If your Windows computer will not boot properly when a docking station (such as the Plugable UD-3900), USB hub (such as the Plugable USBC-HUB7C), or USB hub adapter (such as the Plugable USBC-7IN1E) is connected most often the cause is an external device connected to the product (for example an external USB storage drive) as opposed to the product itself.
There are also cases where an external USB storage device (such as a Plugable USBC-NVME SSD enclosure) is the only device connected that can sometimes produce a similar result.
If you are affected by this condition while using a docking station, USB hub, or USB hub adapter, please temporarily disconnect all of the external devices from the product. The only remaining connections should be the product's external power source (if it has one) and the cable connecting the product to the host computer.
While in this simplified physical configuration, reboot the host computer in order to test the behavior. Presuming the host computer boots as expected while in the simplified configuration, reconnect each external device back to the product one at a time and reboot after each one to test the behavior again. This process should isolate the source of the issue.
In cases where only an external USB storage device is in use, please temporarily disconnect the USB storage device from the host computer and then reboot in order to test the behavior again.
To expand further, in our experience helping others the most common cause of this behavior is an external USB storage drive connected to one of the product's USB ports. In some cases, a Windows computer may try to boot from an external storage drive by mistake as opposed to the host computer's built-in storage drive. Since most external USB storage drives are not 'bootable', this can interrupt the boot process.
If this behavior occurs, the most common way to mitigate the behavior is to access the host computer's System BIOS (also known as UEFI firmware) to change the 'boot order' settings to ensure that the host computer's internal storage drive is the first boot option. Doing so helps ensure that the host computer will not try to boot from an external USB storage device.
Every Windows host computer system is different, so the best resource for accessing the System BIOS and changing the settings is the manual for the host computer provided by the manufacturer of the host computer.
