Also, if you're using a USB hub, bypass it and plug directly into a USB port on your computer.
I've seen some computers where the USB ports on the front were not reliable. If you're not using a hub, try using one of the ports on the back of the computer as opposed to the convenience ports on the front.
I also agree with the suggestion to temporarily remove the Cubase dongle and card reader and see if the problem goes away.
I think you're dealing with a port conflict.