my mouse works in all 5 usb ports, including the one that the U3 was plugged in to. i've tried the U3 in the two on the right side of my laptop, and one on the left, haven't tried it in the USB/E SATA port yet
System Manufacturer/Model Number Alienware M17X-R2 OS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1 CPU Intel Core i7 720QM @ 1.60 GHz Motherboard Alienware A10 Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Sound Card ATI High Definition Audio Device Screen Resolution 1440x900
Mouse Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 Cooling Cooler Master NotePal U3 Hard Drives 313GB Western Digital WDC WD3200BEKT-75F3T0 (SATA)
SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB USB 3.0
I'm guessing that the U3 isn't working no matter which USB port you're using. I'd contact Cooler Master customer support rather than risking damage to your laptop. There's a Live Help link at the bottom of the page that gets you to customer support.
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number Sony Vaio VPCEB47GM Laptop OS Win 7 Pro 64-bit CPU Intel i5 2.4 Ghz Memory 8GB DDR3 Graphics Card Intel HD 3000 Sound Card IDT High Definition Monitor(s) Displays 15.6 WGXA Anti-Glare LED Screen Resolution 1280x800
Hard Drives 640Gb 7200rpm Antivirus MSE Browser Opera (primary) with IE9 backup
System Manufacturer/Model Number Alienware M17X-R2 OS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1 CPU Intel Core i7 720QM @ 1.60 GHz Motherboard Alienware A10 Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Sound Card ATI High Definition Audio Device Screen Resolution 1440x900
Mouse Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 Cooling Cooler Master NotePal U3 Hard Drives 313GB Western Digital WDC WD3200BEKT-75F3T0 (SATA)
SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB USB 3.0
Please let us know what Cooler Master has to say so others can benefit from your experiences. FWIW, I have a U2 that I'm using with an older Dell Inspiron 1300 and a U3 I'm using with a Sony Vaio. Both have worked very well for me. I guess there's always a chance of getting a lemon.
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number Sony Vaio VPCEB47GM Laptop OS Win 7 Pro 64-bit CPU Intel i5 2.4 Ghz Memory 8GB DDR3 Graphics Card Intel HD 3000 Sound Card IDT High Definition Monitor(s) Displays 15.6 WGXA Anti-Glare LED Screen Resolution 1280x800
Hard Drives 640Gb 7200rpm Antivirus MSE Browser Opera (primary) with IE9 backup
System Manufacturer/Model Number Alienware M17X-R2 OS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1 CPU Intel Core i7 720QM @ 1.60 GHz Motherboard Alienware A10 Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 Sound Card ATI High Definition Audio Device Screen Resolution 1440x900
Mouse Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 Cooling Cooler Master NotePal U3 Hard Drives 313GB Western Digital WDC WD3200BEKT-75F3T0 (SATA)
SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex 1TB USB 3.0
Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number [May-Dec-2012] - New Mid-tower - (is done!) OS Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 CPU Ivy Bridge Core i5 K Motherboard Asus H77 Chipset (ATX) Memory G.Skill DDR3 PC3-12800 (16Gb) Graphics Card Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X Oc Sound Card SBXi-Fi Xtreme Audio (w/5.1 sound system) Monitor(s) Displays Asus Led 21,5" Screen Resolution 16/9
Keyboard Razer + Razer gamepad Mouse Razer PSU 700w 80+ Gold (ErP 6 ready) Case Cooler Master Silencio 550-v2 (modded) Cooling Gelid Solutions (PWM Push/pull Fans) Hard Drives Internal:
500Go Sata 6Gb/s (x2)
500Go Sata 3Gb/s (x2)
SSD 60Go Sata 6Gb/s Antivirus MSE 4.2 Browser IE10 Rtm
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number Sony Vaio VPCEB47GM Laptop OS Win 7 Pro 64-bit CPU Intel i5 2.4 Ghz Memory 8GB DDR3 Graphics Card Intel HD 3000 Sound Card IDT High Definition Monitor(s) Displays 15.6 WGXA Anti-Glare LED Screen Resolution 1280x800
Hard Drives 640Gb 7200rpm Antivirus MSE Browser Opera (primary) with IE9 backup