USB 3 issues

Re:USB 3 issues (YehiaSalahEldin)

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:44:48 GMT

Salam everyone,

I had the same issue of 4 ports not being recognized on my Gigabyte MB with EVGA display card. They were working fine, then I moved the computer and they stopped working, and I googled around and realized its an issue.

I will spare you the details, the bottom line is this (at least for me):
1- Turn off your PC.
2- Disconnect anything that is plugged into the VIA USB 3.0 ports.
3- UNPLUG it from power for a good 5 mins to release any charge (I pressed the power button a couple of times just for the heck of it).
4- Power up with everything unplugged still from the VIA 3.0 USB ports.
5- Log into Windows (for me at this point they all showed up in the device manager (run -> devmgmt.msc).
6- I decided (since I have the chance and already had downloaded them prior and they wouldn't install) to install the latest VIA drivers.
7- Plugged everything in and it worked without a glitch.

That was how I got mine back up and running.

The long version (well, only a couple of lines more) was that I didn't understand why these freaking ports would stop working on a system that was rock solid for 3 months. I know they had a warning not to plug anything in them before you install the driver, but the driver was already installed! The difference was that in those 3 months I never unplugged the PC even when it was off, and when I moved it I did unplug it and powered up with everything connected thinking that there wouldn't be a problem... 10 hours of messing around for this stupid glitch in the system... its MS-Win7 issue for sure, so I am hoping God willing Win8 will fix it once and for all... although I am not too crazy about metro so far...

Hope this helps

Salam

Re:USB 3 issues (stasio)

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:10:59 GMT

Guys,
attach your flash drive or any device in USB3 port first.
Then you can reupload drivers or reflash BIOS.

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=8893.0

Re:USB 3 issues (Max9R)

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:42:37 GMT

@tet5uo - I finally fixed my USB 3.0 problems by replacing my second failed Z68 FTW with a new Asus P8Z77 WS. It's been a few weeks now and everything works perfectly. No more drive disconnects, no messing around disabling and re-enabling the ports in the BIOS. To me it was well worth the $$$ just to get rid of the constant frustration.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:15:41 GMT

I had to RMA the first Z68 SLI I bought straight from EVGA, revison 1.1 but the second board I have although I went through a lot of trouble making sure that I did everything I could before I had a replacement sent to me and that the replacement was going to work.
Although I went through a lot of trouble the new motherboard I have Z68 SLI revision 1.1.1 I belive is completely working. I say that hesitently because the USB problem happened right away once, after that it hasn't happened since. There are no USB problems at all on the evga motherboard that I am using.
It was a lot of trouble but it is really nice that all that work seems finally over.

Re:USB 3 issues (tet5uo)

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:25:28 GMT

I'm just considering selling this crap board for cheap and moving to a gigabyte z77 instead. Tired of all the issues I've had with it.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:09:46 GMT

Oh so the device isn't there.
Are the drivers installed? In device manager under Universal Serial Bus controllers two drivers called Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller and Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Root Hub.
The second tip is the Renesas USB 3 drivers come with a utility that describes what firmware and driver version is installed. That utility is called USB 3.0 Host Controller Utility.
Make sure both of those are available if not reinstall the drivers, if the drivers don't install or say no device found something is wrong with the firmware.
If the USB 3.0 Host Controller Utility is available what version of firmware and drivers is installed in your system?

Re:USB 3 issues (norilink)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:28:26 GMT

but when i insert them to USB2 they are working with no problems

Re:USB 3 issues (norilink)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:26:51 GMT

i just used my flash ram or keyboard or mouse the hole USB3 still not working i don't use HHD through it :(

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:36:55 GMT

So you have 1.1.1 and USB 3 still isn't working that is really interesting. 1.1.1 has the new evga "E"s on the little square things?
Well I don't know but it is interesting that USB 3 isn't working, are you trying to use a USB 3 external HDD and boot it up when Windows starts up, or do other kinds of USB 3 devices not work?
Revision 1.1.1 is working a lot better for me but it froze once that was a day ago it hasn't froze since could be just fluke that it froze I belive some computers have to get broken in and sometimes they freeze just once then never freeze again.
But I am going to tell you this you should try to use the firmware for the USB 3 device that came factory installed because I am told by EVGA that you can void the warranty if you try different firmware.
I still don't know a sure fire way to fix it, the only things I know to try technically void the warranty.
I don't think EVGA knows either I have talked to them a lot but still it does help to try to call them because then they start to work on it.
My first idea is that you are using an external USB 3 HDD and I bet you are, I think that USB 3 external HDDs don't boot with Windows correctly yet it might be a lot of things like immiture drivers on the HDD or the USB 3 device.
The last thing my gues is that if you have messed around with erasing and reinstalling firmware (I'm not sure if this is the problem) but the firmware may get damaged and not work so the whole USB 3 device stops working. (brainstorming still)

But I bet you're using a USB 3 external HDD, it's those darn USB 3 external HDDs I don't think they should be like that, there may be some motherboard that USB 3 external HDDs work on and they may be some USB 3 external HDDs that work better on other motherboards.

Re:USB 3 issues (norilink)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:25:40 GMT

i had 1.1.1 version too

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:00:45 GMT

@ norilink
I RMAed my board and the new motherbard is revision 1.1.1 look and see if your motherboard is revision 1.1 if so I think it has a broken USB 3 device or design. The motherboard I have now is 1.1.1 and that seems to be working a lot better you might just have to RMA the motherboard and get revision 1.1.1.
It would be interesting to know what revision you have but 1.1.1 USB 3 is working a lot better now I'm not going to say it's fixed for a few more weeks or months of using it but I can honestly say it is working better so far after 3 or 4 days of testing.

Re:USB 3 issues (norilink)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:55:11 GMT

i had the same issues with usb3 can someone from evga stuff replay to us if there any solution ...

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:24:36 GMT

This all was working pretty fine and dandy until I plugged in USB2 devices to the USB3 ports, after a few minutes I lost all of the USB devices plugged into the USB3 ports and my computer froze when I shut down.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:34:22 GMT

How many users can test weather using only USB3 devices in the USB3 ports or only USB2 devices in the USB3 ports makes any difference; instead of both USB2 & USB3 devices being controlled on the USB3 controller.
Apparetnly USB3 controllers are further challenged if they have to controll USB2 & 3 devices.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:23:51 GMT

I don't know if this has anything to do with anyone elses rig, but I updated the firmware on my SSD why that has anything to do with plugging in USB3 devices makes my computer crash I don't know but I sucessfully booted up with out freezing and the USB3 external HDD successfully loaded all times.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 06:52:12 GMT

That's helpful, first off what motherboard do you have? Secondly have you flashed the USB3 firmware, and what USB3 driver is installed? I am currently troubeshooting/testing the problem, I have learned that USB3 drivers are a little more complicated to make than USB2 drivers. A temporary work around right now is to rely on the driver to do very little.
What I mean by that is you need to manually make your USB3 devices enumerate before relying on them. To enumerate the device means to unplug and replug the USB cable and power cable. The drivers are supposed to do that themselves but sense the drivers are the problem we have to do it manually.
Does your computer freeze or do devices just lose connection? Are there any error codes in the device manager on Device USB3 Host Controller or USB3 Hub?

Re:USB 3 issues (bill h)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 06:24:49 GMT

I am also having issues with 3.0. 3.0 will work sometimes then drop off. Thought about calling EVGA but decided not to cause there seems to be no fix yet. Wish EVGA would post and let us know what is going on.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:46:19 GMT

I have a question, How many of you having the problems with USB3 have both USB3 & USB2 periphrials connected to the blue USB 3 ports?

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:11:50 GMT

Everything is great I have USB 3.0 disabled, & I attatched the USB 2.0 + IEEE 1394 add-on device to make up for the lost ports with feniks' advice. No crashing all USB devices always work the external HDD is always there no problem. No I am going to be patient to see where USB 3.0 leads.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:07:43 GMT

Yes quite true, customer service is quite disshonest from EVGA, a waste of energy and money to RMA baords all the time with no posative result.

Re:USB 3 issues (feniks)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:52:42 GMT

yeah, I agree, RMA is not a solution if new replacement boards have the exact same defect. firmware is bad and needs to get fixed, probably on reference level first, then adapted by specific chip vendors ... oh well, that's what happens with fairly new technologies sometimes.
I think the PC world rushed the USB 3.0 standard, because they wanted to play a role in the market still after Apple released their amazing Thunderbolt standard ... we all are now paying the price of rushed underdeveloped technology.

my advice to EVGA would be to stop RMA'ing boards having this problem, because it doesn't make any sense (same problems return) and focus on improving the firmware and testing it with vendors, on both SLI/NEC and FTW/VIA models.

hopefully they respond officially about that, I hate being kept in the dark, even bitter truth (no solution yet) is better than no answer at all in this case.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:48:05 GMT

The reason I am not falling into their RMA trap is because I was sucked into RMAing a 750i back when that was the greatest thing and Vista was the newest OS because SLI wouldn't work EVGA even told me it was the brand of the video cards because I didn't have EVGA video cards they were XFX. I regreted paying the price to RMA my first awesome motherboard that I put my heart and soal into assembling.
They never give you enough information about why they want you to RMA they just say "Well I don't know I just think and I can just guess that ... " I hate that, I'm just not afraid to put up with it for components that have the best affordablity and performance etc.
If it's not just EVGA boards that have this problem which it isn't who knows what could come of this issue but it's not worth overhauling my PC over it until some of the professionals or manufacturers know exactly what the deal is.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:37:03 GMT

Oh yah thanks.
I have read a forum of Asus board users having the exact same problem with the same USB device who knows what it is maybe an underdeveloped new technology. I linked to it somwhere amongst all of my replies. So it's not just EVGA whatver big deal I just hope if I wait long enough there could be a fix with software from in my case Renesas in FTW owners case VIA however it works. That's my last thought what fun troubleshooting with freezing and BSODs on a new PC for months and months with the only advice from the vendros to replace the board.

Re:USB 3 issues (feniks)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:31:04 GMT

bmxjumperc

I have decided to shut off USB 3.0 in the BIOS. I am going to use it like this I have a 4 port USB 2.0 Hub connected to make up for the lost ports and use it like this until it's resolved else how.
Meanwhile I am going to shop for Gigabyte boards and research for similar USB 3.0 problems.

you could also connect 1 more usb 2.0 header from MB to the pci slot bracket (comes in package), may need to extend the USB wires though, amazon sells those usb 2.0 header extenders (around $10+s/h for a pair)

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:10:53 GMT

I have decided to shut off USB 3.0 in the BIOS. I am going to use it like this I have a 4 port USB 2.0 Hub connected to make up for the lost ports and use it like this until it's resolved else how.
Meanwhile I am going to shop for Gigabyte boards and research for similar USB 3.0 problems.

Re:USB 3 issues (feniks)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:02:16 GMT

Max9R

Yeah maybe, mine was fine as long as nothing was plugged into it... a lot of good that does! hehe...

hehe, yeah this workaround seems to have a 100% success rate. I do not plug in any devices in usb 3.0 and it's still listed in device manager (works then) haha

Re:USB 3 issues (Max9R)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:15:13 GMT

Yeah maybe, mine was fine as long as nothing was plugged into it... a lot of good that does! hehe...

Anyway, looks like I'm back in the permenant device error mode again. All the old "fixes" no longer work. I haven't heard from Matt about what I can do with that firmware flash that doesn't work...

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:46:18 GMT

I am wondering if it has something to do with voltage because if more than one device is plugged in when I am booting up there isn't a chance they will work, there is more of a chance if only one device is connected. I wonder if there is a voltage control to USB 3.0 on the Z68 SLI?

Re:USB 3 issues (Max9R)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:17:12 GMT

RMA didn't help me. I would agree with bmxjumperc, I don't think they're trying very hard. In both my cases the problem took a week or so to start, from there it was random for a bit, then got progressively worse. In both cases I noticed USB problems first, then stability problems followed. I'm now getting issues with random lockups, just like the first board.

With respect to the WD external drives... In my case I happen to be using a Western Digital. I thought about that as a possible issue early on (when I first got it), however it does appear to work perfectly fine with my other remaining USB 3.0 boards boards (both Gigabyte), and it does seem to work fine on the USB 2.0 ports with my EVGA board. Also, that wouldn't explain why my USB 3.0 VIA controller ends up with a device error 10 in device manager (device fails to start), and why on my first board the ports finally failed completely and would no longer appear at all in Windows. I did have the device error again last night and had to do my backups using the USB 2.0 ports (more on that below).

I'm also starting to wonder about SATA issues with this board too though. I just lost my SSD RAID array this morning. One of the drives is completely blank. That's two now in two days, yesterday my boot drive now today this one. I'm not overclocked at all at the moment either, and haven't been for over a week while I've been trouble shooting this crap. As mentioned above, I did a backup last night before I shutdown, I'm sure glad I did that!

I'm pretty much at the point where I'm going to start shopping for a new board but I think I'll wait until the Asus ROG Z77 board is out, or to see what Gigabyte will offer in a UD7.

Re:USB 3 issues (bmxjumperc)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:38:37 GMT

That is why I held off RMAing so long, I started an RMA last week and canceled it two days ago. EVGA said that before they were sending a replacement to me they flagged it for testing the USB problem. I am being patient I need to call and find out if they have been able to reproduce the problem in a few days, I made a big deal about being a part of the communication of the results of the testing.
I've always tried to tell the forums to have more faith in their hardware they already have before they RMA; EVGA has a reasonable RMA system that doesn't mean do it all the time, even though EVGA tech support will ask you to. I am confident this can get resolved by either EVGA or Renesas (in my case) if they can communicate about comming to a resolution together.