Boot problem with USB connected

I did not have this problem when running XP 32bit version, but am having the problem on both Win7 32bit and 64bit.

Machine:
Gigabit 965P-S3
Intel Quad Core
2GB RAM DDR2

I have 10 powered DLink USB Hubs connected, the hubs are daisy chained together to a single connection to the PC. There are a total of 32 devices connected to the USB Hubs, plus the keyboard and mouse, and a GPIB device; so roughly 35 USB Devices connected to the machine. The keyboard, mouse, and GPIB are connected directly to the machine, not through an external hub.

If I attempt to boot this machine with the Hubs connected, the machine will get past the "Starting Windows" screen, and display a mouse cursor, but that's as far as it goes. It will remain there forever. The mouse & keyboard never become active. I have to reboot the machine, unplug the Hub connection, let the machine boot, log in, then plug in the Hub link, and everything is happy.

I cannot figure out what is going on, like I said, XP did not have this problem. I am guessing it has to do with the plug-n-play process or something. I have left the machine sitting for days, hoping it would eventually come up, but it does not. It still just sits with a black screen and a mouse cursor. I have more than one machine doing this, identical machines, one running 32bit, one running 64bit.

Any ideas?

Unusual arrangement you have.

You could try increasing the poll time and see if that helps.

Registry Key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CCS\Control\PnP\PollBootPartitionTimeout

Registry Value: 30000

Its a testing station at work, each device has to be connected via a USB-to-Serial cable from FTDI. It was the only way we could hook everything up to one machine, there aren't many options for hubs with more than 7 ports out there. At least there weren't a few years ago.

Made the change you suggested and it still just sits at the black screen after the splash screen, doesn't ever make it to the log in prompt. The mouse never becomes active. Driving me nuts. I do not want to go back to XP, it was giving me other problems, but at least I could boot.

You could check the bios. Look for settings that may have an impact. Just record any existing settings before you change them. Here's a download link to your bios manual. Pages 37 & 38 look like a good place to start:

GA-965P-S3 (rev. 3.3) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - Manual

James

You might try changing USB 2.0 setting from HiSpeed to FullSpeed.

Legacy Support already disabled.
Turned off a bunch of stuff in the BIOS in hopes of it helping, still a no go.
Not sure how to adjust from HiSpeed to FullSpeed, where is that setting, as I do not see it in the BIOS.