HP Pavilion dv6500 - USB Issue

[kflash08]

I recently picked up a very nice, hardly used HP Pavilion dv6500 from the recycling center (typing this post on it now). I'm running into a problem where the one USB port throws a "USB device not recognized" message in Windows Vista whenever I insert a USB flash drive. It will try to access the drive when I first insert it, but then gives up and throws the message. The other two USB ports on the computer work fine. I tried other USB flash drives as well and all experience the same issue. I have all the drivers installed and the BIOS is up-to-date. The affected USB port looks fine, with no obvious damage or use. I checked for continuity on the pins and traces, all of which check out to be OK. The affected USB port also appears to be non-functional outside of Windows as well, acting in a similar manner as described above. Not sure if something is bad on the board, though I am aware that the chipset used in these motherboards is prone to "chip creep", which usually causes the computer to not post. Mine must have been a revised board as there is a bead of epoxy around the chipset to help remedy that issue. Any suggestions or info would be helpful.

[kflash08]

Assuming that the hard drive was the original one that was shipped from the factory (has a HP part number on it), this computer has just under 1900 power on hours on it, going by the S.M.A.R.T. data of the hard drive. Most likely that's the case as the computer hardly has any wear on it, and was very clean. It's still baffling that the one USB port doesn't work, and on top of that, the caps lock light is burnt out as well.

[kflash08]

Any suggestions?