This probably won't cure controllers turning off...

[Fielder 3,674]

... but since I did this none of my 4 controllers suddenly stopped working in MSFS like they very occasionally did before, maybe one flight out of a twenty some controller or axis was dead. Problem has not reoccurred for 2  days now after doing this.

Turned off all 22 allowances for Windows to shut down USB devices (I'm not sure why Windows had to install so many (22) USB devices for headset, keyboard, mouse, and 4 flight controllers).

I unchecked the box in these 22 lines in device manager for "allow computer to turn off this device" (In Power Management tab).

I don't think this was the issue, but it was worth doing, just in case.

Edited September 22, 2020 by Fielder

[Denwagg 191]

Im having similar problem. Since the last patch my Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle is sometimes not working in MFS. When I exit MFS and go to the Thrustmaster Calibration app it shows it there but none of the Controls are active. I have to reboot and then it is working again.

Another bug in MFS. At first I thought its was a USB boot error I have had those and solved them by turning off the computer and switching usb connections with another port. I those cases Windows could not find that controller. In this case the controller is still showing up in Windows with all the buttons and axis there but they do not respond to input.

So may be MFS is turning them off like you think. 

So many bugs I worry this game might go down in flames. We need to see some sort of Light at the end of the tunnel. I hope the next updates will solve more problems than its creates.

Regards

Edited September 22, 2020 by Denwagg

[Bob Scott 7,721]

If the controller is not active in Windows, you certainly can't blame an application running on WIndows (MSFS) for that.  Windows 8 was notorious for disconnecting HID controllers...I've not seen it on Win 10, but I do note that every major Windows version update and even some of the monthly updates have turned those power management options back on without asking.

The OP's observation about the power management tab on the USB ports and devices is correct--if "Allow the computer to tun off this device to save power" is selected/checked, after a period of inactivity Windows, not MSFS, will depower that device, and you'll more than likely not be able to get it back in the current sim session.

Another common problem is USB ports that can't sink enough current without the voltage drooping so far that the device can't run or remain stable.  I think the design load of a non-charging USB port is only 500ma--there are lots of devices that really need more than that.  A powered USB hub is the first line of defense in that case.

[Michael Moe 495]

Yes but after a  while i sometimes see them re-enabled again which also is  a pain.

Michael Moe

[kand 205]

I was plagued by this since using FDS throttle quadrant and system boards. The best solution I found was directly in the registry by navigating to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB and then finding my USB ID and disabling the setting but an easier way round is.

WARNING do not do this unless you understand the risks of manually editing the registry, ensure you have backed it up before making changes also. 

search the registry for EnhancedPowerManagementEnabled, usually the setting is in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB for windows 10 64bit registry

set this to a 0 (zero) 

next find SelectiveSuspendEnabled and set that to 0 (zero)   

alternatively I have a little program which does this for you but you need to know the 4 digit USB vendor ID, you can get that from FSUIPC scan joysticks 

http://uraster.com/en-us/products/usbenhancedpowermanagerdisabler.aspx

Edited September 22, 2020 by kand

[Denwagg 191]

1 hour ago, w6kd said:

Another common problem is USB ports that can't sink enough current without the voltage drooping so far that the device can't run or remain stable.  I think the design load of a non-charging USB port is only 500ma--there are lots of devices that really need more than that.  A powered USB hub is the first line of defense in that case.

My usb hub is runs on external power 

[Phantoms 800]

There's a program for the Logitech/Saitek Flight Panels at http://uraster.com/en-us/products/usbenhancedpowermanagerdisabler.aspx

But I found another solution is to keep all the controllers on a powered USB hub such as this. I keep this hub up on the back corner of my desk and if I can power off and back on each device plugged into it.  An example is my Logitech Multi Panel which the display powers down. Once MSFS is running I can simply cycle the power for that port and it's working fine again.

[Richard Sennett 2,499]

6 minutes ago, Phantoms said:

There's a program for the Logitech/Saitek Flight Panels at http://uraster.com/en-us/products/usbenhancedpowermanagerdisabler.aspx

But I found another solution is to keep all the controllers on a powered USB hub such as this. I keep this hub up on the back corner of my desk and if I can power off and back on each device plugged into it.  An example is my Logitech Multi Panel which the display powers down. Once MSFS is running I can simply cycle the power for that port and it's working fine again.

Yup been doing that or years works well a powered hub is a good thing thanks for link forgot the name for that software - like it a lot