Which USB Driver do i install on my Z170-A?

[EPC AntiMatter]

Just built my first gaming rig and everything went pretty smoothly save from not having a couple of screws that I needed. But all is working now and seems to be fine hardware wise. System passes POST with all the hardware installed and I've just put Windows 7 on it. Now looking at the drivers for my motherboard, graphics card, etc.

I am downloading the drivers from ASUS site (Asus Z170-A) for my motherboard, haven't bothered updating the BIOS as most places seemed to suggest it wasn't worth it. But there are 2 options for USB drivers released at the same time
There is an option for both the:
- Intel USB3.0 Controller Driver V4.0.0.36 for Windows 7 32bit & 64bit.
- Asmedia USB3.1/3.0 Driver V1.16.24.0 for Windows 7 32bit & 64bit / 8.1 64bit.
Link = https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Download/

As I'm new to this I'm assuming I only install one, which option should I be using?

 

[boodaddy]

You will need to go to control panel > device manager, and see which one you are using.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

The Device Manager only shows:
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller

But it shows them with the yellow warning triangle. No further information.

 

[glamdringfh]

Start with the Asmedia driver.

After installing test the USB 3 ports and see if they are working correctly. If they are then you're set.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Start with the Asmedia driver.

After installing test the USB 3 ports and see if they are working correctly. If they are then you're set.

Alright will do, any reason why this one? And also why the 2 USB ports on the front of the case are working even though I haven't installed any drivers? For the most part the whole build's been pretty straightforward I'm just asking for my curiosity really...

 

[glamdringfh]

I always start with motherboard controllers and see if that does the trick, they usually do.

USB 2.0 almost always natively works (older tech), but USB 3.0 ports often require special drivers to get up and running correctly.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

I always start with motherboard controllers and see if that does the trick, they usually do.

USB 2.0 almost always natively works (older tech), but USB 3.0 ports often require special drivers to get up and running correctly.

Haha okay. New problem. This might sound backwards but bear with me. I was using my laptop to get the drivers downloaded and put them on my memory stick which i then plugged into my new PC, however it wouldn't read the memory stick. So i put it in the hub on my keyboard and it still didn't read it. So I unplugged my working mouse and attempted to plug it into that slot, still no dice. Only now my keyboard and mouse that were previously working via those USB ports are now also not working. Help? 😀

 

[glamdringfh]

Well that's certainly a turn-around! Have you restarted the PC and the devices are still unresponsive?

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Well that's certainly a turn-around! Have you restarted the PC and the devices are still unresponsive?

I didn't want to restart it because i can't use my keyboard/mouse to shut it down naturally. Should i just turn it off with the button anyway?

 

[glamdringfh]

Yep, you'll either need to press the 'reboot' button if you have one or just perform a hard shutdown.

 

[boodaddy]

Have you tried unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in? Hard shutdowns are not generally a good thing to get in the habit of doing.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Yep, you'll either need to press the 'reboot' button if you have one or just perform a hard shutdown.

Okay did that. A couple of trial and errors seem to show that if I unplug the keyboard after windows has booted it won't locate it when I plug it back in or replace it with something else. I assume the motherboard BIOS or something is finding it during POST even though windows can't?
But also that leaves no joy with the USB memory stick which isn't being detected even if i plug it in before i turn the pc on.

And yeah i did try unplugging it and putting it back in, no dice. That was the first thing i tried.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

I suppose the best solution is to burn the drivers onto a DVD and try installing them from that? I can't workout why the keyboard/mouse works but nothing else.

Just for more detail the setup i have been using is my Keyboard plugged into the USB 3.0(1?) port on the top front of the case and my mouse plugged into my keyboard's local 2-port USB 2.0 hub. But plugging the memory stick into either of those or the USB 3.0 on the back of the case has no effect.

 

[boodaddy]

That will be fine. I would install your chipset drivers first, and then your other devices.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

I actually don't have a disc on hand so i'm going to have to wait till tomorrow when i can go grab one. Any other ideas to try while i wait that doesn't involve me putting another hard drive in? 😀

 

[glamdringfh]

Did the motherboard not come with a driver disk? They might not be the most up-to-date versions, but they should at least get you up and running if you have it.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Did the motherboard not come with a driver disk? They might not be the most up-to-date versions, but they should at least get you up and running if you have it.

For some reason the idea of actually using the out of date drivers didn't occur to me... I think i've been awake too long! I'll give that a go thanks for the help guys. Weird issue, wish I knew what caused it.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Ok job done. No idea why it was kinda glitching about before working then not working but I just installed the base drivers from the disc and will update them online. Worth mentioning that both USB drivers need to be installed to utilise all the ports. Not too sure why, just something I noticed installing them one-by-one, starting with the Asmedia driver.

 

[glamdringfh]

Glad to hear you're up and running. 😉

It isn't uncommon for USB ports to behave strangely before installing the correct drivers.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Well I thought i was up and running but another hurdle. Didn't think it was worth opening a new thread but I can.
You recommended installing the chipset drivers but i can't.
It tells me i need a Windows Kernel Mode Driver Framework 1.1 so I go and download it, attempt to install it only to find out I already have it. But the chipset install doesn't recognise that and keeps telling me it won't install because I need to download the above...

 

[boodaddy]

Well I thought i was up and running but another hurdle. Didn't think it was worth opening a new thread but I can.
You recommended installing the chipset drivers but i can't.
It tells me i need a Windows Kernel Mode Driver Framework 1.1 so I go and download it, attempt to install it only to find out I already have it. But the chipset install doesn't recognise that and keeps telling me it won't install because I need to download the above...

I wouldn't worry to much about it if all your hardware is showing up in device manager without yellow/red exclamation points. Once you get the drivers installed, make sure all your windows updates are good.

Are you planning on doing the free Windows 10 upgrade? I would do the chipset drivers after that, because it's going to be at least 4 hours of installing Windows 7 updates, with restarting all the time before you get to the Windows 10 upgrade point.

If you do the Windows 10 upgrade you are going to have to re-install the drivers for WIndows 10 if your manufacture has them. Just get lan working, and forget about the rest until you are upgraded.

 

[EPC AntiMatter]

Well I thought i was up and running but another hurdle. Didn't think it was worth opening a new thread but I can.
You recommended installing the chipset drivers but i can't.
It tells me i need a Windows Kernel Mode Driver Framework 1.1 so I go and download it, attempt to install it only to find out I already have it. But the chipset install doesn't recognise that and keeps telling me it won't install because I need to download the above...

I wouldn't worry to much about it if all your hardware is showing up in device manager without yellow/red exclamation points. Once you get the drivers installed, make sure all your windows updates are good.

Are you planning on doing the free Windows 10 upgrade? I would do the chipset drivers after that, because it's going to be at least 4 hours of installing Windows 7 updates, with restarting all the time before you get to the Windows 10 upgrade point.

If you do the Windows 10 upgrade you are going to have to re-install the drivers for WIndows 10 if your manufacture has them. Just get lan working, and forget about the rest until you are upgraded.

No not planning on taking Windows 10 just yet. Alright I'll install the LAN driver and then see where I'm at after Windows 7 is updated, probably tackle the rest of the drivers tomorrow depending on how long it takes to update Windows as I'm quickly running out of time for today.

 

[spirtboymad1]

I have the exact same issue but my pc doesnt have a disk drive because i never thoughtd otd be necessary, my old motherboard was easy to just plug in a usb flashdrove and install the drivers

 

[solo001]

I got a slip with my asus z170 a that said usb 3.0 drivers need to be installed before the OS... Not sure how I'm supposed to do that but could have to do with the issues you guys are experiencing

 

[cloud1107]

Hey dude! Ive just purchased this motherboard and installed all my parts. I installed windows 7 ultimate. But i cant seem to install the sound driver which keeps giving me an error whether i used the cd or download from the Asus site. Error code 0x000000ff 🙁 🙁 🙁 is my motherboard broken? im new to all this pc building. plz help soemone