USB 3.0 not working on my x230

[vicentiu]

I plug in a 3.0 flash drive in a 3.0 port on my x230 and I get a baloon message in the system tray saying the device would perform faster if I plug it in a USB 3.0 port.

I run a benchmark and I get 42 MB/s when the drive specs say it should do about 83 MB/s.

Any thoughts on what might be happening?

thanks

[sarbin]

hi.

just to be sure... you're plugging the usb3 device into the blue usb port, correct?

cheers.

[vicentiu]

Yes, I am. In fact, the drive worked only in one of the USB 3.0 ports... nothing happened when I plugged it in the other 3.0 port.

And if I plugged a 2.0 flash drive in the "non-working" 3.0 port, it worked fine.

[sarbin]

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vicentiu wrote:

Yes, I am. In fact, the drive worked only in one of the USB 3.0 ports... nothing happened when I plugged it in the other 3.0 port.

And if I plugged a 2.0 flash drive in the "non-working" 3.0 port, it worked fine.

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and just to sure, are you on the latest usb3 driver, and possibly bios?

matrix - http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/research/hints-or-tips/detail.page?&DocID=HT073834

usb3 - http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS029044

bios - http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS029188

[vicentiu]

Interesting, if I push up on the flash drive as I insert it (and hold it up), I don't get the message anymore.

If I let go of the flash drive, I instantly get the message "This device can perform faster"

It looks like the extra USB 3.0 leads don't make good contact unless I hold up on the device.

BTW, the flash drive is a ADATA N005. My conclusion is that the 3.0 leads on the flash drive are too shallow and don't have enough spring force.

[vicentiu · Accepted solution]

I got a chance to try the flash drive on a desktop system and I get the same results. If I don't push up on the drive, I get the "This device can perform faster" message.

I don't have another 3.0 device to try in the x230 at the moment.

[jahganja]

Hey - a totally random thought - is your BIOS updated to version 1.12?

The correction log states a fix for USB 3.0 devices not being recognized:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/g2uj05us.txt

[vicentiu]

I have 1.11. The fix in 1.12 says it only happens when resuming from standby.

I'm convinced my issue is the USB 3.0 leads are not making contact, as I confirmed in a desktop system that the flash drive exibits the same behavior.

[stackz07]

Have you found a workaround to making it fit better? I am fed up with my current x230 not working properly and now my issue with the x1c not shipping for A MONTH after i placed the order. 

If there is a workaround then i'll be able to apply it to an ultrabase dock. maybe something that the cable rests on? lol wow. this sucks 

[vicentiu]

The problem was with the device itself... the usb 3.0 leads on the flash drive didn't stick out enough.

The flash drive didn't work in other systems also.

I tried another flash drive on the laptop and it worked fine.