The computer restarts, the usb ports do not work. USB ports on the computer do not work - ways to solve the problem

Peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, webcam, printer are usually connected to the computer via USB ports. In this case, it often happens that one or more ports stop working. That is, when connected to a computer, for example, a flash drive, it is not recognized, the keyboard or mouse may freeze, and the printer may not respond and print pages.

There are several likely reasons why some or all of the USB ports on your computer are not working. Let's try to understand this issue and find out what should be done to restore the normal functioning of the computer.

Checking the BIOS settings

The first thing you should pay attention to is the BIOS settings of the computer. You will need a working keyboard to enter the BIOS. If the keyboard is connected to the computer via USB and it does not work, then you need to connect a keyboard with a PS / 2 connector. Otherwise, you simply cannot do anything.

So, we go into the BIOS, for which, when starting the computer, you must press the enter key, usually it is DEL. There may be another key that is displayed on the screen and is listed in the motherboard manual. After entering the BIOS, find the section responsible for the integrated devices (Integrated Peripherals) or the "Advanced" section. Here you should find the subsection “Onboard Devices Configuration”. It is in it that the parameters responsible for the operation of USB controllers are located: USB Function or USB 2.0 Controller. These parameters must be enabled (Enabled). And if one of them is disabled (Disabled), then hover over it and press Enter, thereby enabling it. To prevent your changes from being reset, you must save them by pressing F10 and confirm the save by pressing the Y or Enter key.

After rebooting the computer, check if the USB ports are working. And if not, then you should look for the cause elsewhere.

USB ports on the front of the computer do not work

As a special case, USB only on the front panel may not work for you. In such a situation, it is necessary to check whether the necessary connectors on the motherboard are connected and whether the wires are damaged. To do this, open the side cover of the system unit and pay attention to the connector at the bottom of the motherboard. The board itself has the inscription USB1 or USB2, as well as on the block itself. The wires from the block go to the front panel, and if they are disconnected or broken in one place, then you have found the cause of the malfunction. Damaged wires should be connected or replaced. It will not be superfluous to check the contact in the connector on the motherboard. It is also worth paying attention to the board located on the front panel. Perhaps there is a short circuit, by the way, such a circuit can be triggered by accumulated dust. Therefore, be sure to clean the system unit from dust.

Problems with the device itself or the cable

The next source of USB problems can be the cable connected to, for example, a printer. This error is easy to identify and fix. We connect a USB flash drive to the checked connector. If it works, then we try to connect other known good equipment using a suspicious cable, for example, a USB hub. If it also refuses to work, then the reason is definitely in the cable and it should be replaced.

Power outages

There are situations when there is simply not enough power for all devices. For example, when connecting an external hard drive that uses two USB connectors at once, the printer or keyboard may turn off. In this case, the power of the power supply is not enough to provide energy to all consumers. In this case, the problem may not appear immediately, but after some time after turning on the computer. There are several ways out of the situation. If you have a low-power power supply installed, for example, 300 W, then it would be logical to change it to a more powerful one, 450-600 W. You can also use an active USB hub (with external power). It will allow not only to increase the number of connected USB devices, but also to power them from a separate power supply.

Another reason affecting USB performance is a dead CMOS battery. But at the same time, every time you turn on the computer, you will observe the system time and date that have gone astray. After replacing the battery, the problem goes away. But this is not common, so you should check other possible sources of malfunction.

Missing or incorrect installation of USB drivers

Causes related to software malfunctions in Windows 7/10 can be identified using the Device Manager. If you notice that one or more devices specifically does not work, regardless of the port used, then this may indicate that the problem is in the device itself. Open the Control Panel and go to the Device Manager section. All connected devices will be displayed there. If there are items in the list that have a yellow exclamation mark next to them or an Unknown device instead of a name, then the problem is in this device itself. There may be several possible problems here.

Often USB inputs stop working after reinstalling Windows 7/10. This is caused by improper installation of drivers, or the necessary drivers may not be found at all. You will have to select and install manually.

Often, to fix a problem, you just need to update the drivers. So, if automatic Windows updates are disabled, and the system itself was installed a long time ago, then the relevance of the software is lost, system errors may appear. At the same time, the device starts to work incorrectly, or even stops functioning altogether. To update (reinstall) the USB controller drivers, you can use the motherboard driver CD/DVD or download the necessary drivers from the motherboard manufacturer's website.

You can also turn off the power saving feature for all ports using the Device Manager. Expand the list of used USB devices hidden in the USB controllers, Mouse and other pointing devices, Keyboards sections. Double-click on the desired device to open the properties window. Now switch to the "Power Management" tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." Thus, the device will be activated always and under any circumstances.

If some equipment is not recognized, then there may be a problem with the drivers already known to us, as well as a hardware problem, consisting in a lack of contact, cable damage, or a controller malfunction. Moreover, it often happens that when a faulty device is connected, the rest stop working normally. The keyboard starts to freeze, as does the mouse, and the printer stops printing. The problem is similar to a lack of power, that is, the consumption of all power goes to a faulty device, which may have an ordinary short circuit or other malfunction.

USB ports not working due to damaged controller

If none of the above actions helped restore the USB ports, then you should check the motherboard USB controller, which could have failed. In this case, high-quality repairs and diagnostics should be entrusted to the specialists of the service center. As a way out of the problem, try installing an expansion board, the so-called USB PC controller, which is installed in the PCI slot on the motherboard. This solution is much cheaper than repairing the USB controller of the motherboard, and when using an additional USB hub, the problem with the lack of ports will not be relevant at all.

As you can see, finding and fixing problems with USB ports is a rather troublesome business, and all because there can be a lot of reasons. Consistently finding and eliminating obviously wrong paths will allow you to identify and fix the problem.

There are different types of problems associated with the operation of the front USB ports on a personal computer. Sometimes there is a problem when all the front ports are not functioning. In other cases, when only one does not work or works poorly. We will try to tell you about each of the situations when usb ports do not work.

Simultaneous failure of all front ports

To begin with, it is necessary to clarify that the front ports differ from the rear ones in that they are connected to the "motherboard" through a special cable, while the latter are part of the motherboard.

The first likely reason why the USB ports on the front of the computer often do not work is that the USB port controller is disabled. It is located on the motherboard. You can enable it using the BIOS menu. You can get here by restarting your computer and pressing one of the keys. This is usually the F2 or Delete key.

In the BIOS, you will need to go to the Integrated Peripherals section. There is a USB Configuration menu here. You need to find out what position the USBController is in. If the opposite is Disabled, then the controller is not working. Switch to the Enabled position. Save the changes and restart the computer.

You can check all USB ports by going to Device Manager. It contains the "USB Serial Bus Controllers" section. Some of the items may be marked with a yellow exclamation mark. Why? This indicates a malfunction or poor performance of one of the ports. Detailed information can be found in the context menu called by right-clicking on the device name. It is worth deleting all controllers in the "Dispatcher", and then restarting the computer. Windows is capable of restoring all controllers at boot time on its own.

The Windows operating system sometimes disables one or all of the front ports specifically to save power. We can manage the power ourselves, so our task at this stage is to prohibit the system from doing this. We again need the "Device Manager" and the "Universal USB Bus Controller". Next, click on the line "USB Root Hub" with the left button. Here we go to the "Power Management" menu. Remove the checkmark from the "Allow shutdown to save power" checkbox. We do this procedure with each USB.

There is another reason why they do not work, lies in the failures or malfunctions of the Windows system. Most often this happens if constant updates are disabled on the operating system. It is highly advisable to restore lost system files or reinstall Windows completely. Problems with the front ports arise due to incorrect assembly of the OS. Therefore, it is important to use only verified Windows builds.

What to do if only one front USB input is not working

One possible reason why this happens is that there is a problem with the ribbon cable connecting the front ports to the motherboard. Then the problem with the operation of one of the ports is solved by replacing this cable on your own or with the help of specialists.

A malfunction may occur if we connect several devices to the front USB ports, for example, an external drive and a phone at once, or something else. Electricity may not be enough for one of them. This situation leads to both shutdown of the port and its intermittent operation. This is due to the fact that the front port interface may not have an additional power source, that is, an adapter. Sometimes we don't notice that the front USB ports are bad. Problems arise only when the main adapter is not enough for our immediate needs. And they are solved by purchasing a USB hub with an additional power source. After the replacement, we get the opportunity to connect any peripheral devices.

Before you start any of the corrective actions listed in the article, you need to check the contacts for connecting the cable to the motherboard. A lot of problems with the front USB ports can be solved in this way.

Whether you work on a computer, whether you play on it - in any case, you want the device to work smoothly. Often the incorrect operation of a personal computer is due to the fact that it uses outdated drivers. Let's figure out how to update them and ensure a comfortable use of your computer!

A little about drivers

Drivers are special software that helps the operating system recognize the "language" of connected or built-in devices.

Accordingly, if this recognition ability is disturbed, malfunctions occur. For example, a speaker or a computer mouse stops working, or programs automatically close with an error code.

When to Update Drivers

It is logical that during normal operation of the computer, no actions need to be taken with the drivers. But if there are interruptions in the operation of peripheral devices, you can already think about updating or reinstalling drivers.

For instance:

• if the mouse or keyboard stops working;
• if the sound is gone;
• if the webcam does not work;
• if programs are closed;
• if the screen expansion has deteriorated;
• in other cases, when the computer is broken.

Replacing drivers with newer ones is not a panacea. It is not always possible to solve the problem in this way, because there are many other causes of problems.

What drivers affect the performance of the computer

Of course, all drivers affect the functioning of the computer and devices connected to it. Mouse drivers ensure its normal operation, USB port drivers allow the operating system to recognize the connected wire.

The computer itself continues to work regardless of whether the drivers are working.

There are also such drivers, without the normal operation of which the computer simply cannot function. Here is their list:

• system device drivers: processor, various buses and controllers;
• drivers of the video card responsible for displaying the image;
• drivers for the network adapter responsible for connecting to the Internet (without this device, the computer will not be able to download patches from the developers' servers).

Other drivers affect the operation of the computer less, although they are also significant.

Where to find drivers for Windows 10

The new version of the operating system has the "Update Center" installed. If automatic software updating is enabled, it downloads all new programs from the system's internal servers.

If you decide to download drivers yourself, refer to the platforms of the manufacturers of the computer itself or to the resources of the developers of the devices for which you are looking for drivers.

There are also separate resources that host drivers for Windows 10. For example, this is the DriverPack Solution website (we talk about it in more detail in the following sections).

Both methods are absolutely safe. If you plan to download drivers from third-party sites, be careful: such software can infect your computer with a virus.

Automatic and manual driver updates

There are several ways to update drivers. As stated above, they usually update automatically. But you can also use the "manual" method if the "Update Center" does not find suitable updates. Let's talk about both methods.

Automatic driver updates

Automatic updating of all software is carried out by the system itself. However, new drivers are not always immediately installed on the computer, because for the correct operation of the device after the update, a reboot is required.

The system automatically sets activity periods: computer usage time and restart periods that are convenient for the owner. It is possible to change these settings, as well as run a check for updates and install them instantly.

1. Open the Start menu and click on the gear button.
2. Go to the Update & Security section.
3. Open the Windows Update tab and click the Check for Updates button to start searching for new drivers, software updates, and operating system updates. After the system checks for updates, they will begin downloading and installing them. After installation, the system will prompt you to restart your computer.
4. If you click on the "Change activity period" item, you can set the time during which updates will not be automatically checked and downloaded.

   By clicking on the item "Change the activity period" you can set the time at which you usually use the computer in order to avoid unwanted downloads of updates during work

5. If you click on the "Restart Options" item, you can choose the time that is convenient for you to restart your computer. The time can only be changed if there are updates pending to restart.
6. If you're going to run the update yourself, first go to "Advanced Options" and make sure "Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows" is checked. Otherwise, only operating system updates will be downloaded.

Video: in Windows 10

How to turn off automatic updates

Some users prefer to use outdated drivers for one reason or another, and therefore they are uncomfortable that the Update Center downloads and installs them automatically. In this case, automatic updating can be disabled.

How to turn off automatic updates

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select System.
2. Find the inscription "Advanced system settings" in the window that opens and click on it.
3. Go to the "Hardware" tab.
4. Click on "Device installation options", check the option "No" and save the changes. After this, updates will not be downloaded automatically.

How to disable Windows 10 Update

1. Press the Win + R key combination to call the Run utility, enter services.msc and click OK.
2. In the window that opens, find "Windows Update" and open it.
3. Click Stop, select the startup type as Disabled, and click OK.

Updating drivers manually

If the Update Center does not find new drivers, you can try updating them yourself.

Auto Search with Device Manager

1. Launch the built-in search. To do this, open the Start menu and simply start typing a query.
2. Type "Device Manager" and open it.
3. Expand the group of the device whose driver you want to install.
4. Right-click on the device you are interested in and select "Update drivers ...".
5. In the window that opens, select "Automatic search ...". The search for the driver will start, after which you can see the result.

Manual update in device manager

Updating Drivers Using Utilities

In addition to the previous update methods, you can use another one: updating drivers through specialized programs. Once installed on a computer, the software analyzes the device. It also finds the appropriate drivers in the system and installs on the computer.

Rating of utilities for updating drivers

Consider the most popular programs of this type.

Driver Pack Solution

DriverPack Solution is considered one of the best. The RBC newspaper even wrote about her:

The utility analyzes the user's computer and installs the necessary drivers on the computer, which allows solving two problems: firstly, to speed up the process of setting up the computer (which is especially important if there are several dozen computers in the system), and secondly, to improve the quality of its work.

RBC newspaper

DriverPack Solution is absolutely free. It matches the parameters of any device and has a huge database of drivers for all computer models. The program scans your computer and updates drivers very quickly. The user is required to press just a couple of buttons. It has already been said that you can also download the necessary drivers on the program website.

The security of the program and installed drivers can be checked by anti-virus programs.

driver booster

This program, like the previous one, works quite quickly, analyzing data and offering to install the latest versions of drivers.

There are paid and free versions. The second is suitable for a simple driver update, but the installation takes place in it one by one. The paid version offers to install all updates automatically. In addition, the version has additional features: accelerated downloading of drivers, improving device performance, creating a backup copy of old drivers, and others.

If you just want to update any driver, the free version is great, but if you want to constantly manage devices, you can purchase the paid one.

Driver Genius

This program provides complete driver management. In addition to updating, it also allows you to uninstall drivers, view device information and create backup copies of drivers, saving them as archives.

The disadvantage of the program is that it is paid. If you need to perform actions with the drivers several times, use the trial version, which is given for thirty days.

Snappy Driver Installer

The application was created by the developers of DriverPack Solution, but is slightly different from this program. It directly scans and searches for drivers. Before installation, the program creates a system restore point.

The application is completely free and works in several languages, including Russian and Ukrainian.

Slim Drivers

The program works quite quickly: the scan result is issued within a couple of minutes. The positive side of the program is that sometimes there are drivers that another program could not find.

Installing the .exe driver

When downloading software from device developer sites, we often receive a file with the .exe extension. The exe extension indicates that the downloaded file is an executable.. You do not need to specify the path to it through the device manager: just run the file, accept the agreement and restart the computer.

As an example, consider how the driver for a graphics tablet is installed.

1. Download the driver from the manufacturer's website. It is important that not only the operating system matches, but also its bit depth.
2. Run the downloaded file to start preparing for installation.
3. Agree with the license agreement. It is advisable to read the agreement before accepting it.
4. After restart your computer.

Software update under Windows 10

Sometimes it happens that when upgrading to a version of Windows 10, drivers optimized for the new operating system are not installed on the computer, and you have to install them yourself.

Before upgrading to Windows 10, make sure your PC meets the system requirements:

• processor frequency - at least 1 GHz;
• RAM - 1 GB for a 32-bit system and 2 GB for a 64-bit system;
• hard disk - 16 GB or 20 GB for 32- and 64-bit systems, respectively;
• DirectX video adapter version 9 or higher with WDDM 1.0 driver;
• display - 800 x 600 pixels;
• installed operating system Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

If your computer meets all the requirements, but after switching to a new operating system, some drivers have not been automatically updated, the first thing to do is contact the Update Center.

Not all updates can be installed immediately when upgrading to version 10, and it is possible that the system simply did not have time to download them.

Graphics Drivers

First of all, try to find suitable drivers on the manufacturer's website. If you could not do this, you will need to check with the manufacturer of the video card. To do this, go to Device Manager and expand the category "Display Adapters". If there is no video adapter driver, you can find out information about it by expanding the Unknown / Unrecognized Devices category.

In our case, this is Intel. Also, AMD and Nvidia are often found. In all three cases, it is very easy to download the installation file by going to the manufacturer's website in the "Support" section and selecting the desired version.

When installing the Nvidia driver, you will also be prompted to install a special program - GeForce Experience, which allows you to further monitor the performance of the drivers. AMD also offers a similar program.

Sound card drivers

You will need to update the sound drivers if there are problems with sound after updating the operating system. As in the previous case, first try to find all the necessary drivers on the website of the computer manufacturer. If there are none, go to the device manager and check the manufacturer of the sound card there (in the category "Sound, game and video devices"). Usually this is Realtek or Intel.

In the case of Realtek, select the Downloads section on the site, open the High Definition Audio Codecs item, agree to the terms, find the chapter corresponding to the operating system, and click the Global button opposite it. After that, the driver download will begin.

The Intel driver is downloaded in a similar way. The website of this manufacturer has a very clear Russian interface.

Mouse and keyboard drivers

First of all, of course, check with the manufacturer. The company logo is usually displayed on both computer mice and keyboards. Go to the manufacturer's website and download the necessary drivers.

For example, to install Logitech drivers on the company's website, you will need to open the "Support" section in the top menu and select the desired product from the list. Each product has photos, so you can identify yours by looking at it.

Under the desired device, click the "Details" button, and in the list that opens, find the "Files to download" item. Next, you will need to specify your operating system and click on the "Download" button. An .exe file will be downloaded to your computer.

Since there are a lot of manufacturers of computer mice and keyboards, it is impossible to describe the process of installing drivers for each individual device. But in general, the installation of drivers occurs exactly as it is shown on the example of the Logitech device.

USB drivers

In this case, the easiest way is to either find the drivers on the computer manufacturer's website, or install a program to update the drivers. As such, there are practically no manufacturers of USB ports, so finding the appropriate driver on your own will be quite difficult. In extreme cases, you can search for a driver by name by checking it in the device manager (section "USB Controllers"), but it's easier to entrust everything to special programs.

Network adapter drivers

If the Internet does not work for you after updating to Windows 10, it will be almost impossible to update the network adapter drivers on your computer. You will have to look for another working device, download the driver file to it and use drives (flash cards or disks) to transfer it to your computer.

Similar to the previous cases, you can find drivers both on the laptop manufacturer's website and on the network card manufacturer's website.

You can specify the manufacturer of the network card through the device manager, in the "Network adapters" category. Most often, the manufacturer is Realtek. There may also be Intel, 3Com and others. There are many manufacturers of network cards. In addition, some computer manufacturers, such as ASUS and HP, install their own adapters.

Monitor drivers

It is best to download drivers from monitor manufacturers' websites. Installation instructions are usually indicated there, although the installation of almost all manufacturers' drivers occurs through the launch of the exe file.

If you do not know the model of your monitor and it is not listed on the hardware itself (usually there is a sticker on the back of the case), you can check the model through your computer. To do this, there are special programs that give all the information about the computer and devices.

In addition, you can find the desired characteristics yourself on the computer:

The open window displays all information about external connected devices, including the monitor. From this section, you can also go to the device manager, which also indicates the manufacturer of the device.

Printer drivers

Manufacturers of printing and reading devices (printers, scanners, copiers) usually include a driver disk in the equipment kit. If there is one, check if the driver is optimized for the new operating system. If not, go to the manufacturer's website and download updated drivers there.

Update drivers for other devices

The principle of updating is the same for drivers of all peripheral devices.

Recall the procedure:

• through the computer settings or device manager, check the manufacturer;
• download the drivers on its website or on the website of the computer manufacturer;
• install them by running the exe file or specifying the path to them through the device manager.

All this work can be done by one of those driver update programs that we talked about above. Or any similar to them.

Video: what drivers are needed for a laptop after installing Windows 10

If you cannot find drivers for Windows 10 for any of your devices, try installing drivers for Windows 8: they should work correctly on the new operating system.

Driver update issues

It happens that the drivers stop updating. Or, after updating them, the computer starts to work worse or some functions are not working. Let's look at the main problems associated with updating drivers and how to fix them.

Report any errors related to the operation of the operating system to technical support. This will allow developers to fix problems and fix them, making the use of the computer more enjoyable.

Why is the driver not updating?

Microsoft offers the following solution to the problem:

• check if the computer is connected to the Internet;
• if the problem is in the automatic driver update, try to wait 5 minutes and install the driver manually;
• try to solve the problem with the troubleshooter, which can be accessed through the "Windows Update".

Also try this:

• make sure that auto-update is allowed on your computer (in the "Disabling auto-update" section of our article, this procedure is described in detail, only the checkmark should be next to the "Yes" ("Allow automatic update" item);
• try using several update methods: through special programs and manually;
• try reinstalling the driver;
• during the update, try disabling or completely uninstalling the antivirus;
• check if there is enough space on the hard drive to install drivers (their "weight" can be found on the manufacturer's website);
• Finally, check if the driver being installed is suitable for your operating system.

Lost sound after update

The issue of the lack of sound after switching to a new operating system has already been discussed above. The situation is different if a similar conflict occurs after a standard update.

First, try rolling back your drivers:

Also try updating the hardware configuration by removing both the device and its drivers:

1. Right-click on the hardware in Device Manager and select the appropriate item from the list.
2. After that, update the driver through the same device manager.

Reinstalling the drivers downloaded from the manufacturer's website may also help.

Operating system won't start after update

It also happens that after the update, the system itself stops starting. But this problem is also solvable.

Blue screen

• if the error opens access to the desktop, try uninstalling the updates. To do this, in the search (next to the Start button), enter the query "View installed updates" and select the appropriate option. Find the latest update that caused the system to crash and click the Uninstall button. If the situation is resolved, temporarily disable auto-update (this process is described in detail above in the article) and report the error to the developers;
• if a blue screen appears with the text "An error occurred while starting the system" or another similar message, click the "Repair" button. After that, the system will roll back to the previous version of Windows 10;
• if there is no Restore button, try restarting your device. If no changes appear, turn off the computer, then turn it on, and at the moment when the operating system logo appears on the screen, turn it off again. After the next power-on, a message will appear stating that the operating system was not started correctly, and a suggestion to restore the system. If this does not help, you will need to use a recovery disk.

Video: Fixing a blue screen error on Windows 10

Black screen

• in some cases, the appearance of a black screen (sometimes with a running cursor) may indicate that updates are being installed. In this case, you should wait a bit and check if the system has worked;
• if a black screen appears after entering credentials, restart your computer. After that, find the restart icon and click on it while holding down the Shift key. In the menu that appears, open the diagnostics, in it the item "Advanced options" and then the item "Recovery".

Reset

Often, system recovery helps to deal with the conflict - resetting all settings to factory settings.

Sometimes for this it is enough to click on the "Recovery" button that opens on the error message. But sometimes you have to use recovery discs, information about which can be found on the official Microsoft website.

Finally, you can try to change the settings through the BIOS, but it is better to entrust this matter to a professional: incorrect actions can drastically disrupt the operation of the device.

FPS dropped after update

FPS is the number of frames per second. Its decrease is usually noticeable in games. If after updating Windows 10 the indicator dropped, you need to update the drivers for the video card by downloading them from the developer's website.

Also try using compatibility mode:

1. Right click on "Start".
2. Open the Control Panel.
3. Open the "Troubleshooting" section, then "Programs" and "Troubleshooting Compatibility Issues".
4. Click the "Next" button and select the program, when working with which you noticed a drop in FPS. Then click "Next".
5. Select the "Diagnostics" item, check the box next to "The program worked on previous versions" and click "Next".
6. Select your previous operating system and click Next.
7. Click Test Program, then Next, and select Save These Settings.

Internet not working after Windows 10 update

If the Internet is lost after the update, try the following:

• remove anti-virus programs;
• remove third-party programs that make changes to the functioning of the system;
• disable the drivers and install them again through the boot file from the manufacturer.

Game won't launch after update

Most likely, manually updating the video adapter drivers with their preliminary removal will help. You can also try using the compatibility mode mentioned above.

So, we have looked at all the ways to update drivers, as well as the problems that may arise after the update. Before you start using Windows 10, be sure to review the system requirements and help to see if the new version of the operating system is right for you. And remember that Windows 10 was released not so long ago, and therefore it may have flaws that will definitely be fixed by developers.