KVM switch not recognizing USB devices on Windows 10?

Question

I installed Windows 10 earlier this week. All week my computer has functioned fine, but today when I turned it on I get an alert saying USB Device not recognized. I have several USB devices plugged into a StarTech (SV231) KVM switch and then one USB from that to my computer.

The KVM switch worked all week and without intentionally installing anything or doing anything out of the ordinary, suddenly, today I'm not able to plug any USBs into the KVM switch.

Plugging the keyboard and mouse directly into the computer works, but plugging them into the KVM gives me the "USB Device not recognized" alert.

I looked for some sort of driver software for the KVM but there doesn't seem to be any available and I'm not sure what else to do.

Solution 1

The problem was solved by powering off the KVM switch and powering it back on.

Note that unplugging the power cable does not completely power off the KVM switch as any USB cable connected to the switch while also connected to PC will also provide power to the switch.

You should remove all USB cables connecting the KVM to a power source and remove the power source.

Solution 2

We had the same problem here at TCNJ. We have a lab of 23 Dell Workstations and 23 MAC computers. We used the KVM (we are using the StarTech 211 Display port version) to switch between the two.

Everything worked fine on Windows 7 but when we upgraded to Windows 10 the KVM would not switch back to the PC (Dell). No power was getting to the mouse or keyboard.

One of our Support Specialists figured out that if you plug the USB going to the Dell Workstation into the monitor USB Hub (and the monitor USB Hub is connected to the Dell Workstation) it worked fine.

I think the problem with the KVM is that it was not getting enough power from the PC USB. The monitor has more than enough power to supply the KVM.

If it's not the power, it could be that running the KVM through another USB Hub inserts a small time delay. Either way, it's working again.

Solution 3

Hey another thing I found out being someone who had a similar problem is I accidentally plugged in to my computer usb 2.0 in the back of my computer. I am using a 3.0 kvm switch and I only use my kvm switch for keyboard and mouse. After that change it seems like everything is recognized and working just an fyi.

Comments

[Efi Fogel]

I have the same problem with Windows 10 and the TK-422DVK KVM switch. Saying that the problem is solved is an overstatement. (Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your post.) If I need to disconnect all USB cables every time it happens, I might as well not use a switch at all. Anyway, it seems that the common denominator is Windows 10. Does anyone have any idea whether this can be prevented?

[AlexM]

Similar issue for me, I think. One device was using USB2 to connect to KVM while the other was using USB3. Moving both to USB3 fixed the issue for me.

[Ravindra Bawane]

It is not the soldering that makes the ports "more powerful and faster".

[Simon Landeholm]

This solved the issue for me, and not the other accepted answer.

[MacGuffin]

Would someone care to explain the down vote so that I can correct my answer, or even delete it? I speak from firsthand experience with Startech KVM switches, in use at home and at work, so this isn't all speculation. I'm going from memory so I admit there's room for error and speculation. Anybody care to provide guidance?