Question:

Greetings, esteemed computer experts. I seek your guidance regarding a persistent issue with my Windows 11 PC. Despite my limited technical knowledge, I’ve observed that my USB keyboard and mouse cease functioning shortly after system startup. Initially, disabling selective suspend resolved the random disconnections, but the problem has resurfaced with new peripherals. The devices appear powered yet unresponsive, and only a system reboot temporarily restores their functionality. I’ve disabled all relevant power-saving settings, switched to a high-performance power plan, and updated and reinstalled the drivers to no avail. Could you provide any insights or solutions to ensure continuous operation of my input devices?”

Answer:

Dear user,

Your experience with USB keyboard and mouse malfunctions on a Windows 11 PC is, unfortunately, not uncommon. The symptoms you’ve described suggest that the issue is not with the power settings, which you’ve already addressed, but possibly with the USB drivers or Windows 11’s handling of USB connections.

Here are some expert recommendations to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

: Windows 11 includes a variety of troubleshooters designed to quickly diagnose and resolve common problems. For your keyboard and mouse, the built-in hardware troubleshooter can help identify and fix issues.

2.

Check for Windows Updates

: Ensure that your system is up-to-date with the latest Windows 11 updates. Some updates specifically address hardware compatibility and performance improvements.

3.

Inspect USB Port Functionality

: Try connecting your keyboard and mouse to different USB ports to rule out the possibility of a faulty port. If they work on other ports, the original port may need servicing.

4.

Examine Device Manager for Errors

: Open Device Manager and look for any warning icons next to USB controllers. If you find any, right-click on the device and select “Update driver” to install the latest drivers.

5.

Disable Fast Startup

: Fast Startup is a feature that can cause issues with hardware as it doesn’t fully shut down the PC. Disabling it might resolve the disconnection problem.

6.

Perform a Clean Boot

: A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help eliminate software conflicts that occur when installing a program or an update or when running a program in Windows 11.

7.

Consult Manufacturer Support

: If the issue persists, the problem might be specific to the hardware. Contacting the support team for your keyboard and mouse could provide model-specific advice or firmware updates.

8.

Consider System Restore

: If the problem started recently, a system restore could revert your computer’s state to a previous point in time when the issue was not present.

9.

Explore Community Forums

: Sometimes, the collective knowledge of community forums can provide solutions that are not yet widely known. Microsoft’s own community forum is a good place to start.

10.

Professional Assistance

: If all else fails, seeking professional technical support is advisable. They can provide a thorough diagnosis and hands-on fixes.

Remember, while these steps are generally safe to perform, always ensure you have a current backup of your important data before making significant changes to your system settings.

In conclusion, while USB input device issues can be frustrating, the steps outlined above offer a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and resolving these problems. With a bit of patience and troubleshooting, you should be able to restore full functionality to your keyboard and mouse.

Best regards,

An IT Expert