the time because of this imbecile.

I have tried stealing his USB cable, however he then retaliates by stealing something of mine which is much more valuable.

I need something that can disable the power from them altogether (without opening the actual PC with a screwdriver), or something that will f*ck up his phone (excuse my language, I am quite angry right now) when he plugs it in.

I honestly don't care if it kills his phone forever, he needs to be taught a lesson. Any help would be appreciated

chuckles1066

alias7 wrote: »

I honestly don't care if it kills his phone forever, he needs to be taught a lesson. Any help would be appreciated

In XP:

Start
Control Panel
System
Hardware
Device Manager
Universal Serial Bus Controllers

Right click on anything in there and hit Disable.

Done deal.

But bear in mind it'll kill anything you have that uses a USB port (printer, keyboard, monitor....).

I believe you can select which USB ports to disable but it's not immediately obvious which port relates to which listed controller and hub.

espresso

Why didn't you confiscate his phone or remove the SIM? No phone no need to charge on your PC.