Windows 10 will not detect USB 3.0 drives

[Jim Baldwin]

My Windows 10 device manager states the my Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller is working properly. I have 2 new (1 Seagate and 1 Western Digital), just out of the box USB 3.0 external drives. I have a front and rear USB 3.0 ports. If the device controller is working properly why won't Windows 10 see them? I am afraid if I delete the drivers I may not be able to get them back. I am looking for suggestions. Windows 10 recognizes my 2 internal drives with no problem. Windows 10 has been a bit of a learning curve. Recognizing the USB 3.0 drives is the only exception to my experience thus far. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1LiquidPC]

When plugged in, does anything show up in device manager? Hidden devices setting as well? Was Win10 a clean install? The USB drivers are probably native, meaning you could delete the controller, and it would be re-detected and drivers would install again. Maybe try latest chipset drivers as well. Drives work in a USB 2.0 port?

 

[Jim Baldwin]

When plugged in, does anything show up in device manager? Hidden devices setting as well? Was Win10 a clean install? The USB drivers are probably native, meaning you could delete the controller, and it would be re-detected and drivers would install again. Maybe try latest chipset drivers as well. Drives work in a USB 2.0 port?

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Yes, the device manager shows my Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller is working properly on bootup. I didn't think to check hidden USB controllers. There was a "hidden" USB controller that had an error. I uninstalled that device. I will have to reboot to see what happens. The information given states the controller should be reinstalled when I bootup again. I had a catastrophic failure of my PC then using Windows 7. I was able to recover with a fresh iteration of Windows 7. I did not install any applications but did install Windows 10 over the top of Windows 7. As far as I know, it was a clean install. With the exception of USB 3.0 availability and a couple of "ancient" apps that will not run in Windows 10 everything has been working fine. All my USB 2.0 drives work as designed. USB 3.0 usage has me "buffaloed".

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I rebooted after uninstalling the USB Controller that had an error. The reboot got rid of that controller. I uninstalled the Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller and rebooted again. The Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller was installed and reported to be working properly. Unfortunately, Windows 10 still does not see the external USB 3.0 drives.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Is the "hidden" error still there? Did the drives work correctly in Windows 7? Also, is they're a driver available from your motherboard manufacturer site? May be worth a shot as well. Also, sometimes a CMOS clear can fix problems w/ USB controllers.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Is the "hidden" error still there? Did the drives work correctly in Windows 7? Also, is they're a driver available from your motherboard manufacturer site? May be worth a shot as well. Also, sometimes a CMOS clear can fix problems w/ USB controllers.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

The "hidden" error is gone. To the best of my recollections the USB 3.0 drives did work in Windows 7. I have been so consumed with getting Windows 7 back and upgrading and installing all my applications, I didn't think about external drives until I got my dependent applications working in Windows 10. I have a Dell Studio XPS 9100 i7 desktop machine and do not know the make of the mother board. I am not familiar with a "CMOS clear". Can you explain a "CMOS Clear? Additionally, I find it curious that my Paragon backup software recognizes a USB 3.0 drive as Drive 2 (drive 0 being my C: drive and drive 1 being my second internal drive) when I am only backing up my C; drive (0) to my D; drive (1). I do not understand why the backup software is even looking at drive 2. The Paragon backup routine reports an I/O error for my drive 2. The I/O error prevents the backup routine to continue until the error is resolved. I resolve the error by disconnecting the USB 3.0 drive which is confusing. If Windows 10 does not recognize my USB 3.0 and not reporting any errors, why does my backup software see it? Is there a trusted application that can check my drivers and/or suggest replacements? Thanks for your feedback.

 

[1LiquidPC]

So your saying your backup software can see the drive in Windows 10? Do the drives show up in "Disk Management"? When plugged in, it should be showing up there if your backup software can see it. It could be the formatting of the drive causing it at well, though would seem unlikely being USB 3.0. It should be NTFS these days, and not FAT32. I'd look into this before a CMOS clear(this can be done in BIOS, or actually removing and reinstalling the battery on the motherboard itself after a few minutes. Oddly enough, on the weekends I have access to an XPS 9100. Do you happen to know the model numbers of the USB 3 drives you purchased.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

So your saying your backup software can see the drive in Windows 10? Do the drives show up in "Disk Management"? When plugged in, it should be showing up there if your backup software can see it. It could be the formatting of the drive causing it at well, though would seem unlikely being USB 3.0. It should be NTFS these days, and not FAT32. I'd look into this before a CMOS clear(this can be done in BIOS, or actually removing and reinstalling the battery on the motherboard itself after a few minutes. Oddly enough, on the weekends I have access to an XPS 9100. Do you happen to know the model numbers of the USB 3 drives you purchased.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

My scheduled backup stops running because of a drive 2 (My New Seagate USB 3.0 2TB external drive Model SRD00F2) is reporting an I/O error which oddly enough prevents the backup software to run until the error messages are cleared. The backup software sees the drive connected but with an I/O problem. Windows 10 does not see the drive at all. My new Western Digital My Book USB 3.0 3TB drive does not show a model number. Neither drive shows up in Disk Management. Using F2 in Windows 10 should get me to the BIOS settings but I haven't been able to get it to work. I was having a problem with my HP Envy Laptop that was not reading bootable CD/DVDs so I got into it's Windows 10 BIOS using F2 to check the bootup options to verify the boot order but some how I crashed it beyond my ability to recover or repair. I am reluctant to tread into my desktop until my laptop returns from Microsoft where I bought it. I dread having to get at and take apart my PC. If I have to do that, I may as well replace the USB 3.0 card with something newer. Like I said I dread to have to dig out the computer to disassemble it just to get to the battery. I may as well replace the battery at the same time. Blowout and vacuum the interior too. So many neglected opportunities. Is there an application that can check my drivers and determine what new ones need to be updated?

 

[1LiquidPC]

Since your using an adapter card for USB 3.0, have you tried a USB 2.0 port to see what happens? For driver/software monitoring software, there are a few choices based on google searches. However, I've personally never used any of them, so I can't vouch for their functionality. Also, for BIOS access, you can try a method from this link. http://www.howtogeek.com/126016/three-ways-to-access-the-windows-8-boot-options-menu/

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Since your using an adapter card for USB 3.0, have you tried a USB 2.0 port to see what happens? For driver/software monitoring software, there are a few choices based on google searches. However, I've personally never used any of them, so I can't vouch for their functionality. Also, for BIOS access, you can try a method from this link. http://www.howtogeek.com/126016/three-ways-to-access-the-windows-8-boot-options-menu/

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Well this is frustrating. I appreciate your help. I plugged the USB 3.0 drive into a USB port on a USB 2.0 hub. No joy. I plugged the 3.0 drive into a USB port right on my PC. Still no joy. I have gone through all the USB drivers on in the Device Manager. Only the USB 2.0 driver search showed an update which I did. I checked all the other USB device drivers and found them to be current. Windows 10 apparently can see my USB 3.0 hub. I have the USB 3.0 drive plugged into that hub. The drive light is on but Windows 10 doesn't see the USB 3.0 drive. Thank you for the link. I found that article 3 weeks ago which help me with my Laptop. I somehow screwed up the Laptop. It is in for repair or replacement now going on 3 weeks. Your suggestions have been great. Thank You. The BIOS Clear is something I am hesitant doing. I messed up my laptop screwing around with the BIOS. It was so bad it would not bootup at all. No BIOS, nothing. I am hoping for a replacement believing the disc drive may have been bad. Any other thoughts or suggestions????

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Since your using an adapter card for USB 3.0, have you tried a USB 2.0 port to see what happens? For driver/software monitoring software, there are a few choices based on google searches. However, I've personally never used any of them, so I can't vouch for their functionality. Also, for BIOS access, you can try a method from this link. http://www.howtogeek.com/126016/three-ways-to-access-the-windows-8-boot-options-menu/

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Well it has taken a while. I was able to get my new WD USB 3.0 to show up. So I know the hardware connection works. Further investigation lead me to SeaTools from Seagate. My Seagate drive failed every single test. It appears there may be a bad sector on the drive causing the I/O error that my backup software gets. I believe my new Seagate drive is DOA. I have submitted yet another case to Seagate. They have yet to respond to my case I logged on 9/12/2015.

 

[1LiquidPC]

So the Seagate drive is bad? That would explain the issues. Does the WD drive function normally in Win10 using usb 3.0 port? At this point, i dont think the CMOS clear would be necessary, so dont worry about that.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Even after validating the WD My Book was working properly as a USB 3.0 drive. I again tried to get the Seagate to work. A bad sector could explain why it would not work. I logged a case number with Seagate. Still no response but it is early. I shut down last night with both the WD and Seagate drives connected. This morning on bootup, Disk Management appeared to show the Seagate drive. I got a RAW system file with the 3TB disk space. Disk Management allowed me to assign a drive letter. I am currently formatting to NTFS which may take a while. All indications are that the Seagate drive is alive. If there is a bad sector, formatting should resolve it. I am encouraged that last night's efforts may have done something to allow Disk Management to see the drive. It is even being seen by Windows 10 with the drive letter I assigned it. If formatting completes, I may be out of the woods with this drive. I have no clue what I may have done last night to shake the drive loose. Time will tell.

 

[1LiquidPC]

If it seems to "fix" itself. Can't complain about that Hopefully, it straightened itself out...perhaps a bad format from Seagate during manufacturing.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

If it seems to "fix" itself. Can't complain about that Hopefully, it straightened itself out...perhaps a bad format from Seagate during manufacturing.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I have been trying all day to format that Seagate drive. It fails to complete. It will get about a third of the way at best then fails. Other attempts fail much sooner. I need a more insistent formatting tool. Still no response from Seagate. So close yet so far away.

 

[1LiquidPC]

It's sounding like it's going to need an RMA. I could be that more sectors are starting to fall out. Usually, by this point for an internal drive, I end up tossing/replacing it.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I tried the relatively new EaseUS Partition Master but I can't get the drive to show up. I have logged two cases with Seagate who has failed (like their hardware) to respond. Tough to get an RMA when they will not even contact me. I have so many of these kinds of drives that worked for a while then just up and quit. This one appears to be DOA. I have so many bad external drives that I refuse to take the time to permanently disable them and throw them into the recycling process. I have working USB Flash drives that are older than some of my burnt out external drives. Thank You for your help.

 

[1LiquidPC]

I understand. I wasn't sure where/when you purchased. Thought you may be able to return for refund that way.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I am still waiting to hear from Seagate. If I need to return a registered drive within warranty, they will need to ship me a new drive so I can use that packaging to return the bad drive. But if Seagate will not respond, there isn't really anything I can do but stack the bad drive on the useless drives I already have. AGAIN, I Thank You for your help and assistance.