Unstable USB 3.0 port

skifer

New Member
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Unstable USB 3.0 port in w8.1

Hi

I'm trying to connect my SSD to USB3.0 using an "adapter cable" (2.5" SATA HDD to USB 3.0)
The connection is however "unstable" going on/off/on/off in my Disk Management. Switching to USB 2 , the instability vanish

Searching this forum I see others having problems with their USB 3.0 as well , so I have:
- Adjusted the advanced power settings
- Disabled Fast Startup
- Disabled USB selective suspend setting

The instability has improved, but not been resolved.
I have not checked the speed on the USB but I strongly suspect, I only get USB 2 speed (as many others describe)

As the USB 3.0 is on the left side of my Acer V5 (OEM w8.1) and both of the USB 2.0 ports are on the right :)shock:) , I'm not able to make use of any Y-cable either ..... I do not know if my USB 3.0 is 150mA or 900mA , however I have a strong suspicion :(.
So at the moment I only have no USB 3.0 functionality

Suggestions to what I might try ?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5-5 serie
    CPU
    i5 4-serie
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 M265 (2 GB)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD (soon 250 SSD)
    Browser
    Crome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Have you tried anything else USB 3.0 in the port? Do you have access to a USB 3.0 docking station you can try?

Assuming the port is okay, I used a Kingston 90 GB SSD in a USB 3.0 docking station. The sequential benchmarks were a bit better than WD Black 1 TB Sata III spinner. Something like 140 MB/s. The 512KB random benchmarks were almost as high. It was excellent for file muxing.

If you can try a USB 3.0 dock first. But I think they are down around $20 from online discount houses. The one I had was an SIIG USB 3.0 dock plugged into an SIIG USB 3.0 PCI express card.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Hi there

Are you trying to connect to a NATIVE USB3 port or is it one of those addition cards - usually the HIDEOUS pci express ones -- the trouble with the PCI express is that it depends on the MOBO' S bus speed and sometimes you might get just USB2 native speed - especially on an older computer.

An SSD works very well connected into a USB3 port even with the standard USB2==>SATA . A proper USB3 cable has a slightly different connector at the end that goes into the device, the other end is a standard USB connector - usually coloured BLUE. The SATA==>USB3 connector should have the internal connections in the SATA connector and the device should fly. (It does anyway even on a USB2 port).

If you are using one of those hideous cheap pci express cards (the short one's) - they really aren't up to much. If you can find a FULL length card then you've got a better chance -- these were available for some servers but not really for domestic computers and are quite hard to find these days.

On a laptop a powered USB3 hub is often a good idea - the extra power works fine for HDD's --although an SSD shouldn't need that extra power - the computer should provide plenty.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Thanks for your reply.

Just to clarify : I`m trying the get the NATIVE USB3 port on my 2 new Acer V5-5serie OEM w8.1 to function properly (regardless of what device with USB 3.0 connection I try to connect)
Connections : 1xUSB 3.0 and 2xUSB2.0 (no docking facilities)

The problem is that the NATIVE USB3 port on the 2 computers seems to be unstable : the connection is going on/off. The strange part is that PC A and PC B do not respond in the same way :

* PC A is much more "nervious" specially when I try to connect the Samsung EVO 840 SSD (on/off frequency of seconds). The HDD (Seagate Slim 1 TB) is much more stable and gives a copy rate of 110 MB/s (however it still makes that "disconnect sound" occasionally) .

* PC B is in general a bit more stable with the SSD, but suddenly it behaves as PC A (last tie after sleep modus) .The HDD has a on/off frequency of minutes.


Looking at the Device manager / USB Controllers i find the following info :
- Generic USB Hub. Location : Port_#0001.Hub_#0001
- Intel(R) 8 Series USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 - 9C26 Location:pCI bus 0, device 29, function 0
- Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller- 0100 (Microsoft) Location : PCI bus 0, device 20, function 0
- USB Composite Device. Location : Port_#0008.Hub_#0003
- USB Composite Device. Location : Port_#0003.Hub_#0003 Comment : This is missing on PC B
- USB Root Hub. Location : on Intel(R) 8 Series USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 - 9C26
- USB Root Hub (xHCI). Location : on Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft)
- USB Mass Storage Device. Location : Port_#00010.Hub_#0002 Comment : This is missing on PC A


I have never deleted, copied or updated drivers before ..so I'm looking for some good / hands on advice here....:huh:


P.S : On Acers Home page >Support >Drivers and Manuals I find the following drivers (can't see any USB`s)...
Audio Realtek Audio Driver 6.0.1.7090 382.4 MB 2014/01/06 Download
CardReader Broadcom Card Reader Driver 1.0.0.254 19.8 MB 2014/01/06 Download
Chipset Broadcom Chipset Driver 15.6.0.10 11.4 MB 2014/01/06 Download
Chipset Intel Chipset Driver 9.4.0.1026 5.3 MB 2014/01/06 Download
MgmtEngine Intel ME (Management Engine)Driver 9.5.15.1730 56.1 MB 2014/01/06 Download
TouchPad ELANTECH Touchpad Driver 11.6.27.201 123.2 MB 2014/01/06 Download
TouchPad Synaptics Touchpad Driver 17.0.6.13 121.7 MB 2014/01/06 Download
VGA AMD VGA Driver 13.201.0.0 281.2 MB 2014/01/06 Download
VGA Intel VGA Driver 10.18.10.3355 134.9 MB 2014/03/28 Download
Wireless LAN Atheros Wireless LAN Driver 10.0.0.279 226.7 MB 2014/03/28 Download
Wireless LAN Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver 6.30.223.170 183.9 MB 2014/01/06 Download
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5-5 serie
    CPU
    i5 4-serie
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 M265 (2 GB)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD (soon 250 SSD)
    Browser
    Crome
    Antivirus
    Avast
One standard support trick worth trying is remove the problem drivers in Device Manager in Safe Mode then reboot to normal mode. Windows will reinstall the drivers. For some reason this can often stabilize a device. There's not much to lose. I never heard of Windows not finding the device on boot. :)

Seems weird 2 identical PCs with the same glitch.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
One standard support trick worth trying is remove the problem drivers in Device Manager in Safe Mode then reboot to normal mode. Windows will reinstall the drivers. For some reason this can often stabilize a device. There's not much to lose. I never heard of Windows not finding the device on boot. :)

Seems weird 2 identical PCs with the same glitch.

Thanks MilesAhead, I assume you refer to some of the USB Controllers I listed in the Device manager ?
1) Which would be my "problem drivers" ? and
2) How would I delete them ? (right click and "disable") ?
3) Will Windows reinstall the drivers, by "Safe Mode with Networking" ?

I agree, it seems weird 2 identical PCs with the same glitch.
The only modification to PC B from OEM, is that I have removed McAfee, according to McAfee procedures (this PC has not been connected to internet yet ... planning to copy the image from PC A), including AV programs etc).

I have done some minor changes to PC A (included installing STOR_Win7_8_8.1_12.9.0.1001 in order for for Explorer to see the SSD. I got this tip from another Acers V5 owner who had replaced his HDD with SSD)
On the SSD I have copied an image of disc PC A

Could the major instability problem with the SSD be caused by other factors (the ICY BOX adapter, driver for the SSD, etc ) ?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5-5 serie
    CPU
    i5 4-serie
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 M265 (2 GB)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD (soon 250 SSD)
    Browser
    Crome
    Antivirus
    Avast
Thanks for your reply jimbo
Here is my input ...

Hi there

Are you trying to connect to a NATIVE USB3 port : YES
A proper USB3 cable .... usually coloured BLUE. YES ALL OF THEM ARE BLUE
On a laptop a powered USB3 hub is often a good idea - THANKS I WILL HAVE A LOOK A THAT, but as you indicate ; this will probably not resolve the major SSD instability . I would like to resolve this issue before I replace the HDD with the SSD.

Cheers
jimbo
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5-5 serie
    CPU
    i5 4-serie
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 M265 (2 GB)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD (soon 250 SSD)
    Browser
    Crome
    Antivirus
    Avast
1) Which would be my "problem drivers" ? and


If you don't know which are the USB 3,0 just remove all USB drivers.

2) How would I delete them ? (right click and "disable") ?

No. Uninstall to uninstall them, using Device Manager.

3) Will Windows reinstall the drivers, by "Safe Mode with Networking" ?

No. Boot normally after the uninstall. Windows will say "Windows has found new hardware..."
on the next boot. No need to do anything special except maybe click the dialog that you want to install drivers if it asks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
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