Envy 15-3xxx USB 3.0 Freezing Problems

I have been having random problems with my USB 3.0 ports randomly freezing when doing large amount of data transfer between the built in laptop hard drive and external hard drives.

I have tried out different external hard drives that I have and they all have the same problem. I have updated to the newest driver but that hasn't fixed the problem. Also note that I have had to transfer large amounts of data, 20 GB or more, when I usually see this problem arise.

On the first Envy 15 that I had with an i5 I could consistently replicate the problem with transferring large amounts of data to an external drive. However with the Envy 15 i7 that I have now, it didn't run into the problem until the last couple of weeks. So with the i7 it is more sporadic issue but with the i5 machine i had before i returned it, I could replicate the problem every time. With the i5 machine if i plugged the external hard drive into the USB 2.0 port on the right side, I could copy all the same files I was trying to do on the USB 3.0 ports just fine.

Has anyone else run into this issue? Perhaps any fixes you have run across?

 

Are you using external USB 3.0 drives, or just USB 2.0? I've tested external 2.0 drives with the internal Corsair Force 3 SSD without issues.

 

I am using USB 2.0 external drives on the USB 3.0 ports

I also found that when the freezing happens the USB mouse in the other USB 3.0 port stops working. So it seems the whole USB 3.0 controller stops working

 

Does anyone have an issue where any USB HDDs plugged in keep turning on and off rapidly when the ENVY 15 is asleep or turned off?

 

I have seen that happen with one of my external HD where the power is being supplied from the USB port.

Have you had any problems like I listed in my initial posting?

 

I have a i7 configuration and I do not have that issue. I've been able to copy large amounts of files using both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 HDDs using either the USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ports with no problem.

Have you by chance also noticed that the computer gets stuck while rebooting right about when the BIOS screen should display the message to "hit escape to access BIOS settings" if you have a HDD plugged in?

 

I am having problems with the all the usb ports stop working. I have a usb 3.0 hdd and a razer mouse with some lights on it. When it stops working the lights on the mouse become very dim and it stops working. The external hdd will stay turned on but it wont respond. This happens a few hour to a few days after I turn it on. The only way to get it working again is to restart it. I've updated and reinstalled drivers with no change. The usb 3.0 controller in the task manager still reports it as running but nothing works. I can also plug the mouse into the other ports and it is still the same.

 

What you just described sounds like you are having the same problems as me!

Anyone else out there having similar problems?

 

I'm waiting for my Envy 17 3D to arrive, so I can't say one way or the other about the OP's problem, but this sounds just like the issue I have with my wife's (~3 year old) HP desktop. When I connect a Linksys USB wireless N adapter, the PC hangs at that point during the boot. If I disconnect the wireless adapter until after Windows begins to load, everything works fine.

 

You need to set the HDD as one of the boot device IIRC to prevent stalling at the BIOS screen.

 

This is not the same issue that I am having. I have no problem with being able to boot my machine up. My problem happens when I am trying to do large amounts of data transfers.

 

omg i have the exact same problem.

file transfers via the usb 3.0 ports will hang, and even after unplugging the ext HDD forcefully, windows explorer will still show the ext hdd plugged in although any changes made within will be unresponsive.

Only way to refresh it is to restart the computer, and everytime I restart after this happens I will get a BSOD.



Has anyone found a way to fix this issue yet? It's bugging the hell out of me, I just got this laptop a few days ago!!

Reinstalling the drivers does nothing either.

help!

 

i know this doesnt help you guys..

but on my envy 17 I transfered 80 gb in multiple transfer windows through USB 3.0 to my USB 3.0 external drive and no freezing.

there does seem to be a problem from the sound of it though for you guys.

 

I have a problem with some USB 2.0 flash drives plugged into the USB 3.0 port. Freeze on access or on file copy. Other USB 2.0 flash drives and devices are OK. Perhaps a controller incompatibility?

 

Problem only seems to arise during large file transfers.

All transfers via the USB 2.0 port on the right are perfectly fine.

Any suggestions to 'fix' this incompatibility?

 

Try the lastest drivers (not from HP)

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=19880

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Yep I updated to those drivers.

Same problem.

System froze when doing a chkdsk on my samsung ext HDD on usb 3.0 ports.

Tempted to restore to factory settings, but then even that might not fix it..

could it be a hardware problem?

 

I've been having the same issue with my HP Envy 15, and after a lot of research into the problem, have decided I'm returning the laptop. From pretty much every indication, the Renesas USB 3.0 Host Controller has problems with virtually every HP and Dell laptop. It's not specific to just this brand and model. The freezing problem is nearly universal, and in fact, I haven't heard too many success stories revolving around 3.0 right now.

Same issues:
1) Ext HD freezes during file transfers.
2) Mouse freezes during extended use.
3) Sometimes get BSOD.
4) Sometimes the ports freeze and I can reactivate by disabling/enabling the Renesas controller.
5) Sometimes the whole laptop freezes.
6) USB 2.0 port has zero problems.

Given that I can find the exact same problems on Dell forums, custom built boxes, Samsung, and Mac, it all comes down to the USB 3.0 controllers.

They're just not ready for primetime, and since the problem's been out there over a year, there's no telling when they will be ready.

 

How do I test for && reproduce this problem? If this is the case with my Envy 17 3D after all of the sound issues that I have been dealing with then this is finally going to push me over the edge for a return. However if you say that this problem exists with all PCs then that is a zero sum game and it doesn't matter.

 

I don't know that it exists for all PCs, but it does exist across a large number of vendors. In the case of my Envy 15, it was noticeable from the first time I plugged in a mouse into the port. The port froze after about 5 minutes. If you have been using your USB 3.0 port without incident for a few days or more, then you may be fine.

 

omicronx9 is right:

I had a Dell XPS15 top of the line USB 3.0 Rensas exact same problem. USB 3.0 ports would crash, stop transferring data, or just not work.

I hated that XPS15 went with an Envy 15, guess what Rensas USB 3.0, crash and burn all over again. The fact that the symptoms are identical on the Dell and HP lead me to believe Rensas USB 3.0 is garbage.

HP is actually sending me a new laptop with the latest Ivy Bridge chipset whereas I presently have Sandy Bridge. I'm dying to see if the problem exists there as well. If the USB 3.0 fails there too, I give up. If not then it could be some serious QC issues with Rensas.

By the way I had updated the firmware, changed out the drivers, adjusted power/sleep settings, etc etc. Nothing gets mine working properly. They work well during a backup for about 75% of the backup before failing. My Toshiba Dynadock U 3.0 docking station works for about 2 hours before stopping. My phone will charge on it, but is often not recognized as a USB device/drive. Those ports are a joke.

 

I think it was some quality issue or perhaps a combo of hardware that didn't play nicely. My first Envy machine had an i5 and it had this USB 3.0 issue. Then a replacement machine I got have an i7 and it didn't have the issue.

So the issue doesn't happen on all machines.

 

I agree that's why I stated it was probably a QC/QA issue though the hardware combo sounds feasible too. Very disappointing. My replacement Envy should be here today. I'm very curious to see if it has the same issue(s) or not.

 

So how is your replacement?

 

Would like to quip in and say that the same has been happening to the USB 3.0 ports on my T430s. The computer would simply lock up when these ports are used to transfer files.