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

Help, the Windows update on the 8th of June knackered my touchscreen and USB functionality (including the xHCI driver) on my brand new laptop.

Rolling back does not fix it and although I've managed to get the mouse working again it has very limited functionality with no scroll wheel and this is one of the newer Microsoft mice so its not out of support.

Everything was working correctly before the update and came with 8.1 installed so its not like I was the victim of a problematic upgrade, my desktop machine has experienced no such problems so I'm thinking this is to do with the components of the laptop motherboard somewhere.

My machine is a Dell 7737 17" with core i5 4210, I'm not willing to let the Dell idiots into my machine as they always say upgrade the BIOS (mine is at the latest version) or do a factory reinstall (yeah right that would fix it until the next update ran and broke it again!).

I'm pretty savvy with fixing software and update issues but this one seems very hard to nail down, device manager says that I have an Unknown Touchscreen (well it knew what it was before the update on the 8th!) and the transciever for my mouse is not functioning.

Hi Mauricio,

'sorry I didn't reply sooner.  Yes, I had checked the post you mentioned, unfortunately it didn't help my situation.  They mention an update: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2919355.  I made sure I installed this one, the problem persists.

I have figured out enough work-arounds for this that I'm must living with the problem.  The best thing for me to do it after booting the computer up, wait about 15 minutes, then connect a USB 3 hard drive.  It will remain connected until the computer is turned off.  If you connect the USB 3 hard drive any sooner, it times out and disconnects.

Thanks again for your reply.

Rick

Hi J.S.Inigo -

Thanks for the further details on flashing Intel ME Firmware.  I'll check out www.win-raid.com.  I've been at this heavy for days now, I think I'll take a break before looking further.

Two things -

1)  I have 2 USB-3 ports, 1 USB-2 port on my Lenovo laptop.  I've discovered that I can get the USB 3 ports to not time out if I plug in a USB-2 device (a Sansa Clip+) into one USB-3 port.  Then, with my USB 3 hard drive connected to the other one, they remain on.  After the initial 15 minute period, I can then plug in a second USB 3 hard drive and both will remain on.  Kind of clumsy, but at least it's a work-around.

2)  Many threads I've read on this problem say they started having problems with USB-3 timeouts as soon as they upgraded to Windows 8.1  That isn't what happened to me.  I upgraded to 8.1 last fall and it's been running fine.  This problem only started happening a week ago after a Windows Update (I think).  Going to earlier restore points didn't help.

Thanks again so much for all your help.  I'll post an update when I'm ready to wrestle with this problem some more.

rick8864

Hi Rick,

Have you checked this post?

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usbcoreblog/archive/2013/11/01/help-after-installing-windows-8-1-my-usb-drive-disappears-or-file-transfers-stop-unexpectedly-r-a-post-title.aspx

I read your posts and I started searching on my bookmarks ... finally found this post.

There's sth related to devices getting into a SUSPEND mode.

I hope this helps ...

Regards, Mauricio.

Hi J.S.Inigo -

Thanks for the further details on flashing Intel ME Firmware.  I'll check out www.win-raid.com.  I've been at this heavy for days now, I think I'll take a break before looking further.

Two things -

1)  I have 2 USB-3 ports, 1 USB-2 port on my Lenovo laptop.  I've discovered that I can get the USB 3 ports to not time out if I plug in a USB-2 device (a Sansa Clip+) into one USB-3 port.  Then, with my USB 3 hard drive connected to the other one, they remain on.  After the initial 15 minute period, I can then plug in a second USB 3 hard drive and both will remain on.  Kind of clumsy, but at least it's a work-around.

2)  Many threads I've read on this problem say they started having problems with USB-3 timeouts as soon as they upgraded to Windows 8.1  That isn't what happened to me.  I upgraded to 8.1 last fall and it's been running fine.  This problem only started happening a week ago after a Windows Update (I think).  Going to earlier restore points didn't help.

Thanks again so much for all your help.  I'll post an update when I'm ready to wrestle with this problem some more.

rick8864

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

Hello Rick8864!

Sorry my suggestion didn't help you out... Check out www.win-raid.com and there you will find info on flashing your Intel ME Firmware. There you can also find the latest Intel MEI drivers too! That forum is incredible! You see Win8.1 is structured differently than 8... Additionally your BIOS may be limiting full Win8.1 drivers... At least that's what I've concluded... Hence everyone's mysterious issues when upgrading to 8.1 on a rig that was only designed for and up to Win8... I blame the OEM and MS for rushing 8.1...

Anyways, I recommend the Intel MEI Firmware & drivers method... Btw, the EC Firmware reset has uo do with resetting the BIOS Energy Config... Thus intended to correct your USB time-out and maintain the settings even after rebooting... Could you please provide me with additional details about your laptop... Do you have any OEM "bloatware" installed? Having to do with Power or specialized system controls and settings? Also try disabling USB Selective Suspend from the Power Plan settings as well as PCI Experess ASPM and Link Power Management to off... Keep me posted and I will do my best to help you resolve your issue!