Accidentally Disabled All USB Ports

[Nate122005]

Hello everyone. 

I was recently messing around with settings in the "press esc for startup menu" screen and I've made a big mistake. I was having problems with USB connectivity on my PC and so I thought going into the startup menu settings might help me find a solution. I went through the settings until I found one talking about USB ports. I stupidly thought to myself that if I were to disable all of them, restart my PC and re-enable them, it would fix my issue. Alas, it did not, and now all of my USB ports don't work. I can't press esc on the startup screen to change the settings (because the USB is disabled). Is there any way to fix this? Will a solution involve taking apart my PC? And if so, will that lead to loss of things like files currently on my PC? I would really appreciate any help.

Thanks, Nate

[itsmyname]

@Nate122005 -- Will a solution involve taking apart my PC?

Yes, at least "partially". 

Since you have a "desktop" computer, there should be a method to "reset the CMOS" to its default values, which will enable the USB ports. 

The CMOS stores the current values that you have set during BIOS SETUP, and the values in the CMOS can be "cleared".

This usually involves physical access to the motherboard, and then to move a small "jumper". 

The jumper usually connects a "pin #1" to "pin #2". Move the jumper to connect "pin #2" to "pin #3", to "clear" the CMOS. Move the jumper back to its previous location.

And if so, will that lead to loss of things like files currently on my PC?

No. If this possibility worries you, then disconnect the "power" and "data" cables from the disk-drive, as your first step, after removing the side-panel of the desktop's case. 

If the above process is not clear, and/or it intimidates you, take your computer to a computer technician, who is competent to "clear the CMOS".  Maybe just 30 minutes of their time will be invoiced to you.