How to enable ports in BIOS. Enabling USB ports on a laptop

Why don't USB ports work? Reasons and solution

USB interfaces are used in PCs so often that we cannot even imagine a computer or laptop without them. Various peripheral devices are connected to the USB interface: printers, web cameras, flash drives and many others. But what to do if the USB ports are out of order. Let's look at the main problems with usb operation and try to fix them.

USB interfaces are disabled in BIOS

This problem occurs very often, since a suddenly turned off light or a dead battery can reset the BIOS settings, thereby disabling USB interfaces.

To enable them, let's enter the BIOS. To do this, after starting the computer, quickly press the Del or F2 button.

Depending on the software version and manufacturer, USB functions may be enabled in different BIOS items.

Main BIOS options:
Enable/disable - Disabled/Enabled
Make all USB ports accessible - Both
Make available ports that are located directly on the motherboard -Primary
Number of USB ports used - 2USB Ports, 6USB Ports
Using USB 2.0 - USB 2.0 Controller.
Changing the operating frequency of the USB bus - USB Speed.

Enabling USB in AMI BIOS

Enabling USB in Award BIOS

USB port driver removed from the system

Errors of this kind occur after a virus attack on a computer or a critical Windows error field. To restore the functionality of the USB controller, you should install or, if it does not work correctly, update the USB controller drivers. To update the USB driver, follow these steps:

1.Open Device Manager on the Hardware tab in System Properties.

2. Find the USB controller item and right-click on it and select “Update driver”.

3. In the hardware wizard that launches, select “Automatic installation” to search for a suitable driver.

4. The wizard will find the driver we need and install it.

5. If the wizard was unable to find a suitable driver, we will need to download it from the Internet and install it from the specified location. To do this, when choosing the driver installation option, you need to select the “Install from a specified location” option. In the next window we will be asked to search for drivers in the specified locations. Check the box next to “Include next search location” and click browse.

In the drop-down menu, indicate the package with the downloaded drivers. The wizard will check the folder for the presence of a suitable driver and select the one you need. After this, for correct installation, you should restart your computer.

The USB controller burned out.

There are cases when, due to high voltage, the USB controller overheats and fails. Only a service center can help you solve this problem, since it is not possible to fix it at the software level.

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 can I 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 also other temperatures, say, the hard drive or the 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. You will then 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 contains the 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. Say, if you 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 only useful 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.

This article is devoted to the question of how to enable USB support in the BIOS. As it turns out, not all users know that the Universal Serial Bus functions (in the Russian interpretation - “Universal Serial Bus”) can be enabled and configured through BIOS Setup. We will not focus on the circumstances due to which you may need this operation - they may be different. For example, you find that the USB devices on your computer are running slower than they should, and you want to check whether your computer's BIOS supports the latest version of this bus standard.

First, enter BIOS Setup when booting your computer and laptop. A separate article was devoted to how to do this on our website. It is worth noting, however, that the BIOS section with USB functions is not always striking to the user. In addition, different BIOS manufacturers in different versions may have bus management functions located in different sections. This could be the Advanced, Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, etc. sections.

It may, of course, also happen that there is simply no section for setting up USB functions in the BIOS of your laptop or desktop computer. This situation can most often occur in laptops, in which the number of options available to the user is not very large at all. In the BIOS of my HP netbook, for example, I did not find such an option, no matter how hard I looked. Well, that means it’s not fate...

Setting USB options in BIOS

The number and range of USB features you can adjust in the BIOS can also vary greatly depending on the version. Often in Setup you can install support for a USB mouse and keyboard, and attached external drives. You can also disable/enable the ability to connect USB devices altogether or enable support for a specific version, for example, USB 2.0.

List of the most common USB options (may have different names in different BIOS versions):

USB Function – enable/disable the Universal Serial Bus controller
USB 2.0 Controller Mode – switching the USB 2.0 controller to 1.1 mode and back
Assign IRQ For USB – assign IRQ to USB devices
USB Speed – setting the speed of the USB bus
– USB keyboard and mouse support
USB Storage Support – support for external drives on this bus
Emulation Type – setting USB drive emulation modes

Once you have set the option you need, be sure to save it by selecting the BIOS Setup “Exit and Save Changes” option to restart your computer.

When setting USB parameters in the BIOS, however, you should remember that their incorrect setting can lead to the inoperability of any devices permanently connected to the universal serial bus, such as a keyboard or mouse.

Conclusion

In this article, you learned how to enable USB support, as well as set USB options in the BIOS of your computer or laptop. As a rule, this operation is quite simple and will not take you much time.

Peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, Web camera, and printer are usually connected to the computer via USB ports. In this case, it often happens that one or more ports stop working. That is, when you connect, for example, a flash drive to a computer, it is not recognized, the keyboard or mouse may freeze, and the printer may not respond or print pages.

There are several likely reasons why some or all of the USB ports on your computer are not working. Let's try to understand this issue and find out what should be done to restore normal functioning of the computer.

Checking BIOS settings

The first thing you should pay attention to is the computer's BIOS settings. To enter the BIOS you will need a working keyboard. If the keyboard is connected to the computer via USB and it does not work, then you need to connect a keyboard with a PS/2 connector. Otherwise, you simply won't be able to do anything.

So, let's go to the BIOS, for which, when starting the computer, you need to press the enter key, usually DEL. There may be another key that appears on the screen and is listed in the motherboard manual. After entering the BIOS, find the section responsible for integrated devices (Integrated Peripherals) or the “Advanced” section. Here you should find the “Onboard Devices Configuration” subsection. It contains the parameters responsible for the operation of USB controllers: USB Function or USB 2.0 Controller. These parameters must be Enabled. And if one of them is disabled, then hover over it and press Enter, thereby turning it on. To ensure that the changes you make are not lost, you must save them by pressing F10 and confirm saving by pressing the Y or Enter key.

After restarting the computer, check if the USB ports are working. And if not, then you should look for the reason elsewhere.

USB ports on the front of the computer do not work

As a special case, USB only on the front panel may not work for you. In such a situation, you need to check whether the necessary connectors on the motherboard are connected and whether the wires are damaged. To do this, open the side cover of the system unit and pay attention to the connector at the bottom of the motherboard. On the board itself there is an inscription USB1 or USB2, as well as on the block itself. The wires from the block go to the front panel, and if they are disconnected or broken in one place, then you have discovered the cause of the malfunction. Damaged wires should be connected or replaced. It would also be a good idea to check the contact in the connector on the motherboard. It is also worth paying attention to the board located on the front panel. There may be a short circuit; by the way, such a short circuit can be caused by accumulated dust. Therefore, be sure to clean the system unit from dust.

Problems with the device itself or the cable

The next source of problems with USB may be the cable with which, for example, the printer is connected. This fault is easy to identify and fix. We connect the flash drive to the connector being tested. If it works, then we try to connect other known-good equipment, for example a USB hub, using a suspicious cable. If it also refuses to work, then the reason is clearly in the cable and it should be replaced.

Power outages

There are situations when there is simply not enough power for all devices. For example, connecting an external hard drive that uses two USB connectors at once may disable the printer or keyboard. In this case, the power of the power supply is not enough to provide energy to all consumers. In this case, the problem may not appear immediately, but after some time after turning on the computer. There are several ways out of the situation. If you have a low-power power supply installed, for example, 300 W, then it would be logical to change it to a more powerful one, 450-600 W. You can also use an active USB hub (with external power). It will allow you not only to increase the number of connected USB devices, but also to power them from a separate power supply.

Another reason that affects USB operation is a dead CMOS battery. But at the same time, every time you turn on the computer, you will observe a lost system time and date. After replacing the battery the problem goes away. But this does not occur often, so you should check other possible sources of malfunction.

Missing or incorrect installation of USB drivers

Causes associated with software problems in Windows 7/10 can be identified using Device Manager. If you notice that one or more devices in particular are not working, regardless of the port used, this may indicate that the problem is in the device itself. Open Control Panel and go to Device Manager. All connected devices will be displayed there. If there are items in the list that have a yellow exclamation mark next to them or the name is Unknown Device, then the problem is with this very device. There may be several possible problems here.

Often USB inputs stop working after reinstalling Windows 7/10. The reason is incorrect installation of drivers or the necessary drivers may not be found at all. You will have to select and install manually.

Often, to fix a problem you just need to update the drivers. So, if automatic Windows updates are disabled, and the system itself was installed quite a long time ago, then the relevance of the software is lost, and system errors may appear. In this case, the device begins to work incorrectly, or even stops functioning altogether. To update (reinstall) USB controller drivers, you can use a CD/DVD with drivers for the motherboard or download the necessary drivers from the motherboard manufacturer's website.

You can also turn off the power saving feature for all ports using Device Manager. Expand the list of used USB devices hidden in the sections “USB Controllers”, “Mouse and other pointing devices”, “Keyboards”. Double-click on the desired device to open the properties window. Now switch to the “Power Management” tab and uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” checkbox. Thus, the device will always be activated under any circumstances.

If some equipment is not recognized, then there may be either a problem with the drivers already known to us, or a hardware problem, consisting of a lack of contact, a damaged cable, or a malfunction of the controller. Moreover, it often happens that when a faulty device is connected, the others stop working normally. The keyboard starts to freeze, as does the mouse, and the printer stops printing. The problem is similar to power shortage, that is, all the power consumption goes to a faulty device, which may have an ordinary short circuit or other malfunction.

USB ports not working due to controller damage

If none of the above actions helped restore the functionality of the USB ports, then you should check the USB controller of the motherboard, which may have failed. In this case, high-quality repairs and diagnostics should be entrusted to the specialists of the service center. As a way out of the problem, try installing an expansion card, the so-called USB PC controller, which is installed in the PCI slot on the motherboard. This solution is noticeably cheaper than repairing the motherboard USB controller, and when using an additional USB hub, the problem with the lack of ports will not be relevant at all.

As you can see, finding and fixing problems with USB ports is quite a troublesome task, and all because there can be a lot of reasons. Consistent search and elimination of obviously incorrect paths will allow you to identify and eliminate the problem.

If the USB ports on your PC are not working, and Windows settings and driver updates do not help, the controller may have been disabled in the BIOS. In this case, you will need to go to the configuration menu and turn everything back on.

There are many different versions BIOS with its own interfaces and subtleties of operation. Also, a more modern complex can work on your computer - UEFI, which supports a full GUI interface. This article discusses the distributions that are most often installed on motherboards.

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 click 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 view on your PC screen when loading it:

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.

Your computer or laptop will reboot into setup mode. After restarting your PC, you will also be able to select option to run 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.

Firmware complex UEFI installed on the most expensive and powerful motherboards. It supports more drivers and can use 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.

AMI BIOS

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-language 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– keyboard support;
USB Mouse Support– mouse support;
– work with external data storage: flash drives, disk drives, smartphones and digital cameras.

In some older versions there are only 2 points " 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 section " Advanced» using the Right arrow. In it, find the category “ USB configuration" All items in this section must be moved to the position “ Enabled" In some versions the category " USB configuration" may be located in the " tab Peripherals" and not in "Advanced".

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. Settings USB are in the section " Advanced" 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, just try disconnect and reconnect 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 turn on the controller in the Windows registry. To do this you need to do the following:

Video: how to configure any BIOS to boot from a USB flash drive

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