Windows 8.1 Pro - Windows Update messed up USB 3.0 on laptop!

Great suggestion............. but unfortunately it didn't seem to work.  When I booted up my Lenovo laptop this morning I was back to the point that after the 15 minute period the USB 3 ports went off again.  BUT, this time I couldn't get them back trying to refresh the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft) driver as I could yesterday.

It was from that point that I tried your idea.  I'm curious, what happens when, after power down, you hold the power button for 5 seconds.  My laptop started to boot right away and then turned off right away as you said.  I'm conjecturing, if I can back to the state where I could reset the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft) driver to a good state, and then immediately do this, maybe I could fix this damn thing.

But at this point, I'm wondering what voodoo chants I might need to include in the process.

'sorry, but I got a bit lost in your description of re-flashing my Intel ME Firmware.  You know a whole lot more than I do.  And..... I appreciate your time in trying to help out.

rick8864

Please check the device manager and see if the controller is listed and whether it has any error code.

-Eliyas

Hi -

I think I am having a similar problem with my Lenovo G580 Windows 8.1 laptop.  Here's what I submitted on Lenovo forums, maybe there will be a thread of insight for you.

Hi -

I hope I'm in the right place now for my G580 Windows 8.1 laptop.

A few weeks ago (I think after a Windows update) my USB 3 ports stopped working after about 15 minutes.  Reconnecting the devices doesn't help, only a reboot will.  At that point, I get another 15 minutes, then USB 3 ports stop working again.

I've refreshed USB drivers, installed and removed Windows updates, I've been at this for 3 days now.  Here's one new discovery.  If you go to Windows+X key, choose Device Manager, choose Universal Serial Bus Controllers, Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft) you get a multi-tabbed menu.  From this, choose Driver, Update Driver.., Browse My Computer for Driver Software and then install.  The driver reinstalls, the ports start working again for as long as the system is on (no timeout)!  But, when you reboot, you're back to square one and the 15 minutes timeout again.

I think I'm getting close.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

Rick8864,

Hey! Actually you are getting warmer! Look, I have looked deeper into the possible causes of this problem... And I came across a promising solution! It seems you have to RESET the EC Firmware... It forms part of the BIOS. To do this follow these steps:

1. Power off your laptop completely.
2. Push & Hold down the power button for 5 seconds. It will start to boot and turn off right away.
3. Unplug the power adapter and remove the battery for 20 minutes.
4. Power on and go straight into the BIOS (F2, F8 or which ever one works for your manufacturer)
5. Press F9 to load Optimized Settings, then F10 yo save and exit.

Now that should fix the issue... If not, then you should also look into flashing your Intel ME Firmware... I would first recommend that you completely uninstall Intel Management Engine Interface from Programs and Features... Reboot and instal the latest Intel MEI drivers, reboot again and see if all is fixed... You should do this after the EC Firmware reset... That's what worked for me... But I also had to disable 2 xHCI HS ports in my unlocked BIOS... By design xHCI Controller is set up with Port Switching... And it causes the 2.0 controller to route devices to the 3.0 Controller... Hope this helps! Let me know please!

Thanks for your post.  My Lenovo laptop has two USB 3 ports and one USB 2 port.  The USB drive or any other device won't connect to the two USB 3 ports once they time out.  Through all this ordeal, I can plug in my USB hard drive into the USB 2 port (or any other device) and it connects just fine.  When the USB 3 ports have timed out/disconnected, I can plug anything into them and I get a USB failed message.  But, as I said earlier, if I then update the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft)  driver in Device Manager it all comes back....................... until I turn off the computer and turn it on again.  Then, the timeout of USB 3 ports comes back.

I have reported all of this to the Lenovo site and heard nothing back.  But, in reading other posts over the last 3 days from multiple sites, its' the typical blame game.......... "it's Intel's fault" "it's Lenovo's fault" "it's Microsoft's fault" ad nauseam.

But, thank you again for your reply.

rick8864

Hi,

Plug in the USB drive into all USB ports and check the status.

Plug in the USB drive into a 2.0 USB port and check the status.

Further, you may contact the computer manufacturer support to update the chip set drivers. Once this is done check if the issue persists.

Thank you.