SSD Disappears after USB use

[mickrc3]

Here's the problem: My desktop system runs stable almost all of the time. However, rarely, when I turn it on the boot drive is not detected. In order to get it to be found I have to do the following - turn off the system; unplug the P/S; remove the SATA data cable from the SSD; swap with the SATA data cable from one of the other drives (makes no difference what drive); replug and turn the system back on; go into BIOS and change the boot order. Then it is good again, for days, weeks or months. I can even swap the cables back and reorder the boot sequence without any problems. Until it happens again.

I was finally able to find a trend in the problem. The boot failures happened after I plug in a USB external dock, or a USB thumbdrive, or my USB Laserprinter, and fail to remove the cable/drive before shutting down. But the failures don't happen every time I use the ports, nor does it make a difference which ports I use.

Here's my setup:
AMD FX8370 on Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3
24GB GSkill DDR3-2133
MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX-970
Transcend 512GB SSD (Boot drive)
Transcend 64GB SSD
Hitachi 3TB HD
Liteon BD/RW
LG DVD/RW
Windows 10.

Some more background information:
Homebuild - I've built dozens since my first MB upgrade in 1994.
System is about a year old.
When the system fails to boot the SSD is not detected.
If I don't unplug the P/S, swapping the SATA data cables results in neither drive detected.
It has happened with a Sandisk EVO 240 as the boot SSD.
It has happened with the second SSD removed. Ditto with Optical drive(s) removed.
It has happened with a secondary 2-port PCI-E SATA card installed.
It has happened with two different P/S installed.
It has happened with a different HD installed.

 

[mickrc3]

Did some more testing.
Found out that it is my USB add-on bay hub. It is one of the ones found on eBay from China that come with audio, card reader, 2 ESATA, 1 molex, 2 USB 3.0 ports and 6 USB 2.0 ports. My rear USB and case front USB ports are not a problem. But if I leave a USB cable plugged into any of the eight ports on this bay it ends up being the first device in the boot order on the next power on sequence. The normal boot SSD falls out of the list entirely and is not recognized until I do the cable swapping. So it is a combination of the device and my forgetfulness that causes the issue.

I'll have to do some searching to see if I can find a panel that isn't from the same maker.

 

[mjslakeridge]

That is a weird problem. Do you really need all of the features that the add on hub? If you are just looking for additional USB ports, I would look for a hub that just gives you just that. If you need the other features, then maybe a different manufacturer like you said.