Troubleshooting USB Issues

Introduction

Occasionally you might plug in a USB device such as an
External Hard Drive, or a Flash Drive, or perhaps some kind of an input device
like a mouse or a keyboard into your computer, and nothing happens! The device
is not recognized, it simply doesn't work. How do you troubleshoot issues like
these and what are some of the telltale signs of a bad USB port?

Here are some common USB problems:

1)     
Physical damage

2)     
Software compatibility (drivers)

3)     
BIOS issues

4)     
CPU issues

5)     
Windows configuration issues

6)     
Other

So let's start with Physical
Damage since it's one of the most common reasons USB devices don't work. If
you are run into issues with any one of your devices, take a look inside of
your USB port. Chances are, you have other USB ports that you don't use as
frequently. You can look at them too, to determine what a healthy USB port
looks like. Then you should be able to tell if your non-working USB port has
any physical damage. For example, are any of the 4 pins bent? Is the plastic
spacer missing or broken? Does the USB port seem crooked or misaligned? If so,
that would be your source of the problem. USB ports pretty robust, considering
their frequent usage. However, they're not bulletproof. Any time that you're
forcing a device in, or pressing hard in any angle other than just straight in,
you'll likely damage your USB port over time. Although damaged USB ports can be
replaced with some meticulous soldering, it's not a common practice. Most
common practice is to replace the entire panel that provides USB (as well as
other ports). You can replace USB panels on various cases, by simply contacting
that case manufacturer, and should be able to send you a replacement panel, with
ports already on there.

Sometimes things aren't so easy. If the USB port is on the
motherboard itself, that would require replacement of the board. At that point
you would have to decide whether or not it's worth to purchase another board to
get full USB functionality.

One last thing to add about physical damage, it is that you
must stop using the usb port if
there if physical damage is present. If you notice that your port is damaged,
continuing to use it because it might “partially” work will likely lead to a
short which can kill your system, most likely the motherboard. USB ports
operate with about 5v of power, which isn't exactly enough to hurt you, but it
will most definitely hurt the components in your system.

Next likely problem could be Software Compatibility. In other words, if the manufacturer of your
device never made drivers for the operating system you're using, chances are
your device either won't function properly, or not at all. Makes sure that you
check operating system compatibility before you buy the device, that way you
know for sure it will work. Sometimes manufacturers may eventually release a
proper driver for an older device. In case you have any devices sitting around
you couldn't use, check their manufacturer page periodically and see if they
have released an updated version of the driver.

Now, if you're device worked fine at some point but no
longer functions, this is a different matter. It's no longer a compatibility
issue. However if the port is not damaged, then you should probably remove the
driver for the device, then re-install it from the manufacturer's website. This
should typically fix any issues that are driver related. Lastly, check your
device in other ports and if possible, other computers, to make sure it
actually works.

BIOS Issues can
also cause USB problems. USB 2.0 and 3.0 controllers reside on the motherboard
of your computer. Motherboard's BIOS effectively operates these units, and if
there is a stability issue, you will start to see some USB devices stop
working. The only workaround here other than replacing the motherboard, is to
update the BIOS revision to the most recent one. You can find BIOS updates on
the motherboard manufacturer's website. Keep in mind that BIOS flashing is a
risky procedure, and it's very important that you read all the safety
instructions in your motherboard manual. Failing to follow the proper steps can
result in a bad flash and a failed motherboard, which will no longer have a
warranty.

CPU Issues. These
problems are rare, but they do occur and one should look out for potential CPU
problems. USB data compression and decompression relies on CPU to do the work.
If for some reason CPU is failing, or perhaps it's overheating, then USB errors
are going to follow. Anything from data loss, corruption, to disconnecting
devices and freezing are very likely to occur. Make sure that your CPU cooler
is free flowing with no obstructions and that it is clean. If you need to test
your CPU for errors, you can do using programs such as Prime95 or
IntelBurnTest. You can also follow our CPU testing guide found here: http://avadirect.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2076

Windows Configuration
Issues will usually apply to mass storage devices such as external hard
drives, flash drives, SD and memory cards, etc. Sometimes when you plug in
these devices, you may get nothing on the screen and the folders will not show
up. There is usually a very simple solution to this problem. Typically Windows
needs to assign a drive letter to every drive that shows up, including external
mounted storage. If for some reason Windows was unable to assign a drive
letter, due to a possible conflict or some other issue, then your drive will
not show up. What you need to do in this case, is to assign a drive letter
manually.

To assign a drive letter manually, you need to go to Start
> right click on Computer > Choose Manage. In the Computer Management
window, on the left hand side you'll be looking for Disk Management. When you
click on it, it will take a few seconds to populate the data. All of your
disks, including the ones that aren't visible will show up with their appropriate
volumes. Look for the disk you plugged in but doesn't show up. You should be
able to see the volume, perhaps even the name such as (MY DATA) but not be able
to see it in explorer. All you have to do is right click on that volume >
choose Change Drive letter option. Here's where you can change or add new drive
letter. Once you give the drive a free letter, you can then restart the machine
and the drive should show up in the future.

There are also Other,
less common USB related issues. Motherboard failures, USB controller
failures are just a few of several that although rare, can sometimes occur and
cause USB problems. Sometimes internal damage to the ports can be present not
necessarily visible from the outside. Depending on how much care was taken in
using the USB port, it could've developed fractures on the inside of the board
resulting in a poor or no connection at all. Ultimately, the devices you're
plugging in could also be defective. If you have multiple computers, it's a
great idea to try the device in there as well, on multiple occasions. If you
can get consistent results on one device but not on the other, then you'll know
if the system needs further troubleshooting or not.

Overloading your ports can also result in poor USB
performance. If your motherboard has 8 USB ports, and all 8 are used up, with
several of them having external drives plugged into them, this can take a toll
on the performance and reliability of the USB controller. Try to minimize the
number of USB devices plugged in at any given time, and disconnect those
devices that aren't currently being used. If you rely on having many external
drives plugged in at all times, consider switching to internal drives or
purchasing a special, self-powered docking station.

Lastly, avoid using USB hubs. These devices split and weaken
the USB signal, therefore you either get slow performance, or devices would
just stop working. USB ports were not meant to be daisy chained off to multiple
devices per port. The signal as well as the needed power deteriorates as you
split it into multiple ports. 1-2 splits can sometimes be OK, but anything more
than that such as 4-port or 8-port hubs aren't going to work well for you. Some
hubs come with their own power adapter. While this is helpful to maintain the
strong power signal, the data signal remains weak. Best thing to do is avoid
these types of devices altogether. If you plan on using many USB devices, then
make sure the motherboard you choose will accommodate that.

This concludes our USB troubleshooting guide. We hope that
the information herein was helpful to you in order to diagnose problems with
your USB devices. If you have additional questions that may have not been
covered in this guide, feel free to post in the Help Desk section or contact
our support directly using the information below.