pc startup randomly can't find boot device and USB issues.

[quektis]

Hi,

I've been having some issues with my desktop computer which seem to have gradually gotten worse over the last couple of years.

I first started having USB issues. When too many USB devices were plugged in they would all suddenly stop working until I would reboot. This still happens and seems to have gotten worse. Sometimes I can get them all to work, sometimes not, it varies. I'm at the point now though that I can no longer run my oculus rift headset with both sensors plugged in at the same time.

More recently my pc refuses to boot, I get some sort of "can't find boot device" message when I boot the pc and have to turn it on and off loads of times until it magically decides to work again. This usually happens when I leave the computer off for a while.

I'm assuming both these problems are linked somehow. My power supply is an 850 and a couple years ago I was able to run the rift with keyboard, sensors and mouse plugged in, no problem. So I don't see why that would be the issue.

I'm thinking this is an issue with my motherboard. If anyone could throw in some suggestions on what to do. I'm hoping it's not dying on me. The desktop is about 6 years old. Could the CMOS battery be dead? Maybe my bios needs resetting? couldn't find the option to do so in the bios.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks

 

[jojesa]

Hi,

I've been having some issues with my desktop computer which seem to have gradually gotten worse over the last couple of years.

I first started having USB issues. When too many USB devices were plugged in they would all suddenly stop working until I would reboot. This still happens and seems to have gotten worse. ...
Thanks

That USB issue seems related to power, not enough to power devices or a short on a USB port. When the motherboard detects the short won't power to protect peripherals .
Could you post your system specs ( with model #s).

 

[quektis]

Sure:

Operating system: Windows 10
CPU: I7 3770k
Motherboard: Gygabyte Z77X-UP4 TH
GPU: GTX 1080
RAM: 16gb DDR3
Power supply: Corsair TX850M

 

[quektis]

So if it's related to power, why would it get worse over time? I could plug the Oculus Rift in before and play. Now I can't.

 

[jojesa]

It could get worse until it won't work at all.
A power issue could create heat that will damage capacitors, VRM, MOSFET and even chipset.

 

[quektis]

So that power supply I have is not powerful enough? still trying to figure what the problem is.

 

[jojesa]

The PSU is more than enough...how old is it?
Have you tested all the USB ports to see if it's related to faulty USP port.
Use HWMonitor to check PSU voltages

 

[quektis]

The PSU is 6 years old. This is what HWMonitor gives me:

https://imgur.com/a/N8ZhZF2

 

[jojesa]

The PSU is 6 years old. This is what HWMonitor gives me:

https://imgur.com/a/N8ZhZF2

The voltages look normal.
Keep HWMonitor open and you should check them often, specially when you're connecting USB devices.
Look at the voltages a see if they oscillate.

 

[quektis]

Just tried plugging stuff in and there were no spikes

 

[jojesa]

Which USB devices are you connecting?

 

[quektis]

The oculus rift and two sensors, a wireless keyboard and a mouse

 

[jojesa]

It might be a coincidence but I was helping someone that was having issues with the Oculus and he also had a Gigabyte motherboard. Maybe the USB 3.0 ports are not able to provide the power or current required by the sensors.

We used a powered USB hub and no more issues.