Continuous problems when connecting any USB device.

Mr Bee · 11 Mar 2019

Hi,
Been using mostly the same USB devices for the last 7 to 8 years. When ever I connect them to a fresh clean installed windows 10 computer the "first thing to go is Bluetooth". Then eventually a few days or weeks later the screen goes blank with the colour used in Windows Colors e.g. Purple. Then a week or two later the OS is U/S.
I tried Malwarebytes a while ago but it would not stop it. A Blank USB does this as well.
Any Ideas.
Appreciated
Clive

Caledon Ken · 11 Mar 2019

Hi Clive. Welcome to the TenForums @Mr Bee

When you've done a clean install are any drivers showing in an error state?

I assume when you clean install Windows it just installs the drivers and you go from there.. Have you tried replacing USB drivers with the ones from Intel for your NUC.

Is your BIOS up to date. Not saying to update it just asking is it up to date.

I might even use the Intel Driver and Support tool to let Intel see what drivers you need. Tool might not be usable on your device, check the exclusion list.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...assistant.html

Ken

Mr Bee · 11 Mar 2019

Caledon Ken said:

Hi Clive. Welcome to the TenForums @Mr Bee
When you've done a clean install are any drivers showing in an error state? I assume when you clean install Windows it just installs the drivers and you go from there.. Have you tried replacing USB drivers with the ones from Intel for your NUC.Ken

Thanks for that Ken.
My PC is as advanced as possible. I have notified Intel of the problem but they have on several occasions just replaced each device it happens on. This is as I say and ongoing problem that has lasted for many years. 5 different NUC's, I eventually sold and replaced with a newer NUC each time. I think, it's a security problem but I need proper help with the examination of this. It is on many or all of my secured devices. Malwarebytes does not detect anything.

Poor Bogdan at Intel is fed up of my moaning at him thinking it was my computer when it was my USB devices. I must also point out that I pass from well to unwell a lot. So, my thinking is damaged and my memory is damaged.

This is my old handle:
Windows 7 Help Forums - Search Results

I have some idea of what I'm talking about but due to ill health it's a bit blurred. I am in recovery though, which is good news, I think!

Caledon Ken · 11 Mar 2019

Sorry to hear that. Glad you are doing better. Health is very important

I would start by a process of elimination.

I would clean install windows and then buy a brand new USB drive. I would not connect any old devices. Not sure how fast the issue starts but you said within days.

If a brand new install with a brand new USB Thumbdrive goes south then for sure this is machine issue. I would use that Intel tool if at all possible, the NUC could be sensitive to drivers, I would use the Intel drivers.

Have you run a memory test?

Mr Bee · 11 Mar 2019

Caledon Ken said:

Have you run a memory test?

It's been happening on several NUC's Ken. Different devices and different memory. I think it's in the root of the devices I use. Intel phoned an hour ago and directed me to do do this to remedy my devices.

First Tool could be installed on a Windows computer so:

Download MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition;
See MiniTool® Main Window of Partition Manager | MiniTool Partition Wizard Tutorial if you are using this for the first time;
Delete All Partitions | MiniTool Partition Wizard Tutorial, to delete all partitions from the defected device;
Wipe Disk;
Create Partition;
Format Partition;
Initialize to MBR Disk;
or
Initialize to GPT Disk.

The second tool can be downloaded as .iso file and burned to another USB stick with Rufus. The tool is GParted (Download gparted-live-0.33.0-1-amd64.iso). See Tips on Booting GParted Live after you burn the .iso file with Rufus; then you can boot from the USB stick and run it without Windows. After that you can erase the second USB (defected one) partitions, format etc.

As I said to Bogdan at Intel I think best thing is to wait for Windows 10, (April 2019 v) as this version now has windows sandboxed incorporated into the system This would mean I could delete everything without damaging my installed version of Windows.

Are you agreed Ken.

Caledon Ken · 11 Mar 2019

I wouldn't use Rufus, just Windows MCT tool which will create a USB Bootable Thumbdrive that can boot legacy or UEFI.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10

You download tool and execute tool. It walks you through creating USB Thumbdrive

I would create on a clean machine if you think this is some sort of root kit on NUC

You can the erase disk with the bootable media you created with the MCT tool. Boot from USB Thumbdrive

As soon as it boots when the first screen comes up Shift +F10 (starts command Prompt)

Type the command Diskpart
Type the command List disk
Identify which disk is your NUC Boot disk, I assume only one disk in NUC but it will also show USB drive. Remove additional drives in NUC if present.
Type command Select Disk 0 - this assumes disk 0 is your NUC boot disk, change as required
Type command Clean
Type Command Convert GPT - this is for UEFI boot
Type exit
Type exit

You should be back at the Windows screen, perform your clean install.

Either way if you erase the NUC disk all data will be gone. Make sure it is backed up off machine.

Once you have a clean machine I would install Malwarebytes and I would scan anything you connect. Enable Root kit detection.

Mr Bee · 11 Mar 2019

Caledon Ken said:

I wouldn't use Rufus

I see just use my Win10 USB boot into Command prompt, then use diskpart to erase all disks. That's an Idea I can use. Just one thing though, Is there a way to get my original Windows 10 Key off the OS as I'm sure I've lost it. I'm not sure if it's possible to get it or not. I remember seeing somewhere that it could be done. One last thing. Can a root be deleted on it's own because I have a few disks I'd rather not wipe. 4TB or so.

Caledon Ken · 11 Mar 2019

Perfect, yes diskpart.

You should not have to worry about your Win 10 license. For the sake of this discussion we will say your machine has been fingerprinted by the MS Servers. When you re-install it should just activate.

There is an app ShowKeyPlus. Superfly is a member of this forum.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/sh...ot:overviewtab

or from GitHub

https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/ShowKeyPlus/releases

I guess you could delete specific partitions but there is no way to tell where your visitor or his family are living.

Intel, and I, (see their point three) are suggesting your sterilize the entire box and then as I suggested everything coming back in to live is scanned throughly with Malwarebytes (or AV or your choice).

I am and I'm not familiar with NUC. Does your NUC have one or two drives. (you mentioned a few drives)??

I thought you had one M.2 or other solid state within the NUC. You need to do this with just your boot disk installed. If you have other disks attaching through esata or USB, disconnect them. If you have a data drive in NUC remove it.

I guess the better question, could you describe your storage environment, the 4TB you reference. What is what and where is it, inside or external.

Mr Bee · 12 Mar 2019

Caledon Ken said:

describe your storage environment, the 4TB you reference. What is what and where is it, inside or external.

They are all external devices. I'm willing to delete most of what I got except some of my old videos and some music. I can't figure out how to copy from a bad drive to a clean drive without corrupting it?

Caledon Ken · 12 Mar 2019

Okay.

The process we are describing above is just boot drive within NUC. Disconnect all drives and get a clean copy of windows installed and up to date. Then install Malwarebytes or look up another suitable AV.

Maybe Hitman Pro.

Get your choice installed. Then with the AV running scan your external drive, complete scan. Maybe scan with both tools.

Then disconnect and scan next drive.

While scanning the drives for visitors I might also scan them with chkdsk.