Sometimes it becomes necessary to disable USB ports on a computer or laptop in order to limit access to connect flash drives, hard drives and other USB devices. Disabling USB ports will help prevent the connection of any drives that could be used to steal important information or cause a virus to infect your computer and spread malware across the local network.

Restricting access to USB ports

Let's consider 7 ways, with which you can block USB ports:

1. Disabling USB through BIOS settings
2. Changing registry settings for USB devices
3. Disabling USB ports in Device Manager
4. Uninstalling USB controller drivers
5. Using Microsoft Fix It 50061
6. Using additional programs
7. Physically disconnecting USB ports

1. Disabling USB ports through BIOS settings

1. Enter BIOS settings.
2. Disable all items related to the USB controller (for example, USB Controller or Legacy USB Support).
3. After you have made these changes, you need to save the settings and exit the BIOS. This is usually done using the key F10.
4. Restart your computer and make sure the USB ports are disabled.

2. Enable and Disable USB Drives Using Registry Editor

If disabling via BIOS does not suit you, you can block access directly in the Windows OS itself using the registry.

The instructions below allow you to block access to various USB drives (for example flash drives), but other devices such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners will still work.

1. Open the Start menu -> Run, enter the command " regedit" and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
2. Continue to next section
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

3. On the right side of the window, find the item “ Start” and double-click on it to edit. Enter value " 4 » to block access to USB storage devices. Accordingly, if you enter the value again “ 3 ", access will be reopened.

Click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart your computer.

The above method only works when the USB controller driver is installed. If a driver has not been installed for security reasons, the Start setting may be automatically reset to 3 when the user connects the USB drive and Windows installs the driver.

3. Disable USB ports in Device Manager

1. Right-click on the " Computer" and select the "Properties" item in the context menu. A window will open on the left side of which you need to click on the link “ device Manager».
2. In the device manager tree, find the item " USB controllers" and open it.
3. Disable controllers by right-clicking and selecting the "Disable" menu item.

This method doesn't always work. In the example shown in the figure above, disabling the controllers (the first 2 points) did not lead to the desired result. Disabling the 3rd option (USB Mass Storage Device) worked, but this only allows you to disable a single instance of the USB storage device.

4. Removing USB controller drivers

Alternatively, to disable the ports, you can simply uninstall the USB controller driver. But the disadvantage of this method is that when the user connects a USB drive, Windows will check for drivers and, if they are missing, will offer to install the driver. This in turn will allow access to the USB device.

5. Prevent users from connecting USB storage devices using a Microsoft application

Another way to deny access to USB drives is to use Microsoft Fix It 50061(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823732/ru - the link may open near the mituta). The essence of this method is that 2 conditions for solving the problem are considered:

• The USB drive has not yet been installed on the computer
• The USB device is already connected to the computer

Within the scope of this article, we will not consider this method in detail, especially since you can study it in detail on the Microsoft website using the link given above.

It should also be noted that this method is not suitable for all versions of Windows OS.

6. Using programs to disable/enable access to USB storage devices

There are many programs for setting a ban on access to USB ports. Let's consider one of them - the program USB Drive Disabler.

The program has a simple set of settings that allow you to deny/allow access to certain drives. USB Drive Disabler also allows you to configure alerts and access levels.

7. Disconnecting USB from the motherboard

While physically unplugging USB ports on a motherboard is nearly impossible, you can unplug ports on the front or top of your computer by unplugging the cable that goes to the motherboard. This method will not completely block access to USB ports, but will reduce the likelihood of using drives by inexperienced users and those who are simply too lazy to connect devices to the back of the system unit.

! Addition

Denying access to removable media through the Group Policy Editor

In modern versions of Windows, it is possible to restrict access to removable storage devices (including USB drives) using the Local Group Policy Editor.

1. Run gpedit.msc through the Run window (Win + R).
2. Go to the next branch " Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Access to Removable Storage Devices»
3. On the right side of the screen, find the “Removable drives: Deny read” option.
4. Activate this option ("Enable" position).

This section of Local Group Policy allows you to configure read, write, and execute access for different classes of removable media.

Selecting a boot disk

In BIOS it is better not to set the disk drive as the first boot device. Instead of a disk drive, specify a hard drive.

Most PCs set the disk drive as the priority boot device by default. This option will slow down the PC boot for a couple of seconds as it will check to see if there is a boot floppy in the drive. There is also no need to do this because there is a danger of becoming infected with a boot virus from a “dirty” floppy disk. And how often do you boot from a floppy disk? And why do you need this disgusting sound of accessing an empty drive? It is better to set the hard drive as the first boot device.

In BIOS Setup, it is possible to specify the devices from which booting is possible, as well as the order in which they are checked. Let's look at how to remove the disk drive from the first boot device. To do this, select Advanced BIOS Features, Boot Sequence, then select 1st Boot Device and change its value from Floppy to Hard Disk. In principle, a hard drive can also be called HDD-O. As a result, the computer will boot directly from the hard drive, bypassing the floppy disk. Of course, if necessary, the boot order can always be restored by returning to BIOS Setup.

But now, even if the computer does not try to boot from the floppy disk, it will still check the disk drive when booting, wasting time. To avoid checking the drive, set the Boot Up Floppy Seek option to Disabled.

Speed ​​up PC boot using BIOS

As you understand, to speed up loading it is important that the PC does not check unnecessary devices, but boots immediately from the hard drive. In addition, it is better to disable the search for new hard drives and other devices. If you do not often change the set of hard drives in the system, then set the search time to zero. To do this, in the Main menu, set the Timeout value to 0.

How to enable USB 2.0 support in BIOS

USB: If you installed Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you should enable the USB 2.0 Controller option.

On many motherboards, the USB Controllers option is set to USB 1.1 mode by default. This is due to the fact that Windows XP without Service Packs (and special patches) does not support USB 2.0. This is why USB 2.0 support usually has to be enabled manually.

To enable USB 2.0 in BIOS Setup, set the option to Enabled (as shown in the illustration above) or to V1.1+V2.0. But remember that to use the USB 2.0 interface, you must install at least Service Pack 1 for Windows XP.

How to solve problems with USB devices using BIOS

Some flash drives, MP3 players, and USB flash drives are powered by a USB port. If there is not enough power, the device will not work. This is why you should make sure that the USB port provides enough power for such devices.

Check if your BIOS has an option called USB 2.0 HS Reference Voltage. If there is, then change the value from Low or Medium to High or Maximum.

How to change the PC's response to a power outage in the BIOS?

In the Power Management section of BIOS Setup, you can specify how the computer will react when the power is turned off. The AC Power Loss Restart or Restore on AC Power Loss options in the BIOS are responsible for the behavior of the computer after a power outage and subsequent power restoration. Set this option to On or Enabled if you want the computer to boot automatically. Either Off or Disabled otherwise.

How to check PC temperature and status via BIOS

BIOS provides information about the operating parameters of your PC. You can monitor the real-time status of vital system components, including the CPU, fans, power supply and hard drives. For example, you can enable an alarm in the BIOS if the processor exceeds a certain temperature, or even implement an emergency shutdown. As a result, your system will not overheat.

Various items in the Health or H/W Control sections allow you to monitor changes in voltages, as well as temperature sensors. Most BIOS display values ​​for the temperature of the processor and case, and in some versions other temperatures, say, of the hard drive or motherboard chipset. In addition, in the BIOS you can find out the fan rotation speed (in rpm).

How to fix problems with coolers using BIOS

If your PC won't boot, it could be because the cooler is spinning too low or stopping altogether. This situation is especially common with high-end coolers, whose rotation speed depends on temperature. They may spin very slowly (or stop altogether) at low temperatures, causing the BIOS to think the fan has failed. In such cases, correct BIOS settings help.

Set the CPU Fan Failure Warning option in the BIOS to Disabled. When you disable this option, the computer will boot even if the fan is spinning at low speed. Of course, there is another problem: you may not be able to enter the BIOS at all, since the computer may refuse to boot for the reason mentioned above (in many BIOSes this option is set to Enabled by default). In this case, you will have to temporarily connect any cheap cooler to the motherboard, which always rotates at maximum speed. And after disabling the setting, you can connect a high-end model.

How to avoid system crash

Modern hard drives can detect symptoms or problems that precede drive failure and alert the BIOS. This feature is called Self Monitoring And Reporting Technology (SMART). Enabling HDD SMART Capability allows the BIOS to send warnings to programs like Norton System Works or the well-known free utility SpeedFan. As a result, the user receives information about the status of the drives. This opportunity allows you to take the necessary measures as soon as the first symptoms of an impending failure begin to appear.

Connecting old printers and scanners (LPT)

Parallel port: The fastest mode is ECP + EPP.

A computer's parallel port (LPT) typically only works in one direction. This setting is suitable for almost all devices, although the transfer speed is limited to 100 kbps. You can switch the LPT port to a more modern mode, which gives speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s.

To do this, you need to enable the ECP (Extended Capability Port) or EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) mode. In fact, you can enable both modes at once by setting the ECP/EPR or ECP + EPP option.

Warning: if you have several devices connected to one port, problems may arise with speed modes. In such situations, we can recommend purchasing an additional PCI expansion card, which will allow you to add a second LPT port. Or buy a USB-LPT adapter. Or, of course, upgrade to a more modern scanner or printer.

This part of the section is addressed to demanding users who want to speed up boot times as much as possible, optimize system parameters, and fully utilize the computing resources of the PC, the capabilities of the motherboard chipset and memory.

How to enable BIOS to display POST test results during boot

When booting a PC, many computers display multi-colored manufacturer logos instead of POST (Power-on Self-Test) lines. But, it seems to us, it will be much more useful to see which element of the computer is being tested, and with what results.

In the Advanced BIOS Features section, find the Full Screen LOGO Display item and set it to Disabled. After this, you will be able to observe the results of all PC tests during boot.

How to configure the BIOS to make your PC boot even faster

Using BIOS, you can further reduce the boot time of your PC, reducing the time of the first test. Of course, we recommend doing this only if all PC components are working stably. For example, you can enable the BIOS to check available memory once instead of three times. To do this, go to the Advanced or Advanced BIOS Features section, find the Quick Power On Self Test or Quick Boot option and set it to Enabled.

How to enable another video card in BIOS

If your computer has several interfaces into which a graphics card can be installed (integrated graphics, AGP, PCI Express, PCI), then the BIOS will try to determine which of them has a working card when booting. But this is not necessary, because you know all the necessary information!

Select an option in BIOS Setup called Init Display First, which may also be called Primary VGA BIOS or VGA Boot From depending on the BIOS version. Specify AGP if you are using an AGP graphics card. On systems with PCI Express, this option is usually called PEG Port/Graphic Adapter Priority. In this case, set it to PEG if you are using a PCI Express card.

How to enable or disable processor cache in BIOS

Enabling any level of processor cache (1,2 or 3) provides a significant performance boost.

The CPU runs significantly faster than other components on the motherboard and often has to wait for data to arrive. The processor cache, which is a high-speed memory located between the CPU and the computer's RAM, allows you to speed up data exchange.

The first level cache (L1) is very small, but it is located on the processor core, close to the compute units, providing quickly accessible storage for temporary data. The second level cache (L2) is significantly larger in size and can store some entire program elements or pieces of data. When the processor requests data, it first checks its presence in the cache. If the required data is there, then the computer's performance increases significantly, because memory cannot respond at the same speed as the cache. Some processors, usually professional grade, also have an L3 cache. As you understand, the cache should always be enabled.

How to enable API C in BIOS

The motherboard chipset most often consists of two chips, called the north and south bridges. They are responsible for transferring data between the processor, RAM, expansion cards and peripheral devices. Enabling the APIC (advanced programmable interrupt controller) mode in the BIOS allows for improved operation of devices. The number of interrupts increases from 16 to 24, and managing them using APIC is much simpler and more convenient.

All you need to do is go to the Advanced BIOS Features menu and set the APIC Mode option to Enabled.

How to enable Burst Mode in BIOS

Burst Mode allows you to speed up many things: working with hard drives, PCI cards and RAM. Batch mode allows you to transfer multiple pieces of data in one transmission instead of processing all the pieces individually.

Warning: Many PCI cards may not function properly if the PCI Dynamic Bursting option is set to Enabled.

How to turn off built-in sound in BIOS

Often the motherboard's built-in sound controller is not used. For example, if you have installed a powerful PCI sound card or generally use a computer without speakers. Then it makes sense to turn off the sound on the motherboard. In some cases, this can improve overall system performance and stability.

In the Integrated Peripherals menu, set the AC97 Audio Select item to Disabled (as shown in the illustration above).

How to disable the game port in the BIOS

The game port is useful only to owners of old joysticks or those users who use it as a MIDI interface. Then it makes sense to allocate two I/O ports and an interrupt to the game port. (By the way, if you have a joystick, it most likely uses a USB connection.) For all other users, it's best to disable the game port.

In the Integrated Peripherals menu, set the Game Port item to Disabled.

How to disable the network port in the BIOS

Some motherboards come with two network interfaces, but generally most users only need one. It is better to disable interfaces that are not working. In some cases, this improves system performance and stability.

In the Integrated Peripherals menu, set the Onboard Intel LAN item to Disabled.

How to disable unnecessary ports in the BIOS

Today, only older PDAs and modems need serial ports COM1 and COM2.

Disabling ports saves two IRQs, reducing the number of interrupts the processor must check. And hardly anyone needs a parallel LPT interface today. Moreover, modern printers and scanners are connected to a USB port.

From the Integrated Peripherals menu, disable the COM1 and COM2 interfaces (option Y Devices, Com-Port, but can also be called Serial Port 1/2). Disable the LPT port by setting the Parallel Port item to Disabled.

How to disable FireWire (IEEE1394) in BIOS

The FireWire interface is only needed if you need to download video from a video camera or connect FireWire peripherals. In all other situations, it is better to turn off the interface.

In the Integrated Peripherals menu, set the Onboard 1394 device item to Disabled.

Have the USB ports on your Windows computer or laptop stopped working? The first thing you need to do is check each port on the computer; if all of them do not work, you need to determine the reason.

The easiest and most reliable way is to connect a USB keyboard, turn off the computer, turn it on and try to go to the BIOS in a way familiar to you. If you can’t get into the BIOS using just one port in a way you couldn’t before, the reason is technical.

In this case, you need to open the system unit and check the connection of the USB connectors to the motherboard. If everything is in order, you need to install a discrete USB card in the PCI slot and check whether the ports from it work (maybe your motherboard is burnt out).

If you can get into the BIOS, but the USB ports do not work in the operating system, you should check for installed drivers, reinstall them, and update to the latest version.

Sometimes USB ports do not work if a new version of equipment is connected to them (before USB 1.0 or USB 2.0, connect a flash drive or external HDD with USB 3.0), so it is worth checking the equipment for compatibility.

Remember that USB ports, in addition to transmitting information, are also power ports, so it often happens that due to a weak power supply, they may also not work correctly.

If the computer or any application does not work correctly after connecting the device to the USB port, there may be several reasons for this. Before pinpointing the source of the problem, you need to check the operation of the peripheral device, USB port, or USB driver. Below we will list a few simple steps that will help you identify the problem and fix it yourself without contacting a computer technician.

To reset the USB driver and software that are conflicting, you simply need to restart your computer. Very often this helps fix the problem.

Sometimes a different order can help. Turn off the computer and disconnect any devices connected to the USB ports, including the keyboard and mouse. Turn on the computer again and when the operating system boots, one by one, connect all the peripheral devices that were previously disconnected to the USB ports. If a problem occurs when connecting a specific device, such as USB RAM, make a note of which port it happened on. Try connecting this device to another free port. If the problem goes away, then the specific USB port is faulty. Otherwise, the problem must be looked for either in a peripheral device or in the USB cable.

USB cable and connector

When a USB port does not work, very often the cause of the malfunction may be a damaged cable or connector. Carefully inspect these connection elements for damage such as cracks, chips or cuts. Look inside the USB connector and connector and check for dirt, dust, or other small objects. You can clean the connectors yourself using a dry brush or an air compressor (vacuum cleaner). This must be done with the cable disconnected. If the interface cable is severely bent or broken, you should replace it immediately - a new cable costs a penny.

Differentiating the problem - port or device

If a program or computer stops working normally immediately after connecting a new device to the USB port, then you should try connecting another device to it. If the computer continues to operate normally, the problem is in the peripheral device. Do you have a second computer? Try connecting a suspicious device to it and recheck its functionality. If the situation repeats, it definitely needs to be changed. If you used a USB hub, remove it from the connection circuit. In case of problems, the USB device should be connected directly. In addition, problems may arise if you connect a lot of peripherals at the same time or connect several devices of the same model at the same time, for example, two smartphones or printers.

Reinstalling the driver

Windows usually displays a message if a problem is detected with the USB driver. If this happens, open the “Control Panel” through the start menu of the operating system. Find the “Device Manager” item in it, open the utility and in the list of installed equipment, find the subsection “USB Controllers” or “USB Universal Serial Bus Controllers”. Expand this item and find in the list of USB devices the item that is marked with an exclamation mark on a yellow background. If you find such a device, right-click on it and select the “Delete” context menu item. Reboot your computer. After this, the operating system will automatically reinstall the remote driver immediately after loading. If reinstalling the driver does not solve the issue, you should try updating it.

Driver update

If the USB port does not work, you can try to manually update the USB device driver. To do this, open the “System and Security” section in the “Control Panel”, where you will find the “Device Manager” subsection. Enter administrator credentials if prompted by the system. Next, find the problematic USB device in the “USB Controllers” list and double-click on it to open the settings dialog box. Open the “Driver” tab, and in it click the “Update” button. To begin updating the driver, enter your system administrator credentials again. After the update, restart your computer and check the functionality of the problematic device.

What is the difference between the USB ports located on the back of the computer and on the front? The difference is that those USB ports that are located on the back connect directly to the USB controller, which is located on the motherboard itself and is an integral part of it. But the front USB ports go through a USB hub and are connected via a cable, and here it may be that the cable is of poor quality, and problems with the ports may appear.

If you connect two power-hungry USB devices (such as a portable hard drive and a phone) to the two USB ports on the front panel, one of those devices will run out of power and either not work properly or not work at all. Why you ask? The USB controller provides the device connected to it with a power supply of 500 mA at 5 V. If the USB interface device does not have an additional power adapter, then it should work from the USB interface, without additional power, that is, 5 V should be enough, but if to the controller Two devices are connected using a USB hub.

The USB ports on the front of the computer are USB hubs that have one 9-pin input connector for connecting to the motherboard on one side and multiple USB ports for connecting devices on the other. The USB hub cable transmits information to the connected device, and also supplies it with electricity, but if there are two devices, and the power to the hub is still supplied at 500 mA at 5 V, then of course there is not enough power for the devices.

You can connect a mouse, keyboard and flash drive to the USB hub, and if you want to use other devices such as a smartphone, external hard drive, etc. , you must use a USB hub with an additional power supply supplying 5V to each of its USB ports.
USB ports don't work

If you suspect that the USB port on your computer is not working, check the device you are connecting to on another computer. After all, it also happens that it is not the USB port that does not work, but the device that you are trying to connect, but it also happens the other way around. Check the device on another computer. In Award BIOS, find the Integrated Peripherals parameter, and in Ami BIOS, the Advanced parameter, go into them and see the USB Configuration item, press Enter, our USB Controller or USB Controller 2.0, should be in the Enabled position, that is, enabled .

USB ports don't work

It also happens that the USB port works and the device is working properly, but there is no connection between the computer and the device...... here the fault may be in the USB cable. And there are cases when the USB ports on the front panel are not connected at all.
Maybe the USB hub is faulty? Try using a different USB hub with a good shielded cable. Connect it to another 9-pin connector on the motherboard.

Sometimes the USB ports on the front panel are connected using pin cables (they also say in bulk), it may well be that the cable is faulty or the pinout has been mixed up.

Also, the cause of malfunctioning USB ports may be a low-power, or possibly faulty, power supply.
Or maybe the south bridge is faulty. You should also not forget about updating drivers, both for connected devices and for the motherboard chipset.

You can overload the USB hub and the connected device will stop responding to you; this can be cured by simply restarting the computer. Almost all USB hubs have power management and Windows can turn off the device to save power.

Firstly, if when you connect a flash drive to a computer or some other equipment, the port does not work quite correctly or the device connected to the computer is not detected by the system at all, then in this case you should make sure that the controller is turned on PC motherboard.

Quite often, users forget to turn on the USB controller. It seems like a simple, but still common problem when the user starts the PC, but the device is not detected. It is possible to fix everything here; to do this, you need to go into the BIOS and enable the appropriate parameter. By the way, if you don’t know what a BIOS is, then I recommend that you definitely read the article

So, go to the BIOS and find the item “Integrated Peripherals - this applies to the Award BIOS,” or to the Ami BIOS - Advanced.”

Next, press “Enter” and go to “Onboard Devices Configuration” and make sure that the “USB Function” and “USB 2.0 Controller” items are in the “Enabled” position. If everything is so, then everything is included. Otherwise, the parameter can be turned OFF, position “Disabled”. If the option is disabled, you should enable it. Next, save the changes, then reboot the PC system and check the functionality of the USB port. Be sure to check whether the USB ports on the front panel of the system unit are connected to the motherboard itself using the so-called connector.

If the port still doesn’t work, then we move on.

Secondly, maybe the problem with the port not working is completely hidden in the USB extension cable? For example, there are situations when the computer does not recognize a peripheral device (printer), for the simple reason that the USB cable itself is simply damaged. The reason for cable damage can be very varied, for example, you accidentally placed a chair on the cable or some heavy object and simply pinched it. Therefore, do not be lazy to check the cable itself.

Thirdly, it is quite rare to encounter such a problem when the USB port does not have enough power. I will give you a specific example. Imagine that you have connected a flash drive and a printer to the front of the system unit case in the USB connector. As a result, the operating system, when sending data for printing, informs us that the document could not be printed. In general, your computer simply does not see the printer. And if you restart the computer, the printer is detected by the system, and you can easily print a document. However, after a while, the computer again loses connection to the printer and the printer does not print. Do you know why?

This seemingly trivial problem at first glance is due to the fact that there is a lack of power for the USB port. As a result, the USB port refuses to function properly. Basically, such an incident associated with a lack of power occurs when connecting several devices to the front panel of USB ports.

Of course, not always, but such situations still occur. These USB ports are connected to the motherboard using a cable. In addition to transmitting data, this cable also powers the USB hubs themselves. It is possible that the power supplied simultaneously to two devices connected to the USB hub may not be sufficient. In this case, I can recommend that you connect the printer to the built-in USB port, which is located on the PC motherboard.

You can also change the CMOS battery on the board. It happens that the problem completely disappears after replacing the battery on the motherboard. What kind of battery is this and where it is located, you can find out in this article:

In general, if your USB port, which is located on the front panel of the system unit case, does not work, then try replacing the USB hub itself. Who knows, maybe it is the one that is faulty.

You can also try plugging the cable into another USB connector on the motherboard.

Fourthly, if the USB port controller, which is responsible for identifying and starting the device itself, has failed, then things are, of course, bad. There is, of course, the opportunity to take and resolder the controller itself on the motherboard, but this takes time, you need to have the controller itself, and, of course, the soldering station itself. From a time-cost point of view, it is not entirely advisable. Another option is to entrust it to specialists, although this also has its pitfalls, price, quality of work, as well as the competence of the specialist who specifically works on this problem.

Fifthly, peripheral and mobile devices may not be recognized on your computer due to the lack of drivers and special software. It cannot be ruled out that if you have been using your operating system for quite a long time and the system has not been updated at all, and in general the Windows build is not the original version, then in this case it may be that the drivers are considered outdated and therefore in the system Freezes happen all the time.

Sometimes Windows disables the USB hub altogether to save power. To prevent the USB device from being disconnected, you will need to do the following.

Open “Device Manager” by right-clicking on the “Computer” shortcut and selecting “Properties”.

After the Device Manager window has opened, double-click with the left mouse button on “USB Controllers” and expand the branch.

Now all you have to do is go to the root USB hub and in the “Power Management” section uncheck the box, as shown in the figure below.

Sixth, sometimes reinstalling the operating system helps fix the problem when the USB port does not work. Although, of course, first try to roll back the system to its previous state. Here is an article that will tell you how to do this:

Seventhly, perhaps your system contains some faulty equipment, which is precisely the obstacle to the normal operation of the USB port.

This problem is very relevant in our time. After all, quite often users directly encounter this. So, there is a solution. USB ports on a computer may become stuck, contacts may short out, and many other additional problems may occur when working on a computer.

We find a way out of our situation, check all devices for connection and disconnection. You will need to disconnect all devices and connect one at a time, for example, connect the keyboard first and see if it works, then connect the next device, let it be a mouse and so on. Connect additional USB devices, if they don’t work, then the problem is solved or you need to look in peripheral devices, maybe there’s something shorting there, but who knows.

Eighth, they completely forgot to enable the serial bus controller in the device manager. There are times when you don’t pay attention to the operation of USB devices, turn on the computer, download music, listen and enjoy new works of art. True, everything comes unexpectedly, suddenly you need a USB device, and then there is silence, it doesn’t work. The thought immediately comes to mind, maybe the controller is not turned on, let me take it and check, it is so.

Each PC has a device manager that shows which devices are connected, whether all drivers are installed and updates made.

In general, I think that you probably already know that if any driver is missing, the system automatically marks it with a yellow exclamation mark, this means a malfunction, as a result, with two clicks of the mouse you open an additional window, information about the code is displayed here malfunction and the possibility of its restoration.

Ninth, if all of the above methods did not give a positive result, then I recommend that you install a USB PC controller on the motherboard.

If your computer has a low-power power supply, for example 300 W, then it is likely that the cause of all the troubles is hidden in it, install a more powerful power supply, say 500 W, and check if the USB ports are working.

Concluding today's article, I would like to say that it is not always possible to easily find the culprit of all problems, sometimes it is not enough to simply reinstall Windows to find out what really happened.

If there are no drivers for serial bus controllers and the controllers themselves are marked with an exclamation mark, in this case you should either install drivers for the controller, or you can remove all controllers and restart the computer. After the computer boots, the system will try to install them again, and perhaps all USB ports will work properly again.

Restarting the computer
If all USB ports for some reason stop functioning and USB devices are not detected, then to begin with it will only be enough to reboot the system unit. Perhaps this procedure will be eliminated immediately. This can happen if there were no problems loading the drivers.

In Device Manager, update the hardware configuration
A situation may arise when restarting the computer is not possible because it is performing some important operations. That is why, without rebooting the entire computer, you can reboot just the driver. This can be done through Device Manager. To take this action, just right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut and select “Manage.”

In the window that appears as a result of this, you need to click on the “Action” tab, after which you need to click “Update hardware configuration”. If as a result of this procedure the “USB Controllers” section appears, then the problem is completely resolved, and USB will continue to function.

Disabling the USB controller
There is one great way to make USB ports work. To do this, you need to disconnect and reinstall the USB controllers. You should immediately launch the same “Device Manager”. A list of equipment will appear in a new window, and from it you need to find the USB controllers section. Next, you need to select and delete each of these devices. After all devices have been removed, you must restart your computer. This will reset the controllers so the USB ports will be available again.

USB controllers: driver update
The USB controller drivers may be damaged, therefore, the USB ports will not work. In such a situation, the only correct solution is to find and reinstall the correct drivers. To do this procedure correctly, you should find out the manufacturer of the USB port, because you need to download the appropriate driver. If you manage to complete this task, then installing the driver will solve the problem in an instant.

Disabling other USB devices
Of course, situations may arise when many USB devices are connected and the laptop will simply be overloaded. There may not always be enough power for all connected devices.

Entering BIOS settings

To start changing the configuration, you need to go to the corresponding menu. It can be opened when the personal computer is turned on - before Windows starts loading from the hard drive.

Turn on your PC. In case it is already running: reboot. Wait for the speaker to beep: a short, single beep indicates that all internal components necessary for the computer to function have been detected.

Now you need to press the hotkey to call the configuration. This must be done before changing the screen. If you don't have time and Windows starts loading, reboot. The keys depend on the model of the installed motherboard and the BIOS firmware version. You can find it in the user manual that came with the motherboard, on the manufacturer’s official website, or look at it on the screen of your PC when it boots:

PC screen at boot

If you don't know the board model, it's okay. Just try pressing the following keys: Tab, Delete, Esc, F1, F2, F8, F10, F11, F12. One of them will definitely do.

You don't have to try just 1 option at a time. You can quickly press all the buttons from the list without any problems. One of them will come up and launch the BIOS settings, and the rest will be ignored.

Entering the BIOS/UEFI settings of the latest PCs

Many modern computers boot up so quickly that you won't be able to access the keystrokes when you turn them on. This is also true for laptops. Therefore, the latest versions of Windows OS have acquired a new launch feature. Let's show it using Windows 8.1 as an example.
Swipe your mouse from top to bottom or bottom to top along the right edge of the screen and click “Options” in the window that appears.
Click on “Change computer settings”
Click "Update and Recovery". Reboot in special mode
Next: “Recovery.”
Under Special Boot Options, click Restart Now.

Your computer or laptop will reboot into setup mode. After restarting your PC, you will also be able to choose the option to start from a USB drive or DVD.

Menu navigation

Almost all BIOS versions do not have a graphical interface. This means that you will have to work only using the keyboard, like in the Windows console. Navigation is carried out using the up-down and right-left arrows. To open any section, use the Enter key to go back - “Escape”. A small reminder of the keys used is always shown on the screen.

The UEFI firmware package is installed on the most expensive and powerful motherboards. It supports more drivers and can work with a mouse. Its interface will be familiar to users of Windows and other modern operating systems.

Each version has its own interface and sets of options. Even the names of the same parameters may differ. The following article describes several popular BIOS releases.

A very common option that can be found on many modern computers. The main menu is divided into 2 parts: a list of categories and various actions, such as exit or save. You will be working on the left side.

You need to go to the section called “Integrated Peripherals”. There is no Russian version of the interface, so all commands are only in English. Use the Down arrow to highlight this item and press Enter.

Here you need to enable (Enabled) 4 options:

USB EHCI controller – main controller. If the motherboard has version 3.0 ports, this item will be divided into 2 parts: “Controller” and “Controller 2.0”;
USB Keyboard Support – support for keyboards;
USB Mouse Support – mouse support;
Legacy USB storage detect – works with external data storage: flash drives, disk drives, smartphones and digital cameras.

In some older versions there are only 2 items “USB controller” and “Legacy USB storage support”.

When you're done with the settings, press the F10 key to save your changes and restart your computer.

Phoenix AwardBIOS
Another popular version that can often be found on modern laptops. It does not have a main page like AMI, but is equipped with convenient thematic bookmarks at the top. You can move between sections using the left and right arrows, and between items using the up and down arrows.

Go to the "Advanced" section using the "Right" arrow. In it, find the “USB configuration” category. All items in this section must be set to “Enabled”. In some versions, the “USB configuration” category may be in the “Peripherals” tab and not in the “Advanced” tab.

To exit the menu, press F10 and confirm exit.

AMI BIOS for Asus
Version of AMI used on Asus laptops. Externally it is very similar to Phoenix - a similar bookmarks bar. USB settings are located in the "Advanced" section. Go there, enable all options and exit using the F10 button.

UEFI
Contrary to popular belief, UEFI is not part of the BIOS. It can rather be called a more advanced, but less popular competitor. There are a large number of different versions, each with their own interfaces. However, here the controls are similar to the usual Windows, so you can easily find the options you need.

Windows Settings
If at the BIOS level all ports and controllers are enabled, but the USB ports still do not work, there may be a problem in the settings of your Windows system.

First, try simply disconnecting and reconnecting the device. This will check if the drivers are correct. If there's something wrong with them, Windows will try to reinstall them.

If nothing happens when you reconnect, try enabling the controller in the Windows registry. To do this you need to do the following:

Call the “Run” dialog using Win + R (or through “Start”: in XP and 7 by left-clicking on it, and in 8 and 10 versions by right-clicking). enter regedit
Enter
regedit
and click OK.
Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Services USBSTOR" Registry Editor
Double-click on the “Start” entry to open the editing window.
Change the value to "3". With any other parameter value, the USB ports will not work.

It is recommended to disable USB ports as a precaution, namely when connecting flash drives, external drives or other USB devices in order to infect the computer with all kinds of viruses or steal data. It is for these reasons that many IT workers in offices and companies block access to them. Without bothering with any programs for these purposes or other settings, they simply disconnect it from the motherboard.

Below I will give some examples with descriptions, how to disable USB ports on a computer.

Disable USB in Bios

We go into Bios, to do this, when turning on or restarting the PC, press the Delete key on the keyboard. Let's go to the Advanced section (Advanced BIOS features), where we are interested in the next option, Legacy USB Support. By default, it has the Enabled position, change it to Disabled.

Save the changed values ​​by pressing the F10 hotkey and exit.

Via the registry

Using +R, open the Run window and enter the Windows command “regedit” (without quotes). In the editor we go along the branch

Microsoft Registry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR

Find the DWORD parameter “Start” and change its value to “4”.

We reboot by first clicking the “OK” button.

PS: How to enable USB ports? Change the value back to "3".

device Manager

Open the “Start” menu, right-click on “Computer” and go to “Properties”. On the left side of the screen, click on the “Device Manager” link. In the displayed list, look for the “USB Controllers” item, open it and use the mouse to deactivate it.

Going to "Properties".

Then “Drivers” and then click the button shown in the screenshot below.

Removing USB controller drivers

An option that also has a place to be. Simply use a program, for example, CCleaner, to remove drivers from your computer. The downside is that when you restart the PC it will check for the presence of these and install them. Which will again open up access to the ports.

Fix It utility

You can download and at the same time find out how you can use it to deny access by following this link //support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/kb/823732.

Using programs

There are quite a lot of applications, it’s impossible to list them all, but I would like to use one. Its name is USB Ports Disabler. Download from the link. We launch and then everything is intuitive.

First, click the button highlighted in the figure below