GA-MA78G-DS3H (rev. 1.0) USB ports vanishing

[atsa2]

Thought I'd put this out to see if other brains than mine can come up with solutions to what currently has me tearing my hair out.

My PC is a Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H, with Phenom 8450 Triple-Core, 8GB of RAM, 5 HDD running Windows7 Professional 64 bit, 630w Hiperpower psu. All has been running fine since Jan 2009.

The problem is a few weeks ago I had my Android phone (HTC Desire) plugged into one of the front USB ports to charge when something updated & required a restart. Without thinking I let it. The reboot got as far as the bios splash screen, and after 10 minutes or so I pulled the plug. The next boot was fine, but I soon became aware that all was not well...

Since then my USB ports have been flaky. (This motherboard supports 12 USB ports-4 on board & 8 via headers-and all of these were connected.) If I used the front ports then whatever I connected was not recognised, and on a shutdown it would hang then restart to tell me Windows had recovered from a serious error. I have tried replacing the USB drivers, removing all USB devices from device manager and letting Windows redetect, and even a clean, fresh install of windows 7 on a blank hdd, all with differing levels of failure. The last failed plan was to disconnect all header cables and just use the on board ports. I have managed to get all/some ports working at some time, but they do not survive a shutdown/reboot and currently I have no working USB ports at all.

I am assuming a voltage surge occurred at some time during the first restart, but don't know if it has damaged the motherboard the psu or both, and I'm hoping that someone will be able to come up with a diagnostic that will let me identify the faulty culprit.

Assuming that at least part of the motherboard is faulty, a replacement gives me another problem. I use a KVM to control 3 computers with one keyboard and mouse-both PS/2, and many of the current motherboards have only one port for keyboard OR mouse.

Any solutions/suggestions gratefully received, and Merry Christmas.

[absic]

Hi there,

first thing I would try now is re-flashing BIOS using QFlash just in case  something there has been affected. Remember to disable the "Keep DMI Data" option on the QFlash Homescreen before running the update as this will help clear things.

[atsa2]

Thanks for the reply, forgot to mention I've done that as well.
New thing I've only just noticed, instead of going into sleep my machine just powers off now. Haven't actually seen it to see what happens, but judging from the start up messages it just cuts power - pointing at psu?

[absic]

Well, I have to say that this is a new one on me and I guess there could be an issue with the PSU and/or Mobo hardware and the only way of knowing for sure is to try swapping the PSU for one that you know is working fine or checking the output voltages using a voltmeter.

When you re flashed the BIOS did you use the same version? It might be worth trying a different version (if your CPU supports it) as this may help.
Another thought, have you tried doing an extended clear of CMOS?

[atsa2]

One extended clear of CMOS later (I'm sure I'll find that jumper again someday) and on that last boot it seemed to behave itself, the USB device I left plugged in worked, and it shut down properly. I've been here before so I'm leaving it off for a while before booting it again, now on PC#2.
When I flashed the BIOS I took it to version 8? from 4 - the latest non-beta version that @BIOS detected anyway.
Thanks for the help-fingers crossed...

[atsa2]

As feared, left machine overnight powered off (switched off at wall) when powered on tested the USB device (webcam) that I previously had been testing with and the fault is still there. Yesterday after the extended CMOS clear it worked, even after a reboot, but today no signs of life and the shutdown-hang-blue screen-reboot with "recovered from serious error" cycle continued.
Bios confirmed as version F8.

[Dark Mantis]

What was the STOP code on the BSOD today as that might help to pin down the error ?

[atsa2]

Haven't noted them down...ooops!
Been into the minidump file which contains "Probably caused by : usbhub.sys ( usbhub+17fa )".
Think I've eliminated the power supply as I went and got another one, have the same problems still.
usbhub.sys is one of the files I have removed and replaced with a clean version.

[absic]

Sorry to repeat myself but I still feel that re-flashing the BIOS is probably the best course of action here, especially as an extended clear of CMOS seemed to help yesterday.

As I said previously DO NOT use @BIOS but use QFlash instead. Update to the F9E BIOS and disable the "Keep DMI Data" option on the QFlash homescreen before actually running the update. I know it says that this is a BETA version but it will be OK to use it and if it doesn't help you can always flash back to the F8.

[atsa2]

Impressive reply speed! Must've timed it just right.
Latest BSOD, missed the code again but got this from Windows error box:

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:   BlueScreen
  OS Version:   6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
  Locale ID:   2057

Additional information about the problem:
  BCCode:   fe
  BCP1:   0000000000000008
  BCP2:   0000000000000006
  BCP3:   0000000000000006
  BCP4:   FFFFFA80083D8000
  OS Version:   6_1_7601
  Service Pack:   1_0
  Product:   256_1

Bit of a problem with QFlash... Got rid of all my floppy drives a while ago, got a USB one in case I needed it, haven't tried it in a while (think I Know where it is) but I currently have no USB ports that work, even in QFlash the USB stick I tried wasn't seen.
Think I'm up said creek without said implement   

[absic]

Have you tried the USB ports when in BIOS?
QFlash operates in this mode, not via windows and if you have a USB pendrive it might be worth trying. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If you're not sure on how to use QFlash check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.msg13929.html#msg13929 as it might answer some or all of your questions.

[geekyadz]

Have you tried the USB ports when in BIOS?
QFlash operates in this mode, not via windows and if you have a USB pendrive it might be worth trying. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If you're not sure on how to use QFlash check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.msg13929.html#msg13929 as it might answer some or all of your questions.

Ive got a "mad idea" (and the last one I had worked: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,3645.0.html post 11)

Remember the time when I had to flash a board's BIOS to upgrade the CPU? Well I found some things out.

The idea would be to put all of the files (unzipped) onto a CD and then use the Qflash to find them. Not happening? Not to worry.

Make a bootable CD that launches FLASHSPI.EXE and then that should work. Just make sure it is the one that absic has mentioned.

My only problem with this method is the "waste of CD's" 

[atsa2]

Tried the USB when in the BIOS, no luck at all.
When in QFlash only drive A shows up (despite not having one)
Tried putting a bootable cd in, but QFlash couldn't see any files-does it only 'see' BIOS file types?
Now I have one! Had a rummage through the "thought I'd thrown this away" spares box and found an old Mitsumi, now dangling out of side of case. Only diskettes I can find seemed to take the files, but QFlash couldn't see them, now windows can't, and also won't format it.  
Think it time to follow the advice in Absic's tag line, but I might introduce a cigarette as well.
More if I find more diskettes...

Update @ 20:50

More diskettes found, and my USB floppy drive. Managed to update to the F9E BIOS, without keeping the DMI data, but no difference. With only the motherboard USB ports connected (no headers) unable to get any USB device recognised. Unless there are any more suggestions I guess I'll just have to accept that my m/b is somehow hosed and start planning a successor. I'd love to know exactly what has been broken and how, and just not reboot while charging a phone in future.

I'm open to suggestions as to what to replace with, I would like 2 PS/2 ports for KVM reasons but it seems that this is not possible any more with Gigabyte.

Thanks for the help so far, and any more if it comes.

Regards & Merry Christmas again.

Now the creature stirring in this house will not be the lunatic shouting at his mouse  

[atsa2]

@Dark Mantis
stop code was 0x000000FE

[Dark Mantis]

Happy Christmas.

First thing I would advise you to do would be to go to Control Panel/System Properties/Advanced System Settings/Advanced tab/Startup and Recovery/Settings and untick the box marked Automatically restart and then OK.
That will stop the system rebooting before you can see what the BSOD says.

Make sure that you have the drivers loaded for your USB components when in the BIOS or before Windows. Enable Legacy USB Devices and Legacy USB Storage. You should find that you pendrive will now be seen although it might appear as a hard drive.

FE STOP code is normally to do with the USB drivers.

Obviousl;y make sure that all your USB related drivers are up to date. I would also suggest making sure that the front USB port connnector isn't plugged into the firewire header on the motherboard  as they are physically the same.