5 Minute HelpDesk – USB Device not Recognised in Windows
Ways to fix USB device not recognised or malfunctioned error in Windows
- Select Start.
- In the Search box, type and select Device Manager.
- Select Disk Drives
- Right-click on the USB external hard drive with the issue.
- Select Uninstall.
- Once the hard drive is uninstalled – unplug the USB cable, wait for 1 minute and reconnect USB cable.
- In the Windows Explorer, check for the USB drive. Usually, the driver should automatically load.
Note – Plug the USB external hard drive directly to the computer. A non-powered USB hub may lack enough power to operate an external drive.
Solution 2 – Install the latest device drivers- Select Start.
- Type Windows Update in the Search box.
- Select Windows Update and then select Check for Updates.
- Select Review optional updates once the scan is complete.
- Check the box next to updates and select Install Updates.
- You may be prompted to review the license agreement. Select, I Accept.
- Follow instructions to download and install the updates.
- You may be prompted to reboot your computer.
- Select Start.
- In the Search box, type and select Device Manager.
- From the list select Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click a device and select Uninstall.
- Repeat for each device.
- Once complete, you will need to restart the computer. Your USB controllers should automatically install.
- Select Start.
- Type power plan in the Search box.
- Select Choose a power plan.
- Click on Change Plan Settings next to the currently selected plan.
- Select Change advanced power settings.
- Click on USB Settings > USB selective suspend settings.
- Select Plugged in > Disabled from the drop-down menu.
- On a laptop, select Battery, select the drop-down menu, and then select disabled.
- Select Apply > OK.
- Find the motherboard manufacturer. Your computer’s documentation should contain this information.
- Visit your computer manufacturer’s website and find the appropriate drivers for your motherboard.
- Follow instructions on installing the drivers.
Jargon Buster
Motherboard – a printed circuit board, which contains the principal components of a computer or any device.
USB Driver – a file that lets a hardware device communicate with a computer’s operating system.
Gordon is the Service Delivery Manager at The Computing Australia Group, he is responsible for the delivery of all Computing Australia technical support services. It is a busy portfolio to manage as we have a lot of techs and our clients generate thousands of new tickets every day. If you are looking for a tech company that is passionate about service delivery, give Computing Australia a go. Many of our clients have been with us for all of our last 20 years of operation which is something we are all proud of here.