Frustrating USB issues

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Vindictus

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Frustrating USB issues
« on: March 06, 2012, 01:22:51 PM »
I own a Dell Studio 17/1749. Ever since I purchased it (well over a year ago) it has had an issue with any USB device. Basically, when any device is inserted into any port, everything will run normally from anywhere between 15 seconds to 10 minutes before the computer locks up and requires a restart to recover.

I have tried absolutely everything I can think of, to no avail, including:

Upgrading every driver relating to the USB devices and the USB docks
Upgrading the BIOS and any other driver available from Dell
Uninstalling and reinstalling the USB dock and anything associated with it in the device manager (doing this works for 1 start up, then the problems return)
Changing Plug and Play settings to automatic from manual, and making sure it's running properly
Turning off the touch pad and uninstalling/reinstalling its drivers
Keeping windows up to date (lol)

And, finally, sending the laptop to Dell who claimed the hard drive was at fault (wat), who replaced it and sent the laptop back. The problem still persisted and warranty has since run out. I am going to try installing a pirated W7 setup, as I suspect Dell's shitty OEM software and drivers are at fault here. However, I cannot find anyone else with these problems on the internet.

Can anyone help with this?


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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2012, 01:32:10 PM »
Does it do it in safe mode?

Also I would try ..
Force Windows to re-recognize, hopefully correctly, the USB Controllers.
You do that by deleting them in Device Manager and rebooting.
If Vista doesn't do this automatically then, back in Device Manager, click on Action>scan for new hardware.
Vista should find new hardware and re-install drivers for USB.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 01:47:13 PM by Thork »

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Vindictus

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2012, 01:50:11 PM »
I did the safe mode check a long time ago, and I don't recall it having problems which is what lead me to believe that it's Dell's shitty software conflicting somewhere. It seems to still work fine in safe mode.

Also I would try ..
Force Windows to re-recognize, hopefully correctly, the USB Controllers.
You do that by deleting them in Device Manager and rebooting.
If Vista doesn't do this automatically then, back in Device Manager, click on Action>scan for new hardware.
Vista should find new hardware and re-install drivers for USB.

I've done that too, but I'll try again nonetheless.

Edit: Nope, still locks up after I plug in a mouse.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 02:09:17 PM by Vindictus »

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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2012, 01:53:33 PM »
It working in safe mode is good news. Means its not the 5V supply or anything nasty.

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Lorddave

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2012, 02:01:50 PM »
Here's what you do.

Go into the add/remove programs area.

Delete anything that says "dell".

You have been ignored for common interest of mankind.

I am a terrible person and I am a typical Blowhard Liberal for being wrong about Bom.

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EnigmaZV

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2012, 02:07:15 PM »
That's step one of any Dell computer standard install I thought.
I don't know what you're implying, but you're probably wrong.

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Lorddave

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2012, 02:14:58 PM »
That's step one of any Dell computer standard install I thought.
No.
Step one is to wipe the HDD.
You have been ignored for common interest of mankind.

I am a terrible person and I am a typical Blowhard Liberal for being wrong about Bom.

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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2012, 02:18:31 PM »
ITT: People suggesting ridiculous things.

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EnigmaZV

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2012, 04:07:32 PM »
ITT: People suggesting ridiculous things.

Removing all the extra shit that Dell and other manufacturers place on your HDD is something I do whenever I get a new computer, before I do anything else with it.
I don't know what you're implying, but you're probably wrong.

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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2012, 04:14:49 PM »
Then stop buying from manufacturers that include bloatware with their computers. Surely a more sensible solution than "Wipe the HDD"?

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Lorddave

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2012, 04:38:01 PM »
Then stop buying from manufacturers that include bloatware with their computers. Surely a more sensible solution than "Wipe the HDD"?
Some people aren't skilled enough to insert item A into slot B and install drivers.

And who can trust someone to build you a custom system anyway?
You have been ignored for common interest of mankind.

I am a terrible person and I am a typical Blowhard Liberal for being wrong about Bom.

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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2012, 04:44:11 PM »
Some people aren't skilled enough to insert item A into slot B
Poor Ladydave. :'(

And who can trust someone to build you a custom system anyway?
??? I have built 4 for myself and I am little more than a determined ape with a screwdriver.

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EnigmaZV

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2012, 04:49:14 PM »
Then stop buying from manufacturers that include bloatware with their computers. Surely a more sensible solution than "Wipe the HDD"?

Could you suggest a laptop manufacturer that does not include bloatware on their systems? Or are you suggesting I should build my own?
I don't know what you're implying, but you're probably wrong.

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Thork

Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2012, 04:52:27 PM »
Could you suggest a laptop manufacturer that does not include bloatware on their systems?
0.01 seconds. Thanks DuckDuckgo.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2329276,00.asp

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Lorddave

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2012, 05:15:13 PM »
Some people aren't skilled enough to insert item A into slot B
Poor Ladydave. :'(

And who can trust someone to build you a custom system anyway?
??? I have built 4 for myself and I am little more than a determined ape with a screwdriver.
I wasn't including myself in that comment.

Also: it's a laptop so this is a vastly different situation. You can't custom build a laptop. Not easily anyway.
You have been ignored for common interest of mankind.

I am a terrible person and I am a typical Blowhard Liberal for being wrong about Bom.

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Parsifal

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2012, 11:12:16 PM »
Install GNU/Linux. Never worry about vendor bloatware again.

Trust me, it's bliss.
I'm going to side with the white supremacists.

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Vindictus

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2012, 11:51:16 PM »
I already have a Ubuntu and Windows dual boot on the PC (and I was going to try to set up a tri-boot with Debian just because), but on my laptop I need Windows for note taking and playing games. If you can point me to a good Linux friendly program for note taking in lectures, I'll consider using Ubuntu/Debian instead and forget about gaming.

In any case, it was working fine before after removing a chunk of bloatware that had been reinstalled after they returned it to me from the workshop. Now I'll see how it goes, and if the problem returns (which it likely will as it has before after removing bloatware and useless drivers) I'll just wipe the HDD and reinstall W7 without Dell's drivers and other junk.

Edit: Ok, I just found a linux friendly clone of the program I use for note taking. I probably should have google'd this from the start.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 11:55:43 PM by Vindictus »

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Parsifal

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2012, 11:58:50 PM »
Edit: Ok, I just found a linux friendly clone of the program I use for note taking. I probably should have google'd this from the start.

What kind of features do you need for note taking, beyond a basic text editor (of which all operating systems have many available)?
I'm going to side with the white supremacists.

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Vindictus

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2012, 01:21:21 AM »
http://www.evernote.com/ and the Linux clone http://nevernote.sourceforge.net/

Basically, it syncs all the notes to my 1 account and has a few more features on top of basic text editing. This makes reading them at home and during tutorials/practical classes much easier, especially since I can access and edit them on my phone/tablet.

I'm yet to give the Linux version a try, but if it works fine and I still can't get this USB issue resolved then I'll just use Ubuntu for all my school work and only use Windows for games on the home PC.

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Parsifal

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2012, 01:38:39 AM »
I'm yet to give the Linux version a try, but if it works fine and I still can't get this USB issue resolved then I'll just use Ubuntu for all my school work and only use Windows for games on the home PC.

Ubuntu is likely to give you a lot of grief, if not right away, then whenever you decide to upgrade and find half your system breaks. I'd strongly recommend installing Debian instead.

But hey, it's your funeral.
I'm going to side with the white supremacists.

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Lorddave

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #20 on: March 07, 2012, 03:29:37 AM »
I'm yet to give the Linux version a try, but if it works fine and I still can't get this USB issue resolved then I'll just use Ubuntu for all my school work and only use Windows for games on the home PC.

Ubuntu is likely to give you a lot of grief, if not right away, then whenever you decide to upgrade and find half your system breaks. I'd strongly recommend installing Debian instead.

But hey, it's your funeral.
I agree with this statement.
You have been ignored for common interest of mankind.

I am a terrible person and I am a typical Blowhard Liberal for being wrong about Bom.

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Vindictus

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #21 on: March 07, 2012, 11:44:22 AM »
So long as nevernote works with Debian, then I'm happy to run it instead.

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Vindictus

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Re: Frustrating USB issues
« Reply #22 on: March 12, 2012, 09:59:03 PM »
Ok, now I'm going to install Debian, probably as a dual boot but I don't care if I lose W7 on the laptop. Any tips for the process?