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All of HP laptop USB 3.0 ports running as USB 2.0

Anonymous
2020-07-06T11:31:12+00:00

Hi everyone,

I installed a fresh copy of Windows 10 pro 64-bit Version 1909 (18363.418), and when I connected my external hard drive "WD My Passport Ultra 259D " which supports USB 3.0, it was recognized only as 2.0 and this message appears "Device can perform faster when connected to USB 3.0".

My laptop is HP ZBook 15 G3 Workstation with all drivers installed and updated all to latest version, and according to the device specifications all of it's USB ports are 3.0 high speed, yet when inserting the external drive it connects as USB 2.0 device.

I tried uninstalling "Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller" and "USB Root Hub (USB 3.0)" then restarting, and reinstalled the external drive drivers but no luck. I tried troubleshooting "devices and printers" yet nothing found. I also checked the USB ports and the external device's cable, but all was good.

I used USB device tree viewer V3.4.0 and it's clearly showing that the external drive is running as USB 2.0 device.

I searched a lot but did't find anything helpful. I only found that this has to do with windows 10 Host Controller driver compatibility with the device's chipset.

I am still testing few things, but I hope someone might know how to solve this problem.

Best regard and Sorry for my bad English.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-07-06T16:45:46+00:00

    Speeds look like USB 2.0 indeed.

    Is there any device with an exclamation mark in Device Manager?

    Do you own any other device that this external disk can be connected for a test?

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-07-06T11:56:43+00:00

    Hi, my name is Anthony, I am an Independent Advisor and a Windows user just like you. I am happy to help answer your question.

    Can you please check your BIOS settings to make sure USB 3.0 is enabled there?

    Regards, Anthony

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-06T14:12:50+00:00

    Hi Anthony,

    Thank you for replying. My bios is HP N81 v1.45. I found nothing about enabling USB 3.0 in system configuration tab or in input configuration. Searching the internet, I found that in HP Zbook it is enabled by default and can't be changed.

    If it can be enabled, Can you show the process to enabling it in the bios N81?

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-06T14:35:22+00:00

    Thank you for notifying me of the update. I have HP Support Assistant and it did't notify me.

    I used AS SSD Benchmark to test the speed and this is the result:

    Top Write 38.36 MB/s

    Top Read 45.05 MB/s

    I will test the speed again after Updating the bios.

    Editied: It seems that update 1.47  is not compatible with my device that's why HP Support Assistant did't notify me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-06T14:25:31+00:00

    I don't have this laptop so I can't provide step by step guide how to enable it.

    There is 1.47 BIOS available from what I can see on manufacturer's web site. Can you please update yours?

    What kind of speed do you get when you copy files from external USB 3.0 disk connected to your USB 3.0 laptop port?

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