- Nov 22, 2024
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So I've been having a strange issue with my computer as of late: my keyboard and headset lose functionality seemingly at random. The only temporary solution is to power off my PC via the power button but that is also complicated. My mouse is completely unaffected and fully functional. This issue began to appear about a month ago and initially I assumed the problems arose due to a bug with one of the many mods I use for the games I play. It was happening most frequently when I played Europa Universalis IV and Stellaris (both Paradox Interactive games so I assumed the issue was connected in some way). However, recently I realized the problem also can happen with a completely unrelated game, World of Tanks. Now I'm led to believe the issue is either with my computer, OS (Windows 10), or any related software. My keyboard is a RK Royal Kludge RK84 75% Triple Mode and my headset is a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5.
The very first thing I attempted was to switch my headset on and off (it is wireless; uses a dongle connected to an usb port on my motherboard at the back of the tower) which didn't fix it. This did confirm that the headset itself wasn't part of the problem as the sound which plays when it is turned off/on did play. I then tried disconnecting and reconnecting the dongle along with my wired keyboard (both connected to USB ports on my motherboard) which didn't fix anything. Power was still going to both of them as they were still lighting up. My keyboard also didn't seem to be part of the problem as the responsive lights were still working whenever I clicked a key, it just wasn't being picked up by my computer. My mouse is also wireless and connected via a USB dongle but it remains functional. It is actually installed on the USB port on top of my pc tower (where the power button is located). Due to this difference, I decided to test if my motherboard may have an issue but disconnecting the mouse dongle temporarily and connecting the headset and keyboards instead. This did not fix either of them; power went out to each of them while they were disconnected, returned when they were reconnected, but still did not function. As a result, I started to assume that something was wrong with the drivers and this is possibly the problem but it is also strange. Disabling and reenabling the drivers for each didn't fix it either. However, I noticed something weird while both were functional (after a reboot): the drivers (for the headset at least) appear twice, once in "Sound, video, and game controllers" and once in "Audio inputs and outputs". Then, whenever the issue arises the drivers disappear from the "Audio inputs and outputs". This would probably mean that the issue IS with the motherboard inputs but then one additional strange thing stumps me again: trying to power down my pc using the start menu doesn't work. My pc shuts down fine when I hold the power button but when I shut it down via the start menu my monitor turns off like normal but my pc remains running. I left it like this for a half hour, hoping that maybe it was just a slow shutdown but it was still running. To me it seems like this may either be a problem with the motherboard or my OS but I can't figure out which it is.
Any ideas on how to accurately troubleshoot and determine the source of these problems are appreciated. I could potentially get my motherboard replaced but I'm not entirely sure how the warranty will work and whether they will accept it. Plus, reconnecting everything to the motherboard is tedious and time consuming so I'm hoping to fix this without doing that, especially if the issue isn't actually the motherboard.
The very first thing I attempted was to switch my headset on and off (it is wireless; uses a dongle connected to an usb port on my motherboard at the back of the tower) which didn't fix it. This did confirm that the headset itself wasn't part of the problem as the sound which plays when it is turned off/on did play. I then tried disconnecting and reconnecting the dongle along with my wired keyboard (both connected to USB ports on my motherboard) which didn't fix anything. Power was still going to both of them as they were still lighting up. My keyboard also didn't seem to be part of the problem as the responsive lights were still working whenever I clicked a key, it just wasn't being picked up by my computer. My mouse is also wireless and connected via a USB dongle but it remains functional. It is actually installed on the USB port on top of my pc tower (where the power button is located). Due to this difference, I decided to test if my motherboard may have an issue but disconnecting the mouse dongle temporarily and connecting the headset and keyboards instead. This did not fix either of them; power went out to each of them while they were disconnected, returned when they were reconnected, but still did not function. As a result, I started to assume that something was wrong with the drivers and this is possibly the problem but it is also strange. Disabling and reenabling the drivers for each didn't fix it either. However, I noticed something weird while both were functional (after a reboot): the drivers (for the headset at least) appear twice, once in "Sound, video, and game controllers" and once in "Audio inputs and outputs". Then, whenever the issue arises the drivers disappear from the "Audio inputs and outputs". This would probably mean that the issue IS with the motherboard inputs but then one additional strange thing stumps me again: trying to power down my pc using the start menu doesn't work. My pc shuts down fine when I hold the power button but when I shut it down via the start menu my monitor turns off like normal but my pc remains running. I left it like this for a half hour, hoping that maybe it was just a slow shutdown but it was still running. To me it seems like this may either be a problem with the motherboard or my OS but I can't figure out which it is.
Any ideas on how to accurately troubleshoot and determine the source of these problems are appreciated. I could potentially get my motherboard replaced but I'm not entirely sure how the warranty will work and whether they will accept it. Plus, reconnecting everything to the motherboard is tedious and time consuming so I'm hoping to fix this without doing that, especially if the issue isn't actually the motherboard.
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