An office worker is experiencing issues connecting external devices to their laptop using a port replicator. The external keyboard and mouse are unresponsive, however, the monitor connected through the replicator is displaying without issue. What is the MOST likely reason for this problem?
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Reset the network settings on the laptop to ensure peripheral connectivity.
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Perform a full malware scan to ensure the issue is not caused by malicious software.
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Verify that the USB connections from the port replicator to the laptop are secure and the ports are not damaged.
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Reinstall the drivers for the keyboard and mouse on the laptop.
The reason the answer involving checking the USB connections from the port replicator to the laptop is correct is that it acknowledges a common point of failure when peripherals such as keyboards and mice don't function while the display does. In many port replicators, video output uses different transmission protocols and pathways (like HDMI or DisplayPort), which can work even if USB channels fail. As for the incorrect answers: reinstalling drivers wouldn't suddenly make selective peripherals work, resetting the network settings wouldn't affect directly connected peripherals, and checking for malware wouldn't be the first line of response for a hardware connectivity issue in such a targeted scenario.
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What is a port replicator and how does it differ from a docking station?
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What are USB connections, and why are they important for peripheral devices?
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What steps can I take to troubleshoot USB connectivity issues?