Solved USB port not working

[edalsie]

I have a Surface Pro 3... WIN 10 AU... and today I noticed my USB port isn't recognizing anything I plug in.

I have a dongle for using a clicker to advance a PowerPoint program which is no longer recognized.
I have a Seagate 1TB wireless plus external drive which is no longer recognized.

I'm certain there is a hidden (to me) setting somewhere buried deep which can help... can anyone lead me to it?

Allen

 

[edalsie]

I have a Surface Pro 3... WIN 10 AU... and today I noticed my USB port isn't recognizing anything I plug in.

I have a dongle for using a clicker to advance a PowerPoint program which is no longer recognized.
I have a Seagate 1TB wireless plus external drive which is no longer recognized.

I'm certain there is a hidden (to me) setting somewhere buried deep which can help... can anyone lead me to it?

Allen

Update... I found a USB item-- a USB DVD player, which worked, but my Seagate external drive still didn't, and a USB stick didn't.
I uninstalled the USB drivers through Device Manager without any seeming success-- my Seagate drive still wouldn't work, and a USB stick didn't work, but my USB external DVD player did turn on.

I went wireless with the Seagate drive, got the information I needed, plugged it in just for fun, and now it is working just fine-- everything is working just fine. Except my dongle thingy for my PowerPoint which is not at home, so I still don't know about that one.

I though this stuff was supposed to be logical!

Allen

 

[sharpuser]

A PowerPoint switcher / presentation remote / wireless presenter sets itself up as a USB "keyboard" - that is how it actually works. This switcher probably has a defect which causes your SP3 to reconfigure USB devices. Is it an off-brand, or well known? You could try to remove keyboard drivers in Device Manager, reboot, then try it again.

Or get another switcher. I use a Logitech and a Dinofire with my SP3 and Surface Book with no problems.