I’ve seen that! (a few years ago, I’d forgotten until I read your solution, sorry!)
Downloading update maps to my Tom Tom satnav. The update software downloads the map file to HDD, but only if it sees the satnav present on USB. No traffic on usb until the download is complete.
On my HP desktop, the download would fail after 30 mins.
After much tinkering, I found that the HP default power plan turned off USB after 30 mins. Update app lost sight of Tomtom. Download aborted.
I now have an alternative power plan configured to keep everything running for such occasions…