USB 3.0 ports not working and "invisible"

[Gueg]

Hello,

First of all, I know that there are many threads about problems like mine. I tried everything, but nothing seems to fix it!

I have 2x 3.0 usb ports in the back of my pc. I recently bought an external hard drive to backup some files. I plugged it in, I copied my files (very quickly thanks to 3.0!) and safely plugged it out with the windows tool (I don't know how this is called : pic )

Few days later, I tried to plug it again.. But no answer from my pc, not even a sound saying that a usb have been plugged in. I tried with a 3.0 usb stick I own, but nothing too. I started cheking every website that can have answer, tried uninstalling every driver for USB in devicemanager, but 3.0 ports are not displayed here, not even while showing hidden items ( pic ). My intel chipset driver is up to date.

Here are my computer specs, if it can have any utility : pic

Thanks for any help you can give me!

(and sorry for my bad english, I'm trying to improve it! not my native language)

 

[Paul NZ]

Did you install a backup program like an Acronis program as well?

 

[Gueg]

Thanks paul for your quick answer!

No, I did install Maxtor Drive Manager which was on the external hard drive the first time I plugged it in, but I uninstalled it right after. The external HDD still worked after it. I just copy/pasted some files, I didn't backup a system image or anything.

 

[Paul NZ]

Are the 2 USB 3.0 ports at the back the only ones that stopped working? Do the rest of the USB ports still work?

 

[Gueg]

Yes, only the 3.0 ports stopped working. Every other 2.0 usb port are still working (mouse and wifi are usb!)

 

[Paul NZ]

It looks like you're 1 version behind with Windows 10. You're on build 1511, it's up to 1607 (The anniversary update)

Did you install any windows update recently?? And is the BIOS up to date?? The latest BIOS is 1402

 

[Gueg]

Well I chose to stop updating windows because the content really isn't interesting for me. Do you really think that this could be a cause? It always worked with this version before I plugged in the external HDD.. (which, by the way, works in another computer's 3.0 port) I never updated windows 10 since the day I got it.

No, I never updated my bios! Should I?

 

[Paul NZ]

I would update the BIOS you're 8 BIOS updates behind. You're on 0501. It may fix a lot of probs

The BIOS updates are here.

Download 1402, extract it. Put it on a flash drive. Go into BIOS select ez flash. Point it to the update. Wait for it to finish

Reboot

I would also keep windows up to 10 if youre using it online

Altho if the anniversary update comes up, it's pretty big

It'd be easier if you downloaded a more recent ISO and reinstalled windows

 

[Gueg]

Ok, I'll update my bios! Thanks for the quick tutorial.

I'll say you if it fix it!

If this doesn't work, I'll mind update windows!

 

[Gueg]

So I tried updating the BIOS. It brings many new options, I looked the ones about usb. Each port is set on "enabled", "intel xHCI" is enabled, everything is enabled.
I rebooted, but my pc still can't see the ports. I tried to plug a usb stick, nothing came up.
I tried disabling "legacy 3.0 support" but has no effect.

 

[Paul NZ]

Just find ez flash in the BIOS.

If you've downloaded the BIOS update extract it put it on a flash drive. Then point ez flash to it. Then wait for it to finish

Dont worry about the USB options in the bios for now

 

[Gueg]

Sorry, I think I was misunderstood! I did the update and it worked, but USB ports are still not responding

 

[Paul NZ]

ok right hmmm, go to device manager I think it's the XHCI entries dbl click on them / driver tab / update driver. See if it updates them

Then see if they work

 

[Gueg]

I searched for items matching xHCIor 3.0 or eXtensible, but I found nothing, my ports are not visible in my device manager!
pic 1
pic 2

(sorry, it's not displayed in english)

 

[Paul NZ]

On this Extensible Host controller is under USB controllers in device manager.

If it isnt there, you may have disabled it in the BIOS

 

[Gueg]

Here are some pics I've made in the bios :

pic 1
pic 2 (we can even see that the usb 3.0 ports are enabled)

I looked under every other settings in the bios, but couldn't find any other usb related setting.