Comments on: How to Differentiate Between Hardware and Software Problems on Windows https://www.maketecheasier.com/differentiate-hardware-and-software-problems/ Uncomplicating the complicated, making life easier Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:50:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 By: dan https://www.maketecheasier.com/differentiate-hardware-and-software-problems/#comment-131111 Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:50:21 +0000 https://admin.maketecheasier.com/?post_type=pitch&p=790220#comment-131111 In reply to Karrar Haider.

It seems unlikely that both my keyboard USB port and my mouse USB port would both freeze but I’ll try switching them as you recommended.
The 7 driver categories (2 generic USB, 2 Intel 6 Series Chipset Host Controller, 1 USB Composite, and 2 USB Root Hub) in the Device Manager have dates ranging from 2006 to 2021, but the ‘IObit Driver Booster’ utility says I’m current! But I’ll look into what Snappy has to say.

Thanks for your article, reply and suggestion, Karrar.
Dan

]]> By: Karrar Haider https://www.maketecheasier.com/differentiate-hardware-and-software-problems/#comment-131103 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:12:48 +0000 https://admin.maketecheasier.com/?post_type=pitch&p=790220#comment-131103 In reply to dan.

I am guessing you already tried using the peripherals in different USB ports. Try using one at a time to see if it still happens.

Such issues are almost always related to drivers. Have you tried updating the drivers for the USB controllers? You can use SDI Origin for it if you don’t mind a third-party updater.
Also, try disabling USB selective suspend (instructions below).
https://www.maketecheasier.com/fix-usb-device-not-recognized-error-windows/#usb-selective-suspend

]]> By: Keith E. https://www.maketecheasier.com/differentiate-hardware-and-software-problems/#comment-131102 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:18:13 +0000 https://admin.maketecheasier.com/?post_type=pitch&p=790220#comment-131102 Excellent article! Just one observation; if you want your computer to boot into a live OS on another drive media, you’ll have to make sure that the BIOS is set to boot from something other than the hard drive, such as a CD, DVD, or USB drive. As I’m sure many of us know, how you access the BIOS varies depending on your particular computer, so better search on the internet if you don’t know how to do it. After that, it’s easy.

Thank you for this valuable troubleshooting too that we can put in our arsenal of remedies!

]]> By: dan https://www.maketecheasier.com/differentiate-hardware-and-software-problems/#comment-131096 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:36:34 +0000 https://admin.maketecheasier.com/?post_type=pitch&p=790220#comment-131096 For the past 6 months, my Windows 10 22H2 PC randomly locks up my keyboard and mouse. The Eventviewer never offers me a clue as to the cause and I know of no other clue to track down this problem.
Sometimes I can go all day with no issue and sometimes it’ll freeze up 5 minutes after the bootup. I get no BSoD, only a total lockup (so I can’t even get to the Task Manager via CTRL+ALT+DEL since the keyboard is inoperable).
I have an icon in my system tray that shows the memory is at 75% or less, so I doubt that’s an issue.
It’s a nuisance restoring my Excel file so I’ve been updating it manually more often (even though the Autoupdate sort of works, but not at the 5-minute intervals I set it at).
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Dan

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