Windows 7: USB 3.0 Device Driver software not installing

My laptop (Dell Inspiron 17R N7710) isn't recognizing usb 3.0 devices. I've tried an ADATA S102 Pro flash drive and a Seagate external harddrive (don't know specifics, it was my friends), and have tested it on his laptop too, so it's not a product deficiency. I've attempted updating drivers but that hasn't helped. With the initial update of the Renesas driver, it recognized my device for less than a minute, and then disappeared. The device does work on my 2.0 slot.




RENESAS/NEC Drivers & Firmwares
I used the first link on that site to update my drivers as it appeared to be the most recent, I also updated my chipset to see if that would help. Really at a loss as to what to do. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Just let me know what other information I can provide to better help you help me.

Have tried the drivers that Dell recommend?
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

Yes, those were the first drivers I tried, they didn't work so I looked for more updated ones.

Download the drivers from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...?DwnldID=19880
Extract the zip file and install using Setup.
If that doesn't work, manually install the drivers from the device manager.

They may not be the most up to date drivers but I would expect they are drivers that Dell have tested.
Have your USB 3 ports worked in the past?
Of course you could have a hardware fault. Is the PC still in warranty?

Those were the original drivers I had, did not work. I tried uninstalling my drivers and trying those again, still did not work. It will initially detect my flash drive, but then after about a minute it will attempt to install driver device software and fail, at the same time my screen flashes black. To my knowledge, the ports have never worked with any 3.0 devices. 2.0 devices work perfectly fine on there. As for my warranty, it expired recently.

Dell may be generous.

2.0 devices have apparently stopped working now. I guess I will contact dell tomorrow.