Solved Funky USB device recognition issue

[Chakonari]

Side note: I am aware that trying a fresh install of Windows is one solution, but in this case really the last thing I want to do.

After moving house and plugging my USB devices into different ports, I had to 'reinstall' Windows (Upgrade install so I didn't have to reinstall all my other software) as it would not recognise anything except for an old USB keyboard I had never used on this PC before.

Before the upgrade install I tried the steps for deleting all (hidden) USB drivers/devices/ports (lots of crap accumulated over the years) but that did not change anything(aside from Windows reinstalling stuff) - hence the upgrade install.

My USB keyboard and Mouse (plugged in directly) as well as USB Midi Keyboard (via powered USB Hub) now work without issues.

However my USB audio interface stops working after a few minutes. Level meters on screen show sound playing, but no output. I can stop and restart playback - same problem. If I unplug the device and plug it back in, Windows does not recognise it - before that it is still listed correctly in the device manager with no errors showing. It works again when Windows is restarted.

If I plug the device into a port on the PC, device not recognised - so it only works intermittently on the hub.

I have another USB audio interface that displayed the same problem (and I also needed an upgrade in functionality) but is more than 10 years old, which is why I got the new one.

The error occurs both with the Windows USB audio driver and the manufacturer's driver.

The only thing I could find was: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2484031

As I don't have a restore point, I unsinstalled the update and let Windows Update do the update again (it downloaded the newer 2014 version) but the issue remains

 

[Chakonari]

@ fireberd. Many thanks for taking the time to respond.

Unfortunately your suggestions do not apply (see my original post for reason... I did mention the device manager...)

I can understand why you might not want to connect several audio devices to one hub (I have keyboard and mouse plugged in directly because I sometimes play games), but multiple devices on one hub is not always a bad thing and I had no issues with this configuration for years.

As to ""Safely Remove Hardware", afaik this only applies to USB storage devices to ensure that there is no cached data that still needs to be written to the USB device.

 

[Chakonari]

Long story short, looks like aside from the initial problem with Windows, I also have a problem with cables that did not manifest themselves before. Could also be that I have more mains interference in my new place.

So I will look at every electro/mechanical element and apply best practice and see (I have had uninterrupted audio since moving things around a bit last night)

 

[jumanji]

Where is fireberd's posts here? deleted?????

 

[Chakonari]

Where is fireberd's posts here? deleted?????

Yeah dunno. I replied and the next time I came back it was gone - makes me look like I was imagining things... .

Everything has been working for a couple of weeks now. I found that my problems were:

1. Having plugged in too many different USB devices over time messed things up. Deleting all hidden, non-connected devices and the actual hubs solved this problem. - there are detailed tutorials on how to do this.

2. Dodgy connectors. Most likely some of my USB cable plugs suffered from oxidation but are not completely gone. i.e. the points that had been making contact were clean but the rest not. So a particular plug would only work when plugged into the socket it was in before and of course only if pushed in the correct way. Bit like lock and key - This is the the only way I can explain the random errors that had been driving me crazy.

Mystery solved.