Windows 8.1 won't boot with USB headset plugged into from USB port?

Draeger

Draeger

Draeger

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Bit of a strange one this. Had issues this week with booting my PC. Out of every two or three attempts out of four, it goes through the boot sequence, shows me the W8 logo and the spinning symbol then just as the desktop would normally appear the screen goes completely black. Not blank but black. No cursor, nothing. It'll sit like that forever. Only thing you can do is hit the reset button and try again. Tried disabling fast boot/start but still randomly does the same thing.

I use a Turtle Beach USB headset which is usually plugged into one of the front USB ports. As far as I can tell so far, if I disconnect this from the front USB port then Windows will boot perfectly fine, just tried it 10 times in a row and each time it booted up OK.

Any ideas why this is? System is an i7 920 D0, Asus P6X58D-E, 16 GB Corsair Vengeance and an MSI Twin Frozr III 7850 2Gb.
 
Probably a weird driver/software issue with the headset. It is probably getting stuck at the point where Windows communicates or enables audio devices.
Try removing any software and drivers linked to the headset, and then see if it boots with it connected, and before it automatically reinstalls.
Also try to see if there are any updated drivers/software for the headset which might fix the issue.
 
Yeah, could well be. I'll have a look and see what drivers its running although I don't recall installing anything specific and think they are fairly generic Windows drivers which are powering it. It's an Earforce XL1 headset. Of course the obvious option is just to unplug it from the USB port prior to switching on the PC. :D
 
Could try going bios and looking for fast boot or in USB options. And not having USB detected till after windows has booted.

Most likely dodgy driver.
However it could be dodgy headphones that are slightly broke and thus causing issue on boot, although seem fine once booted.
 
Mine wouldn't boot with external USB hard drive dock, unless I had it powered up (didnt need a drive in it)
 
Do you have the same boot issue if the headset is connected to the rear usb ports?

Have you checked the front usb port/s ? Reason I ask is that I see this sort of thing quite often and usually it has been caused by a damaged usb port (a close inspection usually allows you to see the damage done.)

Does the boot issue persist if you have a different usb device in the front usb port/s ?
 
lucifer-mnm said:
Do you have the same boot issue if the headset is connected to the rear usb ports?

Have you checked the front usb port/s ? Reason I ask is that I see this sort of thing quite often and usually it has been caused by a damaged usb port (a close inspection usually allows you to see the damage done.)

Does the boot issue persist if you have a different usb device in the front usb port/s ?
Click to expand...

I'll try all that and check, ta. The case is a new Zalman Z3 plus and the front USB ports have had very little use. The other weird thing is that I have a second SSD in there which has my previous install of W7 on it and it boots fine to that with the headset plugged in, it only seems to be the W8.1 install on my other, primary SSD which it has issues with. I guess that points more towards a driver issue rather than a hardware one?
 
It does, yeah. Going to just have to keep from using it in the front ports for now till I can figure out how to track down what is causing it.
 
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