USB 3.0 ports not recognising USB 3.0 devices, but recognises everything else...

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obloquy

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Feb 25, 2018
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Hey, I've got a really bizarre problem... I have 4 USB ports on the top of my tower, 2 USB 2.0 and 2 USB 3.0.

This morning I was transferring some files from c to d drive and I had an external hard drive plugged into one of the usb 3 ports and everything was working. For some reason the files transferring from c to d was unresponsive so I had to forcibly quit.

When I restarted the pc all my usb 3 slots on the top of the tower refused to connect to any other usb 3 device that I have (external HD, usb stick). Oddly though if I connect the usb 3 device into one of the standard usb 2.0 ports it works and shows up.... or if I connect any usb 3 device to any of the usb 3.0 ports in the back of the tower it works.... also if I plug anything thats a usb 2, like a mouse into the usb 3 port on the top of the tower, they work...

For some reason I can't connect usb 3 devices into the front usb 3 ports. I know the ports can't be dodgy considering that you can connect anything else into it, and the 2 devices in questions are fine because they work in the back usb ports of the tower and my MacBook. I've tried everything; updating drivers, reformatting usb devices... even resetting windows 10 itself but nothing seems to make the usb 3 deceive open up when its connected to either of the two 3.0 ports.

I know its a long shot but would anyone be able to help?

OS - Windows 10
CPU - Intel Core i7 6700K
RAM - 32GB
MOBO - ASRock Z170 Professional Gaming i7
 
Solution
C
No. The wiring cannot be faulty or he would not be able to use the USB 3.0 ports at all. Since he has said that the ports in question that he is having problems with will detect USB 2.0 devices, it sounds more to me like the driver for the USB 3.0 ports has designated those ports as having a problem and will not allow USB 3.0 on them.
I would try going into Device Manager, uninstalling the drivers for the USB ports in question and then re-installing them to try to fix the issue.

If that does not work, I would get a flashlight and look in the ports to see if there is any clear physical damage to the ports.

It seems odd that a file transfer would just 'stop working' as well unless you moved the drive and disconnected it (in which case...
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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I suspect that the wiring or cabling of your front usb 3.0 ports is faulty.
To permit usb2.0 compatibility, the 20 pin usb3.0 connector has different pins for usb2.0 operation vs. usb 3.0 operation.

https://www.moddiy.com/pages/USB-2.0-%7B47%7D-3.0-%7B47%7D-3.1-Connectors-%26-Pinouts.html

My guess would be that the cause is in the case usb 3.0 front panel ports or connectors.
Possibly, the motherboard pin connectors are bad.
I find the blue connector with a stiff cable to be difficult to insert and it is easy to bend the motherboard pins.

 
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Christopher1

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Aug 29, 2006
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No. The wiring cannot be faulty or he would not be able to use the USB 3.0 ports at all. Since he has said that the ports in question that he is having problems with will detect USB 2.0 devices, it sounds more to me like the driver for the USB 3.0 ports has designated those ports as having a problem and will not allow USB 3.0 on them.
I would try going into Device Manager, uninstalling the drivers for the USB ports in question and then re-installing them to try to fix the issue.

If that does not work, I would get a flashlight and look in the ports to see if there is any clear physical damage to the ports.

It seems odd that a file transfer would just 'stop working' as well unless you moved the drive and disconnected it (in which case Windows should just pop up an error message).
 
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Solution
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,295
4,145
174,240
Within the usb3.0 ports, there are two sets of pins, one for 2.0 and another for 3.0.
As a theory, a bad pin connection for the 3.0 pins would exhibit the symptoms described.

What can one do about that?
One could ask the case maker for a replacement for the usb3.0 front ports as well as the 20 pin connector and cable.

First, though, look at the usb 3.0 socket on the motherboard to see if any pins are missing or bent.
 
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obloquy

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Feb 25, 2018
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Many thanks guys, I did previously uninstall all the drivers then restart but the ports still weren't recognising the USB 3.0. I had to have a look inside the tower and realised that when it was made I stupidly zip tied the cables together too tightly and then tied the bunch to a bracket so they were out of the way. Anyway I cut the zip tie and released the cables connecting to the ports in question and that seems to have done it!... ;)
 
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