Valve Index USB isn't being recognized

[DavvyChappy]

My Valve Index arrived yesterday, and I have not been able to get it to work properly due to my computer not recognizing the USB. When I plug the USB into the port, SteamVR recognizes the headset for a brief instant before disconnecting, and I get a message at the bottom right of my screen that reads: "USB device not recognized. The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it."

My attempts to fix this have been:
- I have restarted my computer
- plugged the USB into different ports
- unplugged everything and waited before replugging everything back in
- checked my graphics card as well as USB ops for updated drivers
- uninstalled and reinstalled both Steam and SteamVR
- plugged the USB into a different computer

The same error message appears every time. The problem, as far as I can tell, is that the USB is busted, but I'm posting here in the hopes that I'm wrong and that someone can help me through this.

Looking in the device manager, my computer refers to the USB as "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)". Information from the "Device not started" Events log within the properties is:

Driver Name: usb.inf
Class Guid: {36fc9e60-c465-11cf-8056-444553540000}
Service:
Lower Filters:
Upper Filters:
Problem: 0x2B
Problem Status: 0x0

I don't normally have software issues, so I don't exactly know what all information I need to give for someone to recognize the problem, but I'll post whatever I need to.

[labtosca]

Hii, I having the same problem. I tryed the “Control Panel > Power Options > Advanced Settings > USB Settings > USB selective suspend setting : turned it to "Disabled"” and it dint work. I tryed also “ Open SteamVR -> go to developer options -> under reset, click remove all USB devices ” but it also didnt work. I tested my valve index on my laptop and evrything is fine there. The problems started after i did a clean instal of windows. Help what else can i try ?

[MartiniDrinker]

"Valve Index USB isn't being recognized". This worked for me:
1. Open Windows Device Manager then expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers branch
2. Plug in the headset power and USB
3. You will see a new USB Hub appear in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers branch. On my computer the device is named 'Generic USB Hub'
4. Double click on the new device. Then 'Power Management' tab. Uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'.
5. Click OK. Finished

My headset immediately connected and has worked perfectly ever since. Best of luck.

As a side note, I find it unacceptable that Valve seem unable or unwilling to affect a fix for this apparently common problem given the fact that the headgear costs the thick end of £1000 UK pounds. We are not all computer geek experts and I only managed to work out a fix after countless hours of patient trial and error, including an OS reinstall and a long (and unsuccessful) engagement with Valve support.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

^ Yes, another dumb global default by Microsoft, go figure.
Just like with Game Controllers, you have to turn that off, otherwise it's possible for the controller to enter a sleep state while your game is running and this often causes issues that may require to unplug, re-plug the controller and games usually won't just allow it in-game again until you restart the game.

How hard is it to have the OS...
> Oh this is a new device, would you like to point to a driver or would you like us to look for one online. Also here are some other options the device supports. > Leads to options such as Power Saving On/Off; etc.

Seriously why is that so hard for MS to do.

[Zardoz Xerxes]

I was having this issue and the dreaded "usb device descriptor request failed" error. I tried everything, uninstalling, using the dev mode to removes devices, changing power settings, trying every usb socket, using an extender etc.

In the end I took a chance & brought a new trident cable off of ebay & it worked perfectly.
So it is not always a windows error, sometimes its the cable. Steam also sells the full cable but it costs much more.

[japko]

I have the same issue. The workaround for my case is as follow:

- Unplug headset from USB and power
- Wait few seconds
- Plugin headset to power only
- Wait few seconds
- Plug the USB cable

This worked for few times already. I haven't tried the power saving on/off yet but this sequence of actions seams to work.

[Gishy]

Publicado originalmente por japko:

I have the same issue. The workaround for my case is as follow:

- Unplug headset from USB and power
- Wait few seconds
- Plugin headset to power only
- Wait few seconds
- Plug the USB cable

This worked for few times already. I haven't tried the power saving on/off yet but this sequence of actions seams to work.

thank you man, only this advice worked for me <3

[phoenixofwinter]

Publicado originalmente por SkulVers:

Publicado originalmente por Aiden:

THANK YOU. YOU JUST SAVED 1000 DOLLARS OF REPLACEMENT!!!!!

Worked for me too! THANK YOU. Even though my problem was a bit more complicated, it worked. I do think keeping good care of your VR Cordes, in the long run, solves almost all problems.

I just wanted to say that as of 2024 this solution seems to have solved the never ending USB random disconnections and reconnections I kept on having where the whole headset would go white and become unusable at random, I can't thank you enough for restoring stability to my index!

[MR.HEADCRAB_VR]

Yo! im having the same issue since January 2024 Any1 could help?

[stupid]

I was having this issue for a bit, the headset would show the blue LEDs which meant it was in standby mode, but the USB was not being recognized by my PC. After spending about five hours (I'm stubborn lol) trying all sorts of solutions like reinstalling drivers and then talking to steam support for a bit, I tried moving it to a different outlet and it started working properly.

My guess is mine was getting enough power to turn on, but not run properly; as it was plugged into the same power strip my PC and two monitors were plugged into. Try plugging the headset into its own outlet, as that's what fixed mine.

Edit: scratch that. my headset started doing it again. I wonder why it suddenly started working properly all of a sudden...

Edit 2: Strangely, the order I plugged the cords in seemed to fix it? My headset is working now, I plugged the trident cable into the power, then USB, then DP and it worked. I wish I could know what magic made it fix like that.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Publicado originalmente por stupid:

I was having this issue for a bit, the headset would show the blue LEDs which meant it was in standby mode, but the USB was not being recognized by my PC. After spending about five hours (I'm stubborn lol) trying all sorts of solutions like reinstalling drivers and then talking to steam support for a bit, I tried moving it to a different outlet and it started working properly.

My guess is mine was getting enough power to turn on, but not run properly; as it was plugged into the same power strip my PC and two monitors were plugged into. Try plugging the headset into its own outlet, as that's what fixed mine.

Edit: scratch that. my headset started doing it again. I wonder why it suddenly started working properly all of a sudden...

Edit 2: Strangely, the order I plugged the cords in seemed to fix it? My headset is working now, I plugged the trident cable into the power, then USB, then DP and it worked. I wish I could know what magic made it fix like that.

If you are using a Desktop PC, put that PC on its own isolated output. Anything else extra that requires power, use a different outlet. Also don't plug electronics directly into a wall socket, first plug them into a surge protector power strip.

[AyeOhDee]

Publicado originalmente por japko:

I have the same issue. The workaround for my case is as follow:

- Unplug headset from USB and power
- Wait few seconds
- Plugin headset to power only
- Wait few seconds
- Plug the USB cable

This worked for few times already. I haven't tried the power saving on/off yet but this sequence of actions seams to work.

Seeing as how my PC is upstairs and my vr is in the basement (cables thru floor) this procedure didn't come naturally to me so I was trying everything else... This friggin worked.

[underspy101]

Publicado originalmente por japko:

I have the same issue. The workaround for my case is as follow:

- Unplug headset from USB and power
- Wait few seconds
- Plugin headset to power only
- Wait few seconds
- Plug the USB cable

This worked for few times already. I haven't tried the power saving on/off yet but this sequence of actions seams to work.

This also just worked for me! I've been able to reproduce it twice but i'm not gonna try a third time XD

[Mike]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.