Some non-compliant USB 3.0 devices may not function when connected to USB 3.0 ports in Windows 8

This article provides a solution to an issue where some non-compliant USB 3.0 devices don't function when connected to USB 3.0 ports in Windows 8.

Applies to:   Windows 8
Original KB number:   2792990

Symptoms

When you connect a USB 3.0 device to a Windows 8 system, the USB device may not be properly recognized and the following Device Status message may be displayed in Device Manager:

This device cannot start. (Code 10)

The USB device returned an invalid serial number string descriptor.

Cause

This issue is due to an error in the hardware. The serial number contained in the device is invalid per the USB Mass Storage Specification.

Resolution

Connect the USB 3.0 device to a USB 2.0 port on the system or contact the manufacturer of the USB 3.0 device for further assistance. Devices that have a Windows 8 logo are guaranteed to be compliant and compatible with Windows 8. To ensure device compatibility, look for the Windows 8 logo when purchasing a device.

Data collection

If you need assistance from Microsoft support, we recommend you collect the information by following the steps mentioned in Gather information by using TSS for deployment-related issues.