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February 16th, 2025 18:23
Windows only work with an USB plugged in - It freezes when I remove USB (physically or safely)
Hi all, @DELL-Nat M
I have a BIG problem and after a deep deep troubleshooting I found that could be related to BIOS (1.30.0)
from one day to another, my Windows 11 only works if there's a USB plugged in.
If I power on the laptop without an USB, as soon my Windows starts, just freeze and the temperature start to go high so the fans go to full. But if there's an USB plugged, everything works well...
I already diagnosed my hardware (including swapping parts like RAM and SSD), tried to modify many BIOS settings, tried to downgrade BIOS but after restart the BIOS bypasses login screen and not downgrade... also tried to fresh install Windows and got the same scenario.
BUT when I installed a Ubuntu, all works well with or without USB, so it's not a motherboard problem or USB short circuit...
There's something I'm missing? Please HELP!
rahulmaurya
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2 Posts
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March 24th, 2025 14:44
hi, @LGiann I have solved the freezing issue :
how it worked for me : I went to device manager and in Universal Serial Bus controllers and in that for all the drivers in power management option i unchecked the option which said : Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and freezing problem was solved. But to test it again if it freezes when i checked (marked them yes) those options and laptop is not freezing now , i don't know why
I have one issue left which is My fan is still running after shutdown, restart is working but when i do the shutdown fan and keyboard lights are on and i can only do a force power of then power on again . Freezing is solved completely i guess.
I think i got this issue because ,while solving the issue of freezing i did bios update i got some error related to Update Native Failed , and so some ME or driver related error i believe, I will attach screenshot if you can think of any solution , I have tried many but nothing worked, and bios option of mi laptop is does not have too many options so can't do much and for the hardware issue i don't have nay warnings in my device manager ? I will also try ubuntu and will see if the shutdown problem exists .
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
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February 17th, 2025 10:37
Hi
My guess is NOT the BIOS, but MS OS windows 11...................
KILL OFF ReadyBoost.
Yes, Windows 11 can use a USB drive for memory management through a feature called ReadyBoost.
ReadyBoost allows you to use a USB flash drive or SD card as additional cache memory to improve system performance.
To use a USB drive for ReadyBoost in Windows 11:
Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive.
Select "Properties" and go to the "ReadyBoost" tab.
Choose "Use this device" and adjust the amount of space to reserve for system speed.
It's important to note that:
The USB drive should have at least 500 MB of free space and a high data transfer rate.
ReadyBoost is most beneficial for systems with low RAM or older, slower hard drives.
If your computer has an SSD, ReadyBoost may not provide significant performance improvements.
While ReadyBoost can help improve performance, it's not the same as increasing physical RAM. For more substantial memory management, Windows 11 also uses virtual memory, which creates a paging file on your hard drive to supplement physical RAM.
LGiann
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February 17th, 2025 14:57
@ann_droid thanks for this guessing, I really didn't check the ReadyBoost.
I'll try and feedback the results.
Any other suggestions are welcome!
LGiann
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February 19th, 2025 15:08
@ann_droid some updates...
Fasboot didn't work, I had the same scenario. What I think funny is that is not only a thumb drive... If I have a mouse or keyboard plugged in, the Windows works fine... basically is there necessary to have ANY USB plugged in. no mather what type of USB is...
Another test I did: If I have one USB plugged in USB-01, then I plug another device (mouse or thumb drive) in aUSB-02 or USB-03, I can disconnect the USB that is plugged in USB-01 and the system will continue to work! But if I unplug the USB from the USB-02 that I just plugged, the system freezes.... haha this is killing me...
(edited)
LGiann
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February 19th, 2025 15:09
Sorry, not able to edit... ReadyBoost and not Fastboot
ann_droid
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508 Posts
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February 20th, 2025 10:44
@LGiann
Hi
Well some daft ideas......
Make a USB with something Linux Mint on it and BOOT from that totally ignoring windows.
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=319.
Could the BIOS have a BOOT MANAGER listed before the windows one?
such that it searches and fails to find a USB?
Trying to establish the difference between the BIOS BOOT MANAGER and the Storage Device BOOT LOADERS.
LGiann
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February 25th, 2025 12:04
@ann_droid thanks again mate,
I'll try and feedback!
LGiann
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March 6th, 2025 12:26
@ann_droid thanks again, but no success.
I tried all boot options, such as UEFI and Legacy and all options related to both boot options.
Another steps I tried:
* Installed a fresh WIndows 10 and got the same problem.
* Installed Windows 11 from old installer (not 24H2) and got the same problem.
* Installed a different OS like Ubuntu and Linux Mint, all work well, I could use the notebook without any device connected.
So I'm sure that the problem is not hardware related and is specificaly with MS Windows.
Still trying to solve this challenge...
rahulmaurya
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2 Posts
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March 22nd, 2025 04:54
@LGiann @ann_droid Hi,
I have the exact same problem as @LGiann I have Mi notebook pro i5 11the gen laptop problem started after latest windows update (this one: March 11, 2025—KB5053598 (OS Build 26100.3476) Microsoft has acknowledge some bugs but my issue is not listed. I have tried to roll back and installing windows again to previous version but this issue was not solved even this updated was not installed in new windows and yes i can only do updates and roll back if I am connecting any USB mouse or keyboard or LAN cable . I have tried tons of fixes for it nothing worked. I went to service center of Xiaomi he said mother board has to be replaced, however i am not satisfied with his solution. And @LGiann if you are saying you have diagnosed the hardware components did you try the complete power drain after removing the battery from the laptop or with different ssd, please let me know if anything works for you. this is very deeply bad.. 😔.
LGiann
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March 24th, 2025 14:15
@rahulmaurya it was good (and bad) to know that someone else has the same problem, more visibilty and more chances to fix...
Yes, I had power drained the battery and also had done the test without no battery connected. Diagnosed the motherboard and other periferals with external tests (I work with IT repair so I have access to OEM tools and tests) and no problems was found.
Additionally, I used another SSD (different model, size and brand) and got the same scenario.
If I install Ubuntu or linux-based system, everything works normally. That's why I'm sure that is MS Windows related....
LGiann
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March 24th, 2025 16:33
@rahulmaurya you are right! Disabling all USB related to allow be shutdown solved tha freezing. In my case I didn't get the shutdown problem, but I'll do some tests to validate this workaround.
Thanks for sharing! I'll mark you post as a accepted answer but let's hope that Microsoft fix this asap...