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    17r5 usb constant disconnect

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by LullaienWolfrunner, Sep 13, 2018.

  1. LullaienWolfrunner

    LullaienWolfrunner Newbie

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    Good evening,

    I am having constant issues with my usb devices disconnecting. I have a razer mouse, keyboard, firefly mousepad, and kraken headphones plugged in so i don't think i am really pulling too much current. All of these are plugged in through the usb ports on the alienware graphics amplifier. The devices usually need to be unplugged to work again or the laptop needs to be restarted. Usb selective suspend is off and for some reason device manager keeps changing my settings where I change it to not put things to sleep. Anyone else have this issue?

    Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
     
  2. Muezick

    Muezick Notebook Evangelist

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    I have this problem too but it hasn't been annoying enough for me to want to test and fix it. I assume drivers are the culprit but you'd need to boot into like Linux or something to do serious testing.

    Edit: I'm on the 15 r4 BTW

    Same Mobo I think though.
     
  3. LullaienWolfrunner

    LullaienWolfrunner Newbie

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    Yeah it has gotten really annoying. I've tried a powered usb hub with the same results. I can see its not just an alienware issue but windows 10 as a whole. Several folks have this problem and there is no true solution which is pretty disheartening. Last night i installed some modified intel usb driver which worked for a whole 10 minutes. :( It sucks that i can't even play a game without my usb ports going berserk.
     
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  4. Muezick

    Muezick Notebook Evangelist

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    Try reloading Windows?
     
  5. LullaienWolfrunner

    LullaienWolfrunner Newbie

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    Unfortunately not yet. I'm trying every other route and option before this. This might be what i am doing this weekend though.
     
  6. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Try a Windows 10 PE such as HBCD PE or Sergei Strelec. If the ports work fine for long duration then its okay.
    You may need to uninstall Intel HID driver and the Synaptics/ELAN driver completely using revo with advanced removal for best results.
     
  7. LullaienWolfrunner

    LullaienWolfrunner Newbie

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    Not sure what happened in the past day but my disconnects seem to be gone. Not sure why or how but I'm not complaining.
     
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  8. Pete Light

    Pete Light Notebook Deity

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    Probably a windows update?

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
     
  9. Rassal

    Rassal Notebook Consultant

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    Have the same exact problem here, with a 17R4, except one thing... i am not using the Graphics Amplifier...

    It happens only with my back USB port, the USB-C one, in the back. At first, i was using a USB-C port replicator, without the power adapter, and at some point, the USB port stopped working completly (stopped recognizing anything i plugged in that specific usb port).

    Got the motherboard replaced, and it worked again... except, i haven't used the port replicator anymore, and i still get the disconnects from that port, as it's the port i am using my wireless keyboard from, and from time to time, never the same, it disconnects (i hear Win10 unplug/plug feature) detecting it back again... glitches like that... but it only does it with the rear port..

    Replacing the motherboard did nothing, as i got it replaced a 2nd time, only to see it was doing the same exact thing... i also think it's somewhat a software issue... can't nail it down...
     
  10. equalizer2000

    equalizer2000 Notebook Consultant

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    @Rassal, you still getting this issue? I've been using a Lenovo brand Thunderbolt hub on the back (only one I could find with six USB A ports, all the others on Amazon are only four) - had no issues for weeks, then more and more disconnects. Weird thing is, just unplugging my mouse from the hub and back in will get it working again (it disconnects - plugging back in reconnects it). Port light is still on though, even though mouse is obviously off (it has a light in it, which goes off upon disconnect).

    I was about to ask the seller to replace the hub, but I don't really think it's that. Just curious if you or anyone else has done anything else to remedy this. At worst I was going to try a regular USB A hub, but I really like the fact that ALL my cables are hidden behind the machine (power, and, thanks to TB3, my hub with whatever else I might need plugged into it).
     
  11. Rassal

    Rassal Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, still getting this problem... motherboard was replaced twice... and still the same... so i would assume that it's a software/driver issue... not hardware related, with 2 motherboard swaps...

    Now, i have to say, mine disconnects and reconnects in a matter of seconds, but if you are gaming while it goes out... you lose whatever is plugged in... and this means keyboard, mouse, what-so-ever... not cool at all...

    I did not re-install Win10... this is the only problem i am getting, and i can live with it... since i plugged my mouse and external keyboard on the other USB ports... and it's fine that way.
     
  12. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm seeing the problem intermittently on my USB port besides USB C. I can still use the mouse but I also hear disconnect USB sounds.
     
  13. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    It could be that your USB plug which you are trying to use is funky. Especially powered USB hubs can be total trash.
     
  14. SMOKE_SKULL

    SMOKE_SKULL Notebook Deity

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    My new to me 17 r3 started disconnecting a usb3 external hdd. I moved it to the rear port on the left side and the problem went away. I am wondering if the keyboard lighting works off the from usb port and was causing conflicts?
     
  15. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    The AW17R3 had 1 weird USB port on the left side, dont know if it was the bottom or top port from my memory. But is it a known thing. That one tends to be a bit finnicky and responds badly to devices that do not fully adhere to set USB specs. Especially devices that pull more power cause issues and causes rapid connecting/disconnecting issues.
     
  16. SMOKE_SKULL

    SMOKE_SKULL Notebook Deity

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    I am going to return the Insignia usb 3 hdd enclosure. It keeps dropping out. It actually shows in device manager untill you try and use it then it disappears. I ain't wasting time on it,
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2019
  17. equalizer2000

    equalizer2000 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the updates guys. My issue is via my Thunderbolt dock. But sometimes it doesn't happen for a week. (but when it happens, it happens often - annoying)

    One of those things I wish I could say, makes me want to go back to Mac - except my last MacBook Pro was much worse - because USB would lock up so easily, and then there goes the keyboard and the trackpad (so with no USB bus at all, had to force reboot to get control again, much worse problem than this!). So I basically could not use any USB 3.x gear (that was the culprit).
     
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  18. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Try firmware update sometimes need 16.2.55.275 driver to be installed and you need to connect the TB3 Dock and perform firmware update to latest available ones from XPS or Alienware lineup. If its successful then uninstall 16.x driver and install 17.4.x driver from Intel or Dell and enjoy.