HP Spectre USB problems

[mmccullo]

I have started experiencing problems with the USB-3 and USB-C ports on this 14 month old laptop. When I plug in a device and start file transfers in Windows Explorer, the transfer slows to a crawl -- especially with large files. The transfer rate starts fast and then it falls and eventually stalls to a hang up. This happens with Windows 10 release 1803 and 1809. My devices are a mix of normal HDs, SATA SSDs, and NVMe SSDs in external cases of different manufacturers.

Once a USB drive experiences this wonkiness on the 15" Spectre ports it also seems to be somehow "damaged" and acts strange on other computers. I have multiple antivirus scanners and nothing is found. Drive integrity checks also find no issues.

In CrystalDiskMark, the behavior is that the Random Read 4KiB locks up. This is very reproducible with several different devices and in fact it will freeze the entire Windows desktop until the USB device is pulled. I also see this behavior, once the drive is "touched", on a second HP Spectre x360 Convertible 13-ae0xx laptop as well -- in fact the capture below is from the 13" laptop. I had to pull the USB drive because it stalled the entire Windows desktop!

I can take the same drive to a Mac with USB-2 ports and it works without issue and transfers GB's of files of all sizes without such stalls.

Where can I find some USB driver updates? My Spectre USB ports are increasingly non-functional and wonky! I have all the latest HP updates through the Support Assistant app including BIOS updates.

[The_Fossette]

@mmccullo,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

I recommend you update the chipset driver from the below link and check if it helps.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers

If you continue facing the issue, I recommend you perform a system restore back to the date when the USB ports were working fine.

Follow the steps in the below article to perform a system restore.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03327545

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

[The_Fossette]

@mmccullo,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

I recommend you update the chipset driver from the below link and check if it helps.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers

If you continue facing the issue, I recommend you perform a system restore back to the date when the USB ports were working fine.

Follow the steps in the below article to perform a system restore.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03327545

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

[mmccullo]

I updated the Chipset Driver to the latest dated version for Windows v1809. This appeared to to have updated the USB drivers to a date of 9/24/18.

I ran the CrystalDiskMark again and sure enough it once again failed -- but this time I got a blue screen death with a "DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE". I think that is a hint that my external devices are pulling too much current under heavy use -- especially the newest NVMe USB-C/USB-3 external enclosures. I have a port extender that has its own power supply option. I will try that and report back. At least this is progress as I got a hint as to the possible reasons for stalling!

[The_Fossette]

@mmccullo,

Thank you for keeping me posted.

I recommend you perform a system restore if you continue facing the issue.

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!