Windows 7: USB devices stop responding while still powered.

Hello!
I am using Windows 7 64bit and M/B Gigabyte p67A D3-B3 (1155/ P67/ DD3). The problem happens randomly (I haven't managed to nail down a pattern when it happens or replicate it). Let's say it happens when running full-screen applications (games n stuff)

Without warning everything that's connected through a USB stops working. Mouse and Keyboard are in usb 3 slots (and are compatible) and headset in usb2 port. The devices are powered still normally and the computer still functions (for example, game of LoL still continues normally, I can see what other players do or type etc etc, but the usb devices are unresponsive - though powered)

Only solution till now is to reboot the PC (which of course is inconvenient to say the least) and wait for the next case to happen.

I've updated to the latest bios for my MoBo and downloaded the latest Usb3 drivers. Still there.

Any idea what's causing it?



Thanks for your time

Hello Deledhel. Welcome to the forum.

The first suspect is always "USB Selective Suspend" in these types of cases. That is what I would check first.

• Go to Start > Control Panel > Power Options
• For the Power Plan that you are currently using, click on "Change Plan Settings"
• Then click "Change Advanced Power Settings"
• In the Advanced Settings window, click the + sign next to "USB Settings", and then the + sign next to "USB Selective Suspend Setting"
• Then change that to "Disabled".

USB Selective Suspend is only useful on laptops. Rarely on a desktop.

Do you mind to explain what this will do ?

My usb ports start to act up too .

Thanks.

It will stop Windows from suspending USB connected devices into a "Standby Mode" in order to save power and extend run time when running on battery power.

Thanks for your reply TVeblen. I checked the Power Plan and the USB suspend is already disabled.

Could it be something related to hardware? Some tech here suggested it might be the PSU (which is a 550w one). However I really don't think so... All devices remain powered during each event...

Could it be something Bios related? Or even a malicious software - virus?

Cool . Thanks.

Just to test ....temporary turn off AV ..see if it help ...

The Avast IS sometimes block my my bluetooth mouse ..

Try different mouse ... Game mouse maybe ...?

Yes, it could be hardware related, or BIOS, or malware, or even the power supply (although that would not occur to me).

Tracking down the cause is just trial and error through a process of elimination. Start by working on the software side of things, since these do not cost money to test out.

Since we know that it is not Selective Suspend, you could then check the Power settings on the Properties tabs of each of the devices just to be sure they are not set to power off.

The next thing you could try is to reinstall the USB drivers in case they have been corrupted. You can do that by going into Device Manager and Uninstalling all of the USB devices listed under Universal Serial Bus Controllers and then restarting the computer. Windows will reinstall the drivers after startup.
(You could leave the drivers for known devices (USB 3.0 drivers for instance, or printers) for the first test.)

If you want to get more serious you could do this:
USB Driver - General Fix for Problems
Before or after the above test. (I never like to try 2 tests at once, it can complicate diagnosis)

Any problem associated with the BIOS would be with the settings there for your USB devices. Unless you are overclocking, have made changes to the BIOS settings manually, or flashed the BIOS recently then a change in settings is unlikely. But it never hurts to look.
You could try resetting to BIOS defaults as a test. Just be sure to note all of your current settings so you can re-set them back before booting into Windows (with the exception of any USB setting change you are testing, of course).

Malware is "easy". Run all the AV and anti-malware tests you can get your hands on. Don't forget Windows Defender and the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (Start > MRT.exe) also.

Lets see what you find with that stuff.