Connecting to USB port shuts off computer

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Digger

This just started happening about a week ago. When I try to connect my iPod
or cell phone via their respective cables to the USB ports the computer shuts
off. I've done a system restore and checked the Device Manager and nothing
seems to have the answer.
 
Digger said:
This just started happening about a week ago. When I try to connect my iPod
or cell phone via their respective cables to the USB ports the computer shuts
off. I've done a system restore and checked the Device Manager and nothing
seems to have the answer.
Click to expand...



I've seen that due to static electricity...
especially on ECS motherboards
 
philo said:
I've seen that due to static electricity...
especially on ECS motherboards
Click to expand...
And, if it is static electricity (which seems highly likely), your only
recourse is to proceed as follows: Disconnect every thing from the
computer. Unplug it from the convenience outlet.
Press the start switch. Connect everything back to the computer. Plug it
back into the convenience outlet. You are now ready to try operating the
computer.

Jim
 
Digger said:
This just started happening about a week ago. When I try to connect my
iPod
or cell phone via their respective cables to the USB ports the computer
shuts
off. I've done a system restore and checked the Device Manager and
nothing
seems to have the answer.
Click to expand...

It sounds like the power supply is dying. When you use the USB port it
passes the 5 volts from the power supply to the external device. The extra
load from the external device is pushing the power supply just enough to
make it go critical and shutting down.

One last thought is to try another USB cable in case the one you are using
is shorting out the 5 volts.
 
Digger said:
This just started happening about a week ago. When I try to connect my iPod
or cell phone via their respective cables to the USB ports the computer shuts
off. I've done a system restore and checked the Device Manager and nothing
seems to have the answer.
Click to expand...

You are overloading +5VSB coming from the power supply. If the motherboard
is old enough, there will be a USBPWxx jumper header, where you can
switch between using +5VSB or +5V for the USB port. +5V has more amps
to offer, so using +5V will not cause the computer to reset.

The +5VSB not only powers part of your computer, but is also
part of the "PS_ON#" signal from motherboard to PSU. If +5VSB
is flattened (by being shorted), then the power supply will
switch off.

The iPod may be attempting to draw battery charging current.
As a test, you can try plugging something other than an
iPod, such as a mouse, as it only draws 100mA or less. If
the computer stays running, then you'd have a suspicion
that either the power supply is weak, or something else
in the computer is using more than its share of +5VSB.
The +5VSB rating is printed on the label on the side
of the power supply. My brand new supply, is rated for
+5VSB at 3 amps, a bit stronger than the old supply.
A motherboard might typically use 1 amp while the
computer sleeps, from that rail, but modern
motherboards also run the USB ports from that
rail, and that could potentially lead to an
overload, if you have stuff like USB scanner,
USB ADSL modem, iPod or other stuff that are
known current hogs.

Paul
 
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