5 Solutions to Fix “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” Error

Lawrence

4 years ago

Summary: In this article, you will get to know the best ways on how to solve “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” error with the help of Bitwar Data Recovery Software.

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Unknown USB Device is an error related to windows Device Manager. The root of this error is extended up to the ‘Universal Serial Bus Controllers’ part of the system. Where the error will demonstrate as ‘Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems, a request for the external device description has failed.’ It is a Code-43 error. Still, this problem needs to get fixed if you want to use USB drives on your PC.

While this error is appearing, you won’t be able to use a USB drive. Don’t worry as there are solutions available in the article below, but before we get into them, let’s dive deep into the root of this error.

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What is a Device Descriptor?

The device descriptor is the root of the descriptor tree, and it contains the essential device information. There are idVendor and idProduct. These are the unique properties of the Windows operating system designed to identify the connected device and determine which driver needs to be loaded.

This is a bit technical, but if you are getting an unknown USB device or device descriptor failed message, then you need to get it fixed immediately. You can check out the advanced solutions below.

Learn more about USB: 4 Solutions to Fix “USB Keeps Disconnecting and Reconnecting”

5 Practical Solutions to Fix “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” Error

The Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) is an uncertain USB problem and related to a driver issue, but due to the uncertainty of this error, it can cause the USB drive to malfunctions.

So, we recommend getting it fixed immediately by following the effective solutions given below!

Solution 1: Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

In this situation, hardware and devices troubleshooter might be helpful. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open the Search menu and type the command below:

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic.

Step 2: Select Enter to start the troubleshooter process.

Step 3: Follow the displayed instructions and click on Apply This Fix if any issues were found.

If a hardware problem caused the unknown USB device error, then it should be fixed by following this method.

Solution 2: Uninstall USB Drivers

Sometimes, uninstall and reinstall the USB drivers can be very useful, especially if you are getting the unknown USB device error.

Step 1: Navigate to the Device Manager and locate the Universal Serial Bus.

Step 2: Expand it—Right-click on the USB drivers and select Uninstall.

Step 3: You have to make the uninstallation of the USB drives individually.

After the uninstallation is finished, reboot the PC. Windows will install the drivers automatically.

Solution 3: Disable Fast Startup

Suppose that you are still facing the problem, even after reinstalling the USB drivers, then you should disable Fast Startup.

Step 1: Proceed to the Control Panel and click on the Power Options.

Step 2: Select Choose What the Power Buttons Do on the left side of the window.

Step 3: Click on Change Settings.

Step 4: Uncheck the box beside Turn on Fast Startup (Recommended) under Shutdown settings.

Step 5: Click on Save Changes to confirm the changes.

Solution 4: Activate Plug and Play in Windows Services

In this solution, we will be activating the plug and play feature from Windows Services.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to bring up the dialog box. Type services.msc and hit Enter.

Step 2: In the Windows Services window, locate Plug and Play. Navigate to the Properties window.

Step 3: If the Startup type is Manual, and the Service status is Running, then disable it.

Step 4: Save the changes. Click OK and Apply. But remember that, after the problem is fixed, you have to change it back to Manual and Running.

Solution 5: Restore the PC to Previous Recovery Points

The ultimate solution is to restore your PC to previous recovery points.

Step 1: Enter Control Panel and locate Recovery options.

Step 2: Choose System Restore.

Step 3: Follow the guide displayed on the screen and wait for the recovery points to get posted.

Now, restore the PC from the right recovery points. The problem should get fixed.

Additional Tip: Recover Data from USB Drive

In this part, we will discuss the way to recover files on the USB drive if they have gotten deleted due to this error. It can happen. The USB wasn’t working correctly, and due to that, if you haven’t ejected the drive safely, some of the files could have gotten erased or corrupted.

None the less, you need to restore them as fast as possible, and the best way is to use Bitwar Data Recovery Software. It is a fast and effective program with the most straightforward operation.

Follow the tutorial below to restore data from USB drive:

Step 1: Download and Install the USB recovery software on the computer.

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Step 2: Choose the Standard Mode and select External Devices Recovery.

Step 3: Connect the USB drive and click Next.

Step 4: Choose Select All Types and click Next to continue.

Step 5: After the scan is finished, Preview the result and click on Recover.

Take Note: After data recovery, make sure NOT to save data back to the USB drive.

Conclusion

Therefore, Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) is an uncertain error related to universal serial bus controllers. It can cause several problems if it isn’t addressed correctly. Just remember to use Bitwar Data Recovery Software if files have disappeared from your USB drive to restore them.