Thumb drive not recognized in two of three ports

I have read through this entire thread, and I have a quick suggestion to make before the OP attempts a BIOS update. Have you checked all the settings in the BIOS to make sure that all the USB ports are enabled? I've encountered this problem many times while working on customer computers. If I'm stepping on your toes at all Maxie, just say the word and I'll keep my suggestions to myself.


Sometimes desktop PC's will even have the USB header jumpers closed/open for certain USB ports that need to be enabled/disabled manually.

Hi Torah, Thanks for the suggestion and please keep them coming. I am a real novice at diagnostics so please bear with me.
As need to get over apprehension of making changes as always worried I'll make a fatal error.I will google how to check bios settings and let you know what I find.Thanks so much,Randy
; Some other things I have done (with trepidation) which has NOT fixed problem:Uninstalled all Host Controllers in Device Manager then rebooted to reinstallDeleted all unused drivers (must have been 50 to 75 of themWent to my computers website to update all drivers then verified with Intel download site for their components Can't remember exactly how I did it but set power to be always on to USB ports</p>

Entered Bios but under Advanced was no mention of USB. So used REGEDIT to make sure setting value was 3 in services USBSTOR which should enable the USB ports.

May be resigned that this is a hardware problem rather than software. Also checked in DevMgr to make sure that the root hubs were all enabled.

mrbookend said:

Entered Bios but under Advanced was no mention of USB.

Enabling those USB ports may not be under "Advanced" though. Go through the entire BIOS thoroughly to make sure all USB ports are enabled. It may be in the "Integrated peripherals" settings. That is usually the case. Let me know if you find some USB settings that are disabled. If so, go ahead and enable them.

mrbookend said:

So used REGEDIT to make sure setting value was 3 in services USBSTOR which should enable the USB ports.

I would discourage you from messing around with the Windows registry unless you know exactly what you are doing. There is nothing in the registry that is relevant to this problem anyway.

mrbookend said:

May be resigned that this is a hardware problem rather than software. Also checked in DevMgr to make sure that the root hubs were all enabled.

Were they enabled? Don't give up yet, we just started the diagnostics. Have a little patience, we will get it figured out.

maxie said:

Hi Torah I welcome any ones help :)

Okay, thanks. Just wanted to check and make sure you were cool with some additional help. I ran into a guy the other day that got offended at me for having a difference in opinion. I need to argue with people over IT issues like I need a hole in my head....LOL

In a last final effort to ensure that I have dead ports, I downloaded UBUNTU and ran from USB stick on my one good USB port. Ubuntu also wouldn't recognize a device plugged into the two ports on left side. Guess I'll live with one port. Hopefully, it doesn't die. Thanks for help..

Don't sell yourself short: Solving what is working was as important as figuring out what wasn't working. Thanks for helping me and others.