How to disable USB device without restarting Windows?

[Dankk]

I know this is possible. My older PC could do it. Does it depend on the motherboard? Or the chipset?

To be more specific: I have an Xbox 360 controller hooked up to the back of my PC (via USB). I use it for only a handful of games, and occasionally I will get a new game that doesn't allow the gamepad to be disabled. Due to lazy programming, some video games will force you to use the gamepad if it detects one, rather than giving you the option to use keyboard and mouse. In this case I must manually unplug the controller or disable it in Windows.

No big deal, right? Well, I don't like to reach behind my PC and unplug the gamepad everytime I play a poorly-designed game. To work around this, I simply go into Windows Device Manager, find the Xbox 360 controller, Right-Click, Disable. That's it. The controller's still plugged in, but my games won't detect it anymore, as if it's not there.

At least... my other PC allowed me to do this. With my new computer, everytime I try to "Disable" a USB device in Windows device manager, I have to reboot my entire computer.

Windows is fully updated, all of my necessary drivers are installed and everything. Why in the world am I now being asked to reboot my computer everytime I disable my Xbox 360 pad?

For reference: My other PC had an i5-2500 CPU with an Asus P8P67 motherboard. I could disable and re-enable the gamepad all day without ever rebooting. My new computer, on the other hand, has an FX-8350 and a 990FXA-GD65 motherboard. It makes me reboot everytime. Why? Is there some kind of limitation of this motherboard that the P8P67 didn't have? Is there some sort of USB plug 'n' play option in the BIOS I need to toggle? What's going on?

Thanks in advanced. Seems like a mundane question but it really irritates me.

 

[SKORPI0]

Why not just buy something like this? No need to reach behind the PC just to disconnect your device.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10307&cs_id=1030702&p_id=6631&seq=1&format=2

 

[corkyg]

Like Skorpio says - the easiest way is to simply unplug it. To make that easy, use a small hub you can locate conveniently, or a front panel USB port.

I have three USB devices that I control by connecvting their A/C adapters to a power box with switches. (Scanner, printer, and external HDD.) I just turn the power on and off as I need to use them. It's very simple and requires no messing around in Windows.

 

[Eureka]

Pretty sure you should be able to just re-add the device in the control panel, under add a device.

Also, don't disable it in device manager, but disable it in "devices and printers".

 

[Ketchup]

Why are you going to Device manager? And going to the 'disable' option?

If you have to hit disable, I think you are doing it wrong. Why can't you just select your device from 'safely remove hardware' and hit 'eject'?

 

[sm625]

You have something that is trying to access your usb controller at the time you disable it. That is what causes the restart message to pop up. A process has a handle open to the hardware. You need to find which dll it is and terminate the appropriate process to unload the dll. Then you can disable the controller. Trial and error is the easiest way to find which program or dll is causing the issue. You can also use procexp and procmon.

 

[Dankk]

Pretty sure you should be able to just re-add the device in the control panel, under add a device.

Also, don't disable it in device manager, but disable it in "devices and printers".

Unfortunately, there is no "Disable" option in Devices and Printers. When I get home from work I'll check again just to make sure though.

When I look at the gamepad in devices and printers, I can calibrate it, test the buttons, see what driver is being used, etc, etc... but there is no "Disable" button.

Why are you going to Device manager? And going to the 'disable' option?

If you have to hit disable, I think you are doing it wrong. Why can't you just select your device from 'safely remove hardware' and hit 'eject'?

It's a gamepad, not a thumb drive. There is no "Safely Remove Device" icon in the taskbar. Doesn't show up in Windows Explorer with an "Eject" button or anything. Only place it shows up is in Devices and Printers (where I can't disable it), and of course, in the device manager.

You have something that is trying to access your usb controller at the time you disable it. That is what causes the restart message to pop up. A process has a handle open to the hardware. You need to find which dll it is and terminate the appropriate process to unload the dll. Then you can disable the controller. Trial and error is the easiest way to find which program or dll is causing the issue. You can also use procexp and procmon.

That's a very good point. I'll try to find out what process is accessing the USB controller, although it's a little beyond my expertise. But I'll try.

And about using a hub/extension cable: I'll consider it. The Xbox 360 controller's cord is already a whopping 9 feet long though, so I don't want to extent it by too much.

 

[Ketchup]

It's a gamepad, not a thumb drive. There is no "Safely Remove Device" icon in the taskbar. Doesn't show up in Windows Explorer with an "Eject" button or anything. Only place it shows up is in Devices and Printers (where I can't disable it), and of course, in the device manager.

I believe my game pad shows up in there, but it's been a while since I looked. I usually just plug, unplug it at the front USB port though, so I don't look at it often.

 

[mfenn]

i5 2500 to an FX-8350? That seems like a bit of a downgrade to me. It's a side-grade at best. Why not just stick to your old PC? :awe:

But seriously, if you want to track down what process is using the port, try Process Explorer. It's basically Task Manager on steroids and has a lot of tools for figuring out what is going on in your system.

 

[Dankk]

i5 2500 to an FX-8350? That seems like a bit of a downgrade to me. It's a side-grade at best. Why not just stick to your old PC? :awe:

But seriously, if you want to track down what process is using the port, try Process Explorer. It's basically Task Manager on steroids and has a lot of tools for figuring out what is going on in your system.

I do a lot of video encoding for my work. The FX-8350 has (somewhat) been an improvement in that regard.

I'm looking at Process Explorer right now, and I have no clue how to check for USB port usage. What part of the program do I look at? Sorry for my incompetence.

 

[mfenn]

I do a lot of video encoding for my work. The FX-8350 has (somewhat) been an improvement in that regard.

I'm looking at Process Explorer right now, and I have no clue how to check for USB port usage. What part of the program do I look at? Sorry for my incompetence.

First off, make sure you are running Process Explorer as Admin. Then go to Find -> Find Handle or DLL and search for USB. There will be a lot of stuff, but what you are likely looking for is something that starts with \Device.

 

[tonyfreak215]

Try this:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html