Question Help with USB3.0 driver issue please

[anthony_i]

Hello, any help with the below would be greatly appreciated.

Surface Pro 3, Windows 10 Pro, 1909, Build 18363.815. Was fine until 4-5 months ago.

1. Noticed the fan kicking in when idle.
2. Task Manager showed "System" using ~15% CPU and "System interrupts" another ~10%.
3. This doesn't happen on restart - just kicks in at some point and continues until I restart.
4. Windows performance analyzer shows ACPI issue - screenshot here: https://ibb.co/nRn0JdD
5. I traced back to two drivers: "USB Root Hub (USB 3.0)" (usbhub3.sys) and "Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.0 (Microsoft)" (UsbXhciCompanion.dll and USBXHCI.SYS)

• If I uninstall the "eXtensible Host Controller" via Device Manager, the entire "USB controller" node disappears.
• If I uninstall "USB Root Hub", everything under the "USB controller" node disappears except the "eXtensible Host Controller".
• However, in both cases, problem solved: "system" and "system interrupts" return to normal CPU usage.
• If I then scan for hardware changes, Windows re-installs the buggy drivers. The problem is temporarily gone, until it randomly starts again after some time.

Tried deleting the driver files to force Windows to re-download, but it couldn't find any drivers. It just killed my USB port and didn't want to work.
I installed a package with the Surface Pro 3 drivers from Microsoft, but that didn't seem to include USB drivers.

I can't find the right version of these drivers anywhere, and I had to revert to the buggy drivers.

It's driving me mad. Any ideas please?
Thank you!

 

[Colif]

They are built into windows, so its naturally going to reinstall them if there aren't newer ones.
There are no USB drivers for download as they are built into the operating system , you would have newest anyway as the latest on WIndows download catalog are from 2017 - link

Do you have latest bios and chipset drivers for the device as they are likely to be included in those.

 

[anthony_i]

They are built into windows, so its naturally going to reinstall them if there aren't newer ones.
There are no USB drivers for download as they are built into the operating system , you would have newest anyway as the latest on WIndows download catalog are from 2017 - link

Do you have latest bios and chipset drivers for the device as they are likely to be included in those.

Thanks for your reply Colif. Just checked and the package I installed from Microsoft contained the latest bios and chipset drivers.

From the link you sent me, I can't find any files that support my particular device IDs (VEN_8086 - Intel, and DEV_9C31). Curiously, my driver date is showing as 16/4/2020, version 10.0.18362.815, which I couldn't find in the list...

So... where does this leave me do you think, other than a Windows reinstall? Any other alternatives?

Thanks again!

 

[Colif]

DEV_9C31 - i can find dell drivers for usb extensible host controller, which is what you are looking for. But they are dell drivers...

you won't find win 10 ones as they in the OS.

Sure the problem isn't a USB device instead as these drivers are on every win 10 install (unless its amd) and hardly kick up a fuss. So sure its not something running through USB that is cause?

This doesn't happen on restart

makes me think its an old driver that doesn't like fast startup.
what is plugged in via USB?

 

[anthony_i]

DEV_9C31 - i can find dell drivers for usb extensible host controller, which is what you are looking for. But they are dell drivers...

Yes please, I'd happily give them a go, if Windows will let me install them! Do you have a link I can get them from, please?

Sure the problem isn't a USB device instead as these drivers are on every win 10 install (unless its amd) and hardly kick up a fuss. So sure its not something running through USB that is cause?

makes me think its an old driver that doesn't like fast startup.
what is plugged in via USB?

Sorry, what I meant by "it doesn't happen on restart" is that the constant CPU usage stops immediately after a restart, but it starts again after a seemingly random amount of time.
I have a USB/Ethernet-to-USB hub connected. I've thought it could possibly have created the issue because I first noticed the problems around when I started using it, but then I've also tried with nothing connected at all and the issue is still there. I'll try disconnecting the Surface cover keyboard as well, as I think it's controlled by the same chip that controls the USB and I wonder if it's time is up. Thanks!

 

[Colif]

I don't think its smart idea to use dell USB drivers as they may have changed them in more ways than just branding. Its why I don't suggest any 3rd party driver sites as I don't trust them.

I think its likely usb device, not the built in controllers.

 

[anthony_i]

I don't think its smart idea to use dell USB drivers as they may have changed them in more ways than just branding. Its why I don't suggest any 3rd party driver sites as I don't trust them.

I think its likely usb device, not the built in controllers.

Thanks for the advice, Colif. I'll experiment more with my devices before going more drastic with a Windows fix.