Alienware Replaced my MB with Non-USB 3 Ports...

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Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,546
238
106
Dells are VERY stingy on BIOS options, so if you go through all options and don't see it listed, then there would be no way to disable it from that end. To get into the bios, Dells generally go with th F2 key. You would press this immediately after starting the laptop.
 

cohenfive

Senior member
Aug 30, 2002
949
0
71
Ok, here is what the bios says on my laptop, for anything that relates to usb...

Intel speed step...enabled
virtualization....enabled
integrated nic....enabled
usb emulation.....enabled
usb powershare....DISABLED
usb wake support....DISABLED
sata operation.....AHCI
external usb ports.....enabled
usb debug.....DISABLED
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,546
238
106
K. So the next place I would look is the name of the USB controller in device manager.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,546
238
106
As you have noticed, these are a pain when they don't work correctly, but these issues don't occur too often.

You said that you tried the latest driver. Can you tell us specifically what driver you tried?
 

cohenfive

Senior member
Aug 30, 2002
949
0
71
I just updated the driver for the eXtensible usb 3.0 controller with c216 chipset directly from the Intel website. Rebooted the computer and got the same usb 3.0 error message.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,546
238
106
The Dell link you listed was the USB driver for the model you listed.

Hmm.

If it were me I would grab another drive and do a Dell Recovery (full install) on it. Not sure if that is an option for you. The key is I would like to know if this is some strange software problem, or if there is something actually wrong with the chip on your board.

Out of curiosity, what BIOS is on yours, and how does it compare to the latest on Dell's site?
 
Feb 25, 2011
16,823
1,493
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I just updated the driver for the eXtensible usb 3.0 controller with c216 chipset directly from the Intel website. Rebooted the computer and got the same usb 3.0 error message.

*ahem* Point of order:

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN150711/EN

It probably doesn't matter, since it's the same basic chipset, more or less (the drivers should be compatible) but it looks like you have an HM77, not a c216.

(Unless you have the older model, not the R2, in which case you have an HM67, and your USB3 ports aren't built into the chipset, but provided by a third-party controller, probably AsMedia.)

The process for nuking your driver cache and starting over again is pretty well documented if you google for it - I'm assuming that up until now you've just reinstalled the driver(s) over the previous one. (?) I think you need to clean 'em.

The only other thing I'd recommend at this point is upgrading to Windows 8.1. I know, I know, OMG START MENU - I'm still using 7 on my main rig - but here's the deal: You probably have had this problem since the get-go, and just never noticed because you weren't using USB3 devices.

My experience with USB3-equipped computers has been very hit or miss with Win7. I clung to 7 because of the Classic Theme and start menu, and I was able to get USB3 working well enough for thumb drives and HDDs, but I finally gave up about a year ago with HTPC build that wouldn't recognize anything plugged into its USB3 ports at all in Win7, but which worked like a champ under Win8. Bluetooth (I never could get a Bluetooth headset working in Win7) also "just works" in Win8.

And I still have weird issues with the USB3 ports on my main machine. (Like keyboards that freeze up.) Never seems to happen with the USB2 ports.
 

crashtech

Lifer
Jan 4, 2013
10,556
2,139
146
So, have the USB ports been physically inspected for the presence of the extra connections, or not? I would assume that to be job 1.
 
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