BSOD Random crashes - Bugcode_USB_Driver_Error 0x000000FE

I have been experiencing BSOD random crashes for about 2/3 weeks now. Steps I have taken:

New motherboard installed by Dell
All drivers updated and checked by Dell
Hard drive checked for errors - none found
Drivers checked for latest - all up to date
All USB drivers uninstalled and restart to ensure latest

Other notes: hard drive working overtime since new motherboard went in - possibly coincidence and probably not relevant as problem was already there!

I cannot resolve this. There is no pattern. The machine crashes randomly - even when I'm not using it! I am not using the USB ports apart from HTC phone - but it crashes whether it's plugged in or not. I have uninstalled HTC software.

I really don't want to wipe down my laptop (1 year old) unless I absolutely have to because I don't know if it will resolve the problem anyway. I would really appreciate any help you can give me.

I have a Dell Vostro 130.

I attach the file that I got from the SF Diagnostics Tool, thank you!

Many thanks in advance for any help. This problem is driving me INSANE!

Better hit the Submit button before it crashes again!


Chris

Forgot to mention, I updated the BIOS as well, although it was up to date already. I also rolled back as soon as the problem started but it made no difference. There is also some intermittent clunking noises like something has been plugged into the USB port and it hasn't.

Update: I looked through the other similar issues and went through the process of removing all the hidden drivers. For a few hours I thought it might be sorted but it then started crashing again - so this has not resolved the problem for me. Any help you can give me on what is causing this would be really appreciated. If I have to wipe down my laptop I can and will but it might be a sledgehammer approach to a problem that could reoccur if I don't know what caused it in the first place! Thanks again.

still looking for a solution if anyone has any thoughts....?

Code:

BugCheck FE, {8, 6, 5, fffffa8008981160}

Probably caused by : usbhub.sys ( usbhub!UsbhHubProcessChangeWorker+ec )

Code:

Usual causes:  USB device driver

Check for any corrupted or missing protected Windows files with System File Checker, this will attempt to repair any files from within the operating system if possible:

• SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot

What AV program are you using? I couldn't find any instances of any from your .NFO file, run full scans with:

• Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
• Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller

Install the free version of Malwarebytes not the free trail; untick the free trail box during installation.

Some programs and drivers can conflict with each other when they are both launched at startup together, reduce the programs at startup to avoid any possible conflict, usually only your real-time protection AV program is needed:

• Startup Programs - Change

Hi - thanks for your response. I am using PC Tools Spyware Dr. I will try the scan thanks and get back

Hello again. I ran the scan with Malwarebytes. It found 4 problems (I did copy the logs but lost them on reboot!). On reboot I scanned again and nothing found. I haven't downloaded the others because I am already running Anti-virus - it isn't always acknowledged in Windows and this might have been the case when I sent the logs. I have also removed everything from startup other than Spyware Dr and Dropbox. I will run this and see how it goes - I will know soon enough because it crashes very regularly - at least 5 times tonight! If it crashes (which I fear it will) I will make a boot disk and try the other option.

I have a feeling I might have to reinstall everything but would really know what's causing it before I go down that route.

Thanks so much for your help with this - it's much appreciated.

What isn't always acknowledged? Run a scan with TDSS, it's a anti-rootkit on demand scanner and is a very quick process, and did you check the Malwarebytes quarantine history?

If you open Malwarebytes, then there is a Logs tab which will have folder path for your .txt files, and will give you the results of the scan.

Your welcome :)

Yes sometimes my machine tells me there is no a-virus installed and you have to just tell it that there is - I think this is quite normal - it has happened on other machines but it is installed and running. I didn't check the history - didn't occur to me to do that and now I have uninstalled it having run it - I am getting paranoid about anything installed on my laptop at the moment! I will run a scan with TDSS as well and report back, thank you.

So far so good. It did not reboot over night which it would do normally - I don't have to be using it for it to crash! the other thing I have noticed (when it was crashing) is that it doesn't always manage to restart. I just get a black screen and I have to keep switching it off and back on again to get it going. Also, when it goes into sleep mode (I have taken this off now), it doesn't always come out of sleep. Normally closing the lid would cause a crash.

I haven't used it much today and out for most of the day but will monitor it over the next day or so. If it doesn't crash (and I do not dare to hope!), then I think it might have been something in the start-up files. I did occasional (on reboot) get an 'unknown device' pop up but my devices are clean and I cleaned out all the hidden ones too.

I will definitely keep you posted and plan going through this systematically because I really want to know what has actually caused this. So many threads here but no enough that discuss the eventual fix so I will report back whether it's fixed or not. Again, thank you for your support.

The other thing I have noticed since cleaning out Start-up and doing the Malware scan is that my hard drive doesn't appear to be working overtime, although it did have periods of settling down. As I said, I do not dare to hope right now because I have been a couple of days now when I have thought all was well and then BANG, it's gone again. It is completely random which makes it difficult to diagnose. Outlook has been temperamental for a while so am going to reinstall this in the next few days - although I think this is coincidental and nothing to do with the issue.