USB ports are now working intermittently

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MrPurplz

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Apr 6, 2015
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Everything was OK yesterday. Now, today my USB ports are working intermittently. Specifically my keyboard and mouse. It'll randomly die and come back on again. This goes for every port (including front ports).

The power itself will stay on to the devices but they won't work. My keyboards key lights stay on but 'Num lock' etc won't have lights unless the keyboard is working (i.e can type). Same goes for mouse. Oddly enough my USB wifi dongle seems to hold a stable connection but I'm not sure.

I took the PC to bits and cleaned it up, went round the entire motherboard with microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol. Same issue. However now it seems so be holding somewhat more stable, suggesting it may be something to do with it being dirty.

I've typed this post with it only cutting out once, before it would do it every few seconds.

Since it's both the front ports and the back it seems like it's not a port issue. Could be something to do with the part of the motherboard that handles USB connections?

Everything else working ok. This problems persists in the BIOS so it's not an OS issue.

It's an MSI GD-55 motherboard. Could someone point out which part handles USB? I have a suspicion it's that rectangle in the bottom left of the mobo.

Any other suggestions?


Image of motherboard http://cdn3.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012013006595122.jpg
 
Solution
Rogue Leader
I hear ya, trust me been there, had to spend many a night using the library computers.

1155 performance boards yes are becoming more scarce but the Z77 chipset (which you have) is harder to find as well. It was the fastest chipset of that generation, the new Z87 is not available in 1155. The closest board I could find to yours would be this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=lga1155_socket_motherboard-_-13-157-293-_-Product

From ASRock, its (feature wise) almost the same, but definitely better quality. That said I'm not sure of your budget but it is $130 US.

The drawbacks of cheaper ones? Slower SATA bus, not the same sound processors and support (not relevant if you have an...
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MrPurplz

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Apr 6, 2015
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Yes, I updated it yesterday which did actually seem to help with the original issue. Unfortunately today the entire PC is going between not turning on at all (nothing), and coming on for 1 second before restarting.

I've reseated everything minus the CPU since I don't have thermal paste (ordered some) but I think it's unlikely to be the CPU.

I've tested the PSU with a multimeter to ensure all pins are putting out what they should. Replaced CMOS battery, no effect. Tried booting with no RAM/GPU etc. Still either restarting after 1 sec or doing nothing at all. I think the board is dead :(

One thing which may have contributed was I used a pressurized air can to blow under the 'MSI' rectangle in the picture. My theory is this may have left some conductive residue which has shorted the board
 
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Rogue Leader

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How long has this PC had this issue? I doubt using compressed air near the SB caused this, unless the can was upside down and you pushed moisture in there. The problem you are describing now sounds like a bent pin on the CPU, however you didn't remove the CPU. That said, some pins on a CPU have very minimal functionality, so the computer could work fine and then start having some goofy issues (such as the USB not working right) before it craps out. Its worth a look (at this point you're dead in the water anyway). Also just for the hell of it try clearing the CMOS.

Do you have a PC speaker that you can get any beep codes out of? If you pull your CPU and start it up it should give you an error "No CPU Detected", if it doesn't do that, then your board is done.

Don't feel bad, anytime I'm helping someone and I'm stumped for ideas I go ahead and search out the issue. Both the USB and the boot loop are common issues with this board. So its probably not something you did wrong.
 
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MrPurplz

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No speaker unfortunately. The CMOS would have reset when I pulled the battery right? Very grateful for your help mate. I'll reseat my CPU when my thermal paste arrives but if it was the CPU it'd still turn on a little bit as opposed to it currently not doing anything right? (the mobo has a light that comes on when it receives power even if the system is off, this is currently off)

I am however adamant it's got something to do with underneath the MSI rectangle! Presumably this is not coming off/on without some serious tools/expertise? Any tips for trying to clean underneath it? Might as well give it a go.
 
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Rogue Leader

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Yeah if you pulled the battery it would reset the CMOS so you're covered there. If it was the CPU with a bent pin (or whatever other issue) yes it would power up all the time and then just go into that boot loop. The fact its intermittent tells me your board likely crapped.

As for that rectangle its the heatsink for the southbridge, if you look on the opposite side of the board where it is there may be anchors holding it on you can remove. If not then it is glued on with a thermal paste/glue, its really not made to be removed. If you do remove it (somehow), you will find a single chip soldiered to the board. I guess its possible you blew something in there that would short it out, but if you did short it out its shot anyway.
 
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MrPurplz

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Well it turns out there was screws on the back of the board, managed to pop it off and clean the surrounding area. Now when I plug the cable in I get the light indicating power to the board but it doesn't turn on at all. I guess this an improvement on there being no indication of any power at all.

I think I'm basically out of options at this point. I thank you very much for your assistance.
 
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Rogue Leader

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Thats definitely an improvement. You may not be out just yet, try the CPU next, check for bent pins, etc, that may have you covered.
 
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MrPurplz

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Just went for it and pulled the CPU. All the pins look fine. Threw it back together and we're now back to square one of it either not showing any power at all, or turning on for 2 seconds.

SOL?
 
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Rogue Leader

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Yeah at this point I would say you're SOL. If you are out of warranty on that board I would consider another brand (I prefer ASUS personally, and I've been through quite a few boards) and at least definitely not that model. Both issues you have found are common on that board series specifically. MSi used to be great but I seem to see a lot of issues with them on here (Gigabyte as well, but I have had bad experiences with them, so I never recommend them).

Also I hope you got the thermal paste and put it on there, a CPU cannot last very long at all without the heatsink so if it did start up fine it wouldn't last too long before it cooked the CPU. Since the board is shot anyway and wont stay alive for more than a couple seconds you're probably fine.
 
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MrPurplz

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Ah well. I do appreciate you helping me along with this. I didn't get new thermal paste, I just didn't remove what was there, I know that's really bad practice but I have a dissertation to be writing and just wanted to try make the initial error fixed to get it out of my mind after spending the best part of two days on this.

It seems 1155 boards are somewhat hard to come by now. I don't really know much about motherboards, only did my research at the time a couple of years ago. Can you recommend a board that has the same capability as this that won't break the bank?

Ebay has some cheapish 1155 boards - what are the main drawbacks over a £40 motherboard over what I had?
 
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Rogue Leader

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Dec 22, 2014
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I hear ya, trust me been there, had to spend many a night using the library computers.

1155 performance boards yes are becoming more scarce but the Z77 chipset (which you have) is harder to find as well. It was the fastest chipset of that generation, the new Z87 is not available in 1155. The closest board I could find to yours would be this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=lga1155_socket_motherboard-_-13-157-293-_-Product

From ASRock, its (feature wise) almost the same, but definitely better quality. That said I'm not sure of your budget but it is $130 US.

The drawbacks of cheaper ones? Slower SATA bus, not the same sound processors and support (not relevant if you have an external sound card), slower PCI slots. If you just need a computer to tap out term papers then sure, but if you want to have the same game performance you will notice it.
 
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MrPurplz

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Apr 6, 2015
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Thanks very much. Had a small moment of joy, it was restarting every 2 seconds again so decided to unplug everything on the board piece by piece. It powered on as soon as I disconnected the CPU fan. Turned it off, grabbed the monitor cable but it's back to being dead. Think it was just a coincidence.

That board is available in the UK at just under £100. It's a stretch but I'll be able to get it in a month or so after I get next payment.

Thanks again
 
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Rogue Leader

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Dec 22, 2014
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I agree just a coincidence.

Hope your new build works out, good luck.
 
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