computer crashes when usb device plugged in

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NewtonianRefractor
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Message 1047009 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 5:51:47 UTC

The computer that I use crashed several times after I plugged in a USB device into the from USB port on the case. This USB port goes to the USB header on the motherboard.

It happened when I plugged in an external hard drive and when I plugged in an iPod touch.

The computer just immediately reboots, there is no blue-screen. Now this is intermittent, it does not happen on every USB insertion.

The last time the computer crashed the I got a message that the bios checksum failed and all the bios settings were reset to their default.

The computer runs 100% stable except for this issue. It happened about 5 times now, with the checksum error occurring only once.

Do you guys have any suggestions about what it might be?
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Message 1047024 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 10:16:09 UTC - in response to Message 1047009.  

When you insert the USB device and the machine does not reboot - does the USB device actually work?

What I'm wondering is ususally the front panel sockets go to a header which plugs into the motherboard. If the header plug is misaligned on the motherboard connector it may be shorting something out / causing a reset when you insert your device.

The header sockets arent usually keyed in any way and it is possible to insert incorrectly when they are in an awkward position - I've done it myself.

Another thought - check for any small conducting foreign objects that might have found their way into the USB socket which may cause intermittent shorts when a device is inserted.


John.


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Message 1047040 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 12:11:46 UTC - in response to Message 1047009.  

So does it happen on all USB ports?
Do you have any others on back etc?
I assume it is not static, are you on carpeting?

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Message 1047052 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 14:43:11 UTC - in response to Message 1047009.  


There is no standard how the pins on USB header connector on mainboard are aranged.
Check the documentation for your mainboard.

http://www.frontx.com/cpx108_2.html
http://www.directron.com/installusb.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_USB_header


 


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Message 1047053 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 14:44:04 UTC - in response to Message 1047040.  

I have had this problem on a couple of machines in the past and it has always been caused by static and ironically only happens on the front ports. Try touching the case prior to plugging in your USB device and I believe you will no longer have this problem
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Message 1047070 - Posted: 8 Nov 2010, 15:55:13 UTC - in response to Message 1047009.  

The computer that I use crashed several times after I plugged in a USB device into the from USB port on the case. This USB port goes to the USB header on the motherboard.

It happened when I plugged in an external hard drive and when I plugged in an iPod touch.

The computer just immediately reboots, there is no blue-screen. Now this is intermittent, it does not happen on every USB insertion...

I've been seeing this problem crop up more and more frequently on new(ish) PC's, usually ones with the USB 3x power feature. Its more common when devices are plugged into the front panel but can sometimes happen even on the back ones. I've only seen and heard of it happening if the USB plug has a metal outer grounding sheath.

As Roadrunner said, it can sometimes be caused by static discharge but I have also seen it happen when people are wearing grounding wristbands.

The best solution I have come across so far is to purchase a cheap ($20) USB hub if its happening frequently.

Some technicians have said they can sometimes solve this issue by re-seating the connectors, bending the USB's plug and port outer grounding sheath but this is pretty hit and miss.
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Message 1047180 - Posted: 9 Nov 2010, 3:06:23 UTC

When you say it just reboots with no BSOD.. the default for every install of Windows since 2000 (xp, 2003, vista, 7, 2008) is to automatically reboot when a BSOD happens. It is instantaneous, or immediately after the default of a 'small memory dump,' which is 64kb, completes. On most modern hard drives, this is instantaneous.

If you disable the auto-reboot feature, most times, it turns out that the 'just randomly reboots' symptom is actually a BSOD. To find out if it has been that all along, the event log should show that a BSOD happened, and give the cause for it, then it's a matter of translating the vague error code.

Most times, it's some kind of driver incompatibility. If things were working just fine before and you updated the chipset drivers or something of that nature, chances are those drivers don't play nice with everything else. USB drivers are supposed to be totally generic these days, but every now and then, the generic drivers just do not like other drivers for some reason or another.

My guess is a driver issue, and most likely not the USB drivers themselves. Other common causes of 'randomly reboots' are either corrupt system files, or bad/undervolted memory/chipset/cpu. I had a situation on an old Socket A (462) board where I was getting tons of BSODs. To the point where it took 20+ tries to actually install windows. Memtest showed thousands of memory errors, and never a repeating address. Brought the voltage up on the RAM by one notch, and the problem went away. As the board aged and the caps got weaker, I ended up having to do this again, as well as chipset and CPU voltage. Up until I maxed out all three, and now years later, that machine is still running great.
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Message 1047329 - Posted: 10 Nov 2010, 4:37:51 UTC - in response to Message 1047180.  
Last modified: 10 Nov 2010, 4:39:13 UTC

When you say it just reboots with no BSOD.. the default for every install of Windows since 2000 (xp, 2003, vista, 7, 2008) is to automatically reboot when a BSOD happens. It is instantaneous, or immediately after the default of a 'small memory dump,' which is 64kb, completes. On most modern hard drives, this is instantaneous.

If you disable the auto-reboot feature, most times, it turns out that the 'just randomly reboots' symptom is actually a BSOD. To find out if it has been that all along, the event log should show that a BSOD happened, and give the cause for it, then it's a matter of translating the vague error code.

Most times, it's some kind of driver incompatibility. If things were working just fine before and you updated the chipset drivers or something of that nature, chances are those drivers don't play nice with everything else. USB drivers are supposed to be totally generic these days, but every now and then, the generic drivers just do not like other drivers for some reason or another.

My guess is a driver issue, and most likely not the USB drivers themselves. Other common causes of 'randomly reboots' are either corrupt system files, or bad/undervolted memory/chipset/cpu. I had a situation on an old Socket A (462) board where I was getting tons of BSODs. To the point where it took 20+ tries to actually install windows. Memtest showed thousands of memory errors, and never a repeating address. Brought the voltage up on the RAM by one notch, and the problem went away. As the board aged and the caps got weaker, I ended up having to do this again, as well as chipset and CPU voltage. Up until I maxed out all three, and now years later, that machine is still running great.


What I meant was that when my computer crashed due to an extreme overclock it always took about 10 seconds to do a memory dump. In this case the restart was instantaneous. The computer just restarted.

Also this only happens with that particular USB port. I think the ports on the back of the PC are fine.

Also, the PC is rock stable otherwise. It survives 3 days of continuous prime 95.
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Message 1047386 - Posted: 10 Nov 2010, 13:15:09 UTC - in response to Message 1047329.  


If you don't want to check the cables from the front USB port to the mainboard USB header (Message 1047052)
just put red sticker over the bad front USB port so no one uses it.


 


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Message 1047391 - Posted: 10 Nov 2010, 13:24:15 UTC - in response to Message 1047329.  

What I meant was that when my computer crashed due to an extreme overclock it always took about 10 seconds to do a memory dump. In this case the restart was instantaneous. The computer just restarted.


Not all crashes require a complete memory dump. Some dumps are only 64KB (not MB!) called a mini-dump (please, no off color commentary!).

Also this only happens with that particular USB port. I think the ports on the back of the PC are fine.[/quote]

Really sounds like a bad ground.
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Message 1047412 - Posted: 10 Nov 2010, 14:52:55 UTC

FWIW my guess is static or mechanical short/open circuit or a USB device that draws too much power.

Static can be solved with discharge methods.

Mechanical can be tested for with a USB extension cord.

A powered hub might solve the too much power draw problem.

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Message 1047515 - Posted: 10 Nov 2010, 22:59:53 UTC

Ded1o1 has the right line.

I have a couple of clients who have this same issue on their Dell Latitude 800 laptops. The only real solution is to use a powered usb hub which seems to 'fix' the issue fine. They plug any manner of devices into any of the usb ports on the laptop and even the docking station - BSOD; but if they plug in a powered usb hub into the laptop and then plug the exact same devices into the hub - no problem.

It seems to be an issue with the usb jacks but no other solution really other than a powered hub.

I would try a powered hub and see if it works. If it does, then you know that you have some issue with the usb ports themselves and what happens when some devices try to pull power through them. While possible to fix those ports, I am betting that just using a powered hub would be easier and cheaper.
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Message boards : Number crunching : computer crashes when usb device plugged in


 
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