USB 3.0 randomly disconnecting and reconnecting

Question

I had an old laptop that died so I have bought a new one. I have taken the 2.5 SATA hard drive from the old laptop and I have put it into an external 2.5 SATA enclosure usb 3.0 and I connect it to the new laptop. My new laptop has Windows 8 64 bit installed. When I connect the external hard drive to the new laptop throught USB 3.0 port, it gets randomly disconnecting and reconnecting continuously, even when I am not using it. Also happens if I connect to another usb 3.0 port. Also I have observed that If I connect the external hard drive to a USB 2.0 port instead of an USB 3.0 port all work ok, no randomly disconnection and reconnection occurs. It only happens when I connect it to an USB 3.0 port.

Some ideas to solve this issue?

Solution 1

This is typically due to a power configuration option. Go into device manager and don't allow the computer to put the device to sleep!

If this doesn't work, try playing with the power options in Control Panel

Solution 2

What worked for me is to use a shorter cord!
It turns out that USB 3.0 isn't designed to work on cords much longer than a meter, and my 6 footer was causing quite a few problems.
Smaller cord = no/less lost connections.

Solution 3

Go into your BIOS settings and look for "Legacy USB Support" and DISABLE IT or TURN OFF.

Resolved ALL of my USB 3.0 problems and is even about 40% faster then before (when it was working and before it reset).

Solution 4

This worked for me in addition to the setting above.
Go to:

• control panel
• power options
• change plan settings
• change advanced power settings
• USB settings
• USB selective suspend setting
  The set the plugged in option to disabled.

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Comments

[Safeer Hussain]

I was having this same issue (HP Probook 4540s, Windows 8.1 64bit) and tried several solutions given by different forums. Finally got this and solved my problem. plugable.com/2012/12/01/…

[Rodri]

Ok, I'll try it later when I come back home and I'll tell you something here(now I am at work and I can't), but I wonder why it happens with USB 3.0 only and not for USB 2.0 (USB 2.0 works).

[Ramhound]

@user1624552 - USB 3.0 is able to draw a great deal more power. Its likely a power saving option that the OEM decided was worth enabling by default.

[Dave]

@user1624552 did it work or not?

[Mahn]

This worked for me. Why did the OS figured it was a good idea to turn off an USB 3 HDD while in the middle of copying gigabytes of data in order to save power is completely beyond me, though.