USB port issue

[KatyJ1974]

My daughter is having issues with USB ports. She had an error message saying the last USB device connected malfunctioned and windows does not recognise it. When she turns the laptop on it makes the noise of a USB connecting and disconnecting even though there is nothing connected to either USB port. We have restarted the laptop with nothing in either USB drive but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated Thank you

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @KatyJ1974 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

That sounds really frustrating—especially when the laptop insists something’s connecting and disconnecting even though nothing’s plugged in. Let’s try a few steps to calm down those phantom USB noises and get things working properly again.

🧠 What Might Be Happening

• A ghost device could be stuck in the system’s memory
• A driver glitch might be causing Windows to misinterpret signals
• A power management setting could be toggling USB ports off and on
• Or there could be a hardware fault like a loose internal connection

🛠️ Step-by-Step Fixes to Try

Reset USB Controllers

• Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager)
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
• Right-click each item and choose Uninstall device
• Restart the laptop—Windows will reinstall fresh drivers automatically

Disable USB Power Saving

• In Device Manager, right-click each USB Root Hub
• Go to Properties > Power Management
• Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
• Repeat for all USB hubs listed

Turn Off USB Selective Suspend

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Edit Plan Settings
• Click Change advanced power settings
• Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting
• Set it to Disabled

Check for Hidden Devices

• In Device Manager, click View > Show hidden devices
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and Other devices
• Right-click and uninstall any greyed-out or unknown devices

Run the Hardware Troubleshooter

• Press Windows + R, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and hit Enter
• Follow the prompts to detect and fix hardware issues

Scan for System File Errors

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
• This will check for and repair corrupted system files

If the issue persists after these steps, it might be worth checking the laptop’s BIOS settings or even temporarily disabling USB ports to see if the noise stops. 

Let me know how it goes—I’ll be right here to help with the next move if needed! 😊

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye