So now I think my problem is clearly the result of my Asus X99 motherboard.
I was researching the components of my new PC and discovered a lot of anecdotal complaints about boot failure during Post that seemed related to USB. I'm providing some of the links I discovered below in case anyone other than the few here who have mentioned that they have an ASUS motherboard. Based on a comment on the last youtube video here, I disabled a lot of functions in the BIOS that related to the handoff to the OS. I am now able to boot and use my devices normally. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_av2DUQDE1A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK23Jt6KJXs - https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?78607-Asus-Confirmed-yesterday-that-X99-boards-has-boot-issues-with-Usb-Hubs-connected - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6SOdSeWSCM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MDYUBp-1i4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6SOdSeWSCM * See comment from Alexandre Esquenet, how provides a solution here: http://users.skynet.be/xixou/x99_usb_boot_issue.png -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1437492 Title: boot stalls on USB detection errors To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1437492/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
